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Would you rather spend three days exploring a crowded city or go off-grid on a tropical island? If it’s the right answer (read: the latter option), then Great Keppel Island just off the coast of Queensland is the place to go.
With a coastline stretching over 13,300 km, Queensland has a range of epic places to visit. In fact, Queensland has just under 2,000 islands dotting its coast, making it one of Australia’s most popular destinations for island holidays.
A few of those islands are on the well-trodden tourist map. Hamilton Island, K’gari (Fraser Island), and Whitsunday Island which are by far the most famous islands. That also means they’re often swamped with tourists. So, if you’re looking for an untouched island with pristine beaches, Great Keppel Island should be at the top of your list – and I’m about to tell you why.
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Where is Great Keppel Island?
Great Keppel Island is 15 kilometres off the coast of the tropical town of Yeppoon in Central Queensland. The island is situated on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, which is one way of saying it has incredible snorkeling spots, crystal-clear water and picturesque white sand beaches.
How to get to Great Keppel Island
Hamilton Island and K’gari are popular because they’re so easy to get to. I think there’s a travel principle which says the more difficult a place is to get to, the better the experience is. This very much rings true when applied to Great Keppel Island, and that distance adds to the island’s ‘untouched paradise’ appeal.
To get to this slice of paradise, you’ll first have to fly into Rockhampton. From there, it’s an hour’s drive to the Keppel Bay Marina in Yeppoon, where you’ll catch the ferry to the island.
The hour’s drive isn’t as simple as you might think though. The cheapest way to get to Keppel Bay Marina is by hopping on the bus directly outside the arrivals terminal at Rockhampton Airport. The journey takes just over an hour and is AU$0.50 under the current Translink network (usually AU$6).
Since the bus isn’t that regular, I recommend checking the timetable online before booking your flight and ferry to ensure you don’t miss the latter. Otherwise, you’ll end up like me, missing the bus by mere minutes and having to pay AU$100 for an Uber to get to the ferry on time. It was not the cheapest start to my holiday, that’s for sure!
Once you get to Keppel Bay Marina and board the ferry, it’s a cruisy 35-minute ride to the island. As you get closer to the island, you’ll be welcomed by a stunning view of the palm-tree-lined beach, instantly relaxing you. You’ll be dropped off at Fisherman’s Beach, where your first step on the island will be into the crystal-clear water lapping at the shore. What better way to start your time on the island than that?
Best time to visit Great Keppel Island
Located just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, Great Keppel Island experiences warm weather year-round.
While you may think visiting in the summer is the best time, it isn’t. As a Queensland local, I always have to remind people that this is a tropical state with two distinct seasons: wet and dry. Ironically, the dry season is during winter. If you’re American, the weather in Queensland is much like southern Florida.
So, when is the best time to visit Great Keppel Island? July to September. During these months, you’ll experience dry, sunny days and fantastic visibility for snorkeling and diving. The dry season also coincides with whale and manta rays, another exciting reason to add this place to your bucket list!
Where to stay on Great Keppel Island
One of the reasons people (me included) want to visit Great Keppel Island is because it remains relatively undeveloped, evoking an ‘off-grid’ feel. The only developments on the island include two ‘resorts’, a couple of independent vacation rentals, one restaurant, one cafe, and one establishment that doubles as both a bar and a souvenir shop.
Great Keppel Island Hideaway is the largest accommodation on the island, though it’s still quite small compared to standard resorts. Having said that, it’s the only resort on the island with a restaurant which can be quite a luxury when you just want to wake up and enjoy a hearty Australian bacon and eggs brekkie. It also has a newly opened beach club right on Putney Beach, perfect for watching the sunset with a refreshing cocktail in hand.
Great Keppel Island Holiday Village is the other central accommodation and offers cabins, glamping tents, and campsites. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a cheap place to sleep.
No matter where you stay on the island, you can dine at the restaurant at Hideaway and use the water sports facilities in the hotel.
Great Keppel Island 3-Day Itinerary
In my opinion, no amount of time on Great Keppel Island would ever be enough. If you are limited on time and are planning your first visit, I recommend staying for at least three days – at least to make the journey worth it.
From snorkeling with sea turtles to catching rays on the white sand beaches, we’ve put together the ultimate itinerary so you know how to spend three incredible days on this island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 1: Visit Shelving Beach & Monkey Beach
When you think of the Great Barrier Reef, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? I’m going to take a wild guess and say snorkeling. So, for your first day on the island, you’ll visit two of the best snorkeling spots. And you’re going to absolutely love both of them.
Pack a bag with lots of food, water, and snorkeling gear, as you’ll be out most of the day. If you don’t own any snorkeling gear, you can rent some from Great Keppel Water Sports.
Your first snorkeling spot of the day is Shelving Beach. To get there, walk to the opening in the bush at the end of Fisherman’s Beach, where the hiking trail begins. While it’s only a ten-minute walk through the bush, it can be pretty steep and rocky in some places, so take your time. It’s not the most hospitable terrain for unseasoned hikers so keep your eyes on the road ahead of you.
As you walk through the trees, don’t forget to stop and take in the sweeping views of Fisherman’s Beach to your right. As you near Shelving Beach, you’ll hear the waves before you see them. But once you get close enough, your jaw will drop in awe of the stunning scenery.
With crystal clear water lapping against the shore, shimmering white sand, and views of mainland Australia, Shelving Beach is easily one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. And, if you get there early enough, you’ll be able to enjoy it all to yourself!
The coral reef is only a few feet from the shore, so slide on your flippers and put on your snorkel mask before making the short swim out. Once there, you’ll be greeted by colorful schools of fish, thriving coral, and even a turtle or two!
After a couple of hours at Shelving Beach, it’s time to head to your next destination: Monkey Beach. Despite the name, there are, unfortunately, no monkeys at this beach.
Depending on the tide, you can head to the beach over the rocks at the end of Shelving Beach, which only takes around five minutes. However, if the tide is in, you’ll need to walk back along the track where you came and follow the signs to Monkey Beach. It takes around 25 minutes to walk from Shelving Beach to Monkey Beach, and the track is very steep in some parts, so watch where you’re walking and take your time.
The reef off Monkey Beach is a bit further out from shore but is much bigger than the one at Shelving Beach, so the longer swim out is definitely worth the reward. From tropical fish to reef sharks, there is plenty of marine life to see at Monkey Beach.
In the afternoon, head back to your accommodation to freshen up and grab dinner at the Bar & Bistro at Great Keppel Island Hideaway – the burgers are delicious!
Day 2: Hike to Long Beach
Get up bright and early because today is the day you visit Great Keppel Island’s (and maybe even Queensland’s) most gorgeous beach!
Pack a bag with food and water, as you’ll want to spend most of your day at Long Beach.
The hike to Long Beach starts at the forested area at the southern end of Fisherman’s Beach. The track takes around 25 minutes but is much flatter and easier than the tracks to Shelving Beach that you encountered yesterday.
Arriving at Long Beach is like stepping into a postcard, with glistening turquoise water lapping against the white sand. Think Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, but with a lot fewer people jostling for the best spot on the beach. Long Beach is a 2km stretch of white sand that squeaks beneath your toes and boasts some of the clearest water on the island.
Find a spot on the beach and spend your day floating in the shimmering waters, lazing on the soft sand, and soaking up the sun’s rays. Despite the beach’s extraordinary beauty, it doesn’t get that many visitors, so don’t be surprised if you’re the only one there!
In the afternoon, return to Great Keppel Island Hideaway and grab a drink at Pipi’s Beach Club. This is the only place on the island where you’ll find a real variety of cocktails on offer. A favorite is the ‘climax’, the perfect refreshment to sip on as you watch the sun go down.
Day 3: Beach drop off
While there are 17 beaches on the island, not all are within walking distance, but did you know that you can get to the beaches via water taxi?
Unbeknownst to many tourists on the island, Great Keppel Water Sports offers beach drop-offs at any beach of your choice. I recommend asking to be dropped off at Secret Cove on the island’s northeast corner for the morning, as it’s a spectacular spot to swim, snorkel, and explore.
Alternatively, you can ask the staff which beach they recommend based on the wind conditions. Depending on which beach you get dropped off at, the cost ranges from AU$90 to AU$120.
After your tranquil morning at a remote beach, hire a kayak for the afternoon from Great Keppel Water Sports and explore the Fisherman’s Beach area. One of the best things to do on Great Keppel Island is to paddle through the transparent waters on Putney Beach looking out for turtles, and then head around the corner to Leeke’s Beach, where tropical fish are aplenty.
If your arms aren’t too sore yet, make your way through Leeke Creek, a quiet oasis behind Leeke’s Beach. Hiring a kayak is a fantastic way to explore quieter parts of the island and see the beaches from a different perspective.
When it’s time for the sun to go down, head to Fisherman’s Beach for a sunset swim, the perfect way to end your three days on the island.
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