Cocos Islands

The Cocos Islands are two atolls with a turquoise lagoon, kitesurfing and a population of a few hundred. Everything is priced in Australian dollars, costs are high because of shipping, and there are exactly as many shops and services as the settlement needs. It is warm and windy all year, wetter from December to April, and cyclones pass occasionally. Work is mostly public sector and tourism, healthcare is basic, and access is by flights from Perth via Christmas Island.