Before I went to the Cocos Islands, I wouldn't have been able to tell you these tiny specks in the Indian Ocean are Australian territory.

I wouldn't have been able to tell you much about them at all, in fact.

They're overshadowed by their more famous neighbour, Christmas Island, but the Cocos, about halfway between Perth and Sri Lanka, are a tropical paradise.

Twenty-six islands make up the Cocos but only two - West Island and Home Island - are inhabited, and have a combined population of about 600.

Understandably, many activities and much of the employment centre on the water, which is as blue as the sand is white.

The only downside to visiting the Cocos is the distance.

It requires a four-hour flight to Perth from the east coast of Australia.

One of the two flights a week goes direct to the Cocos, while the other requires a four-hour trip to Christmas Island and then a one-hour flight.

But if you can stand that much time on a plane, flying in over the islands' breathtakingly beautiful beaches offers a sight to behold.

The Cocos are a world-renowned destination for kitesurfing, which is a good thing for the islands because the peak season for the activity is in the cooler (but not really that cold) months, from July to September.

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Hidden gem in the Indian Ocean