Your ultimate guide to Great Keppel Island

With 17 white sandy beaches, abundant wildlife and clear tropical waters over sprawling coral reefs, Great Keppel Island is one of Queensland’s most under-rated island getaways.

A plethora of activities await on the low-key, barefoot paradise of Great Keppel Island . Hang with a crowd or get away from it all to peaceful coves and sheltered bays surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

As one of the one the most affordable islands to visit on the Great Barrier Reef, you can swim, snorkel, dive and more in what are arguably some of Australia’s best beaches. It’s not all ocean-based fun though, with incredible bushwalks and birdwatching available on land.

Second Beach, Great Keppel Island — Enjoy the view from land or sea. (Image: TEQ)

Great Keppel (Wop-pa in the language of the Kanomi-Woppaburra people) is a diverse and diverting place to stay for all ages, a truly beautiful escape from the rest of the world.

How to get to Great Keppel Island

Fly into the region with direct flights from Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Cairns, and Townsville to Rockhampton Airport. Then it’s just a shuttle bus to Yeppoon where ferries depart regularly from Keppel Bay Marina and Pier One at Rosslyn Bay.

Within 30 minutes, you’ll feel the sand between your toes on Great Keppel Island and instantly relax. Go barefoot – there’s no jetty on the island, so your first step off the ferry will be onto the sand (don’t worry, there are helping hands to help you disembark). Day tours also run from Rosslyn Bay for those who are short of time.

snoekelling on Great Keppel Island — Getting to Great Keppel Island is easy, getting around once you’ve arrived is even easier.

Great Keppel Island accommodation

There’s no problem finding somewhere to stay on Great Keppel, with accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes. Pitch a tent, or stay in a cabin, a motel-style room or a private beach house.

There are two major accommodation providers, Great Keppel Island Holiday Village and Great Keppel Island Hideaway . Both are low-key, relaxed and close to the beach. Great Keppel Island Holiday Village is self-catering, but Great Keppel Island Hideaway has a bar and bistro, sometimes with live music or other entertainment.

Things to do on Great Keppel Island

Walk off the beach and snorkel the reef. It’s that easy on Great Keppel. And you’ve got 17 beaches to choose from. Among the best snorkelling spots are Shelving Beach, Monkey Beach and Clam Bay, where you’ll be amazed at the rich array of turtles, corals and other marine life. You might even spot a dolphin or dugong.

As well as an array of water sports offered by Keppel Dive & Snorkel (think stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and more), there is a network of hiking trails to explore. Keen fishermen can cast a line straight off the beach (but be aware there are no-fishing zones, so check your location first).

Or, of course, you could do nothing at all. Great Keppel’s that kind of place too. Hammock, anyone?

Great Keppel Island tours

Getting onto the water is easy on Great Keppel Island. Full-day and half-day cruises depart from Yeppoon, or try a sailing adventure. If you’re looking for tranquillity, take a guided kayak tour along Leekes Creek or hire one and go it alone.

Diving and snorkelling tours – or drop-offs to explore the reef on your own (for certified divers) – open up the underwater wonders of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Introductory dives are also available.

For those who don’t want to get wet, Freedom Fast Cats runs glass-bottom boat tours as well as a range of other cruises. Whale-watching tours are offered in season (July – September) when you can see the majestic Humpback whales on their migratory path along the Queensland coast.

snorkeling tour with Keppel Explorer — Go snorkelling or diving with providers like Keppel Explorer and Keppel Dive and Snorkel . (Image: TEQ)

Great Keppel Island history

When British explorer Captain James Cook sailed past the island in 1770, the islands of Keppel Bay had been home to the Kanomi-Woppaburra people of the Darumbal nation for around 5000 years. Ancient shell middens can still be found on the island, a reminder of the abundant seafood they harvested from the ocean.

Captain Cook named the bay for his boss, Rear Admiral Augustus Keppel, but it was not until the 1860s that European settlers moved onto the island.

On the northern side of the island, you can walk to the 1920s homestead occupied by the Leeke family still stands. Now heritage-listed, the tin house overlooks the tidal mangroves and Leeke’s Beach. If you’re particularly energetic and have a day to spare, hike the 15km round-trip to the island’s lighthouse at Bald Rock Point.

Great Keppel Island Walk — Explore the islands walking trails.

Great Keppel Island’s natural wonders

For an introduction to what you might see in the waters surrounding Great Keppel, follow the short GKI Sea Way Trail which starts on the lawns overlooking The Spit at Fisherman’s Beach.

The boardwalk winds through Great Keppel Island Hideaway’s grounds and features 15 colourful information panels, each one in the shape of a marine animal. The trail is an initiative of the Keppel Turtle Fund , a local charity focused on education, appreciation, protection, and rehabilitation of the marine environment.

Great Keppel Island Cocktails — Take in the sunset on an island walk.

Sea turtles breed and feed around the island. From November to March, you might be lucky enough to spot a nesting turtle or hatchlings heading to the sea to start their life’s journey.

On land, you won’t wait long to encounter some of the island’s incredible wildlife, including echidnas, goannas, blue-tongue lizards, possums and a rich array of birdlife. More than 100 species of birds live here, including kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, sea eagles, curlews, honeyeaters and more.

echidna on Great Keppel Island — Go hiking or just stay still and let the wildlife come to you. (Image: TEQ)

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.