Cocos Islands - Home Island

Home Island is where the majority of Cocos-Malay people live. They are descendants of the people who were brought from Malaysia to work on the Clunies-Ross family coconut plantations.

Adam and I took the ferry over for a visit, its a nice scenic trip. Our first stop was the Pulu Cocos Museum after we got a key from the nearby shire office.  Exhibits include small wooden boats built for the Clunies Ross family, some radio equipment, traditional Shadow Puppets for plays and history of the Cocos Islands.

We then walked to the small shopping area and had nice lunch at Kafe Ku.  The lady running the cafe is from Malaysia and prefers life on Home Island.

We walked past the Mosque then along a track that goes past Oceania House, the previous residence of the Clunies Ross family.  It is a large imposing house that is now available for tourist accommodation.  We continued on past large building that are now derelict that were associated with Clunies Ross, one is an old school.

The Cocos Islands Jukong & Sailing Club, which I saw from a distance when I kitesurfed across, is located on a beach on the south side of the island.

We walked north past the Power Station running diesel generators (not enough solar and wind power yet) and on to the Home Island Cemetery which has a mix of Cocos Malay graves and several Clunies-Ross family graves.

I snorkelled across shallow coral reefs and a strong current to Prison Island. There is not much of it left after recent erosion from waves and the increasing sea level.  10 years ago there were about 40 palm trees on it, now there are only 3 left and most of the sand is gone.  Alexander Hare, the first inhabitant of the islands, was briefly exiled here with several of his harem when John Clunies- Ross evicted him from Home Island.

Turtle beach near the cemetery is a quiet picturesque location.

We headed back to catch the ferry.  Locals get about on small 4 wheel UTV buggies.  There is a buzz of activity when the ferry arrives and locals get off it on jump on their buggies after a day's work on West Island.

Oceania House

Floating rubbish washed up, most of this comes from Indonesia

This is the diesel power station for the Cocos Islands.

Prison Island (foreground) and Direction Island (background)

 

Commuters from West Island coming home after work, just off ferry 

Huge swell on distant reef

Links

• History, harmony, and the only Muslim island in Australia, Ben Stubbs, The Guardian 

Kitesurfing Cocos Islands - West Island to Home Island downwinder

Session 482. I was keen to do a big downwinder, today was the day. My target was Home Island.  I headed out with my Personal Locator Beacon and set a tack towards Home Island.  I reached the blue holes then some extended deep water and tacked back to shallower water and more blue holes.  It was a great trip, scenic and relaxing cruising.

I did another tack to get up close to Home Island then came in close to the cove on the southern side of the Island.  The sheds of the Cocos Islands Jukong & Sailing Club were visible and some beach area suitable for landing.  I was in a bit of a wind shadow though so I got of the board for a quick rest in waist deep water on the sandy bottom, then headed back.

I passed some locals fishing in dinghies along the way, waiving at them as I cruised past.  I stayed mostly in shallow water, crossing the occasional blue hole. It was a blast cranking up some speed and doing some slalom turns in the deeper water.  I made good time on the return trip, and was stoked to complete it.

The downwinder onto Direction Island is a bit more tricky. I was advised that you have to stay well to the west of Home Island to avoid its big wind shadow, which puts you in deep water.  Boat support for that trip is recommended.

The trip to Home Island I did was mostly in shallow water. You could do it one way and catch the ferry back to West Island.