National park · Australia
Pulu Keeling National ParkTaman Negara Pulau Keeling
Go only if you have a permit and a boat arranged before you fly to the Cocos: North Keeling is 32 km (20 mi) north of West Island, landing is a swim over the reef, and boats turn back in rough weather. Most visitors see the atoll from West Island instead.Go only if you have a permit and a boat arranged before you fly to the Cocos: North Keeling is 20 mi (32 km) north of West Island, landing is a swim over the reef, and boats turn back in rough weather. Most visitors see the atoll from West Island instead.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1995
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- The park covers the whole of North Keeling Island, about 1.2 km² of land, plus surrounding waters (check).
- Established
- 1995
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Pulu Keeling National Park protects the whole of North Keeling Island, a flat, forested coral island about 32 km north of West Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and one of Australia's smallest national parks at roughly 1.2 km² of land. It was protected from 1986, when the Cocos Malay community and the then national parks service agreed to stop hunting there, and was gazetted on 12 December 1995; it is comanaged with the Cocos Malay people. The island is the world's only home of the Cocos buff-banded rail and holds a large red-footed booby colony, plus green turtles, reef fish and more than twenty recorded crab species. There is no jetty, no accommodation and no marked trail network: you arrive by chartered boat, swim over the reef to the beach, and walk the open ground for an hour or two. Permits are limited and weather decides whether you land at all, so treat a visit as a bonus on a Cocos trip rather than the reason for it.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland · 1990Listed as a wetland of international importance (check).
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1995
The park covers the whole of North Keeling Island, about 1.2 km² of land, plus surrounding waters (check).
Why go
- The world's only breeding site of the Cocos buff-banded rail, a bird found nowhere else.
- One of the largest red-footed booby colonies in the Indian Ocean, on a low forested island.
- Reef and lagoon that see almost no divers or snorkellers.
- Comanaged with the Cocos Malay community, so a visit supports local rangers and the island's own conservation work.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanWet season; strong winds, landing often impossible
- FebWet season; cyclone risk
- MarWet season; seas rough
- AprWinds easing; boats still weather-dependent
- MayDrier; calmer seas
- JunDry season; steadiest boat conditions
- JulDry; southeast trades
- AugDry; good reef visibility
- SepDry; calm spells
- OctWarm; winds picking up
- NovWet season starting
- DecWet season; cyclone risk
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocos buff-banded rail (ayam hutan)All year · Found only on North Keeling; the southern atoll population is gone. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Red-footed booby colonyAll year · Nests in the forest; the colony was hit hard by Cyclone John in 1989. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Green turtlesAll year · Seen on the reef and from the beach. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Robber crabs and other land crabsAll year · More than twenty crab species are recorded in the park. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Charter boat 32 km (20 mi) north, then a swim from the boat over the reef to the beach; no jetty.Charter boat 20 mi (32 km) north, then a swim from the boat over the reef to the beach; no jetty.
2–4 h
From Home Island
Ferry to West Island first, then the charter north.
Half day plus boat
From Australia mainland
Flights to Cocos from Perth, then arrange the boat locally.
Flight plus 2–4 h boat
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| North Keeling Island | The whole island: low forest, booby colonies, rail habitat. | Permit only; walk on the beach and marked ground. |
| Reef flat and lagoon | Coral, turtles and reef fish around the island. | Snorkel or dive from the boat; no anchoring on coral. |
| Seabird colonies | Red-footed boobies and other nesting birds in the trees. | Keep distance; no walking into nesting areas. |
Sketch map
- 1North Keeling Island · Summit≈-11.832, 96.824Approximate centre of the island.Map ↗
- 2West Island settlement · Town≈-12.187, 96.829Approximate; the boat departure point.Map ↗
- 3Home Island · Village≈-12.118, 96.895Approximate; Cocos Malay community.Map ↗
- 4Reef landing beach · Beach≈-11.834, 96.820Approximate; the swim landing on the west side.Map ↗
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the island is small and the landing point depends on the sea.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry permit (per person) | Free | person | No published entry fee; a permit is required and is issued by Parks Australia (check). |
| Charter boat from West Island to North Keeling | Free | boat | No public fare; arrange privately or through a local operator, price on request (check). |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands entry to other reserves | Free | person | Pulu Keeling is not covered by Australian state park passes (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Boat and landing arrangement permit or guide
Commercial filming or photography permit or guide
Park rules
- Permit
- You cannot land without a permit issued before travel; rangers may be on the island.
- Landing
- There is no jetty; you swim from the boat over the reef, and the skipper cancels the landing if the sea is up.
- Wildlife
- Do not approach nesting birds, turtles or crabs; keep to the beach and open ground.
- Anchoring
- No anchoring on coral; use the skipper's designated holding area (check).
- Litter and fires
- No fires; take everything back to West Island.
Where to stay
Near the park
West Island accommodation
The only realistic base; a handful of guesthouses and self-catering units, book ahead.
In the park
North Keeling
No camping or overnight stays; the island is a day visit only.
Safety
Reef landing and swim high
Weather turning medium
No medical or phone cover high
Sun and heat medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The island is flat but reached only by a swim from a boat, so it is not accessible for limited mobility.
- There are no paths, boardwalks or facilities on North Keeling.
Visiting lightly
- Keep group size small; the permit system limits numbers and the reef is easily damaged.
- Do not collect shells, coral or plants; everything in the park is protected.
- Book boats through operators who follow the park rules and the Cocos Malay community's management plan.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Pulu Keeling National Park?
There is no published entry fee; you need a permit from Parks Australia and a chartered boat from West Island, and the boat is the main cost. Ask the operator for a price, as there is no public fare (check).
What are the best hikes in Pulu Keeling National Park?
There are no marked hikes. The island is flat and small, so a visit is a short beach and forest walk of one to two hours, plus snorkelling or diving from the boat. Walking is the only way to get around once you land.
When is the best time to visit Pulu Keeling National Park?
June to September, the dry season, when the southeast trades give the steadiest seas and the best chance of a safe reef landing. November to April is the wet season, with rough water and cyclone risk, and boats often turn back.
Can I stay overnight on North Keeling?
No. There are no places to sleep in the park and camping is not allowed. Visits are day trips from West Island.
How do I get a permit?
Apply to Parks Australia before you travel, with your dates and boat details. Permits are limited and tied to a set visit day, so do not book flights on the assumption that you will land (check).
Is Pulu Keeling covered by an Australian national park pass?
No. It is a Commonwealth reserve, not a state park, so state passes and the standard multi-park passes do not apply. See the national park passes page for what those passes do cover.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go