The absolute highlight of my time living in Australia has been the five weeks I spent on Great Keppel Island (also called Wop-pa). This is a small island – although it’s the largest of the Keppel island chain – off the East Coast, part of the Capricorn Coast and the very southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s slightly off-the-beaten-path, and doesn’t attract as many visitors (compared to K’gari (Fraser Island), for example). It’s not on the backpacker’s route, probably because there are no hostels. But Great Keppel Island is an incredible destination on the coast and one spot you need to visit in Australia. Here’s my guide to this paradise island!

How to Get to Great Keppel Island

There are two ferry companies that run regularly from Yeppoon – which is about 35 minutes from Rockhampton, on the A1. Freedom Fastcats and Keppel Konnections both offer ferry services to Great Keppel Island, and are typically about the same price. Note that they leave from different ferry terminals at Rosslyn Bay Marina, so remember where you parked your car. The ferry journey takes about 30 minutes.

How Long Should You Spent on Great Keppel Island?

I spent five weeks, and it wasn’t enough! But I know in reality, most people can’t do that. So, I recommend a minimum of three days on Great Keppel Island. This will give you enough time to see the sights, enjoy swimming and snorkeling at multiple beaches, and do some of the shorter hikes. Ideally, you should spend five days to really relax and enjoy island life. You’ll be able to do some of the longer hikes, and spend more time on the beaches. If you can swing it, Great Keppel Island is the perfect place to spend a week or two living that island dream!

If you have no other way to visit, you can go to Great Keppel Island on a day trip. But please, don’t. Give yourself more time in this paradise! If you’re after a day tour to Great Keppel Island, check out the below options.

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Great Keppel Island?

Winter and spring (June to September) are the best times of year to visit Great Keppel Island. You’ll have the best weather during this time, while hopefully avoiding both stinger season, and the hot and humid summer temps (around December). It can sometimes get a bit chilly at night in winter, so packing a light jacket is a good idea! If you visit between July and September, you might be lucky enough to see humpback whales on their way north. I saw a whale from the ferry as I was leaving the island, and felt so lucky!

The Best Beaches on Great Keppel Island

Great Keppel Island has some of the best beaches I’ve seen in Australia! There are so many to choose from – it’ll really depend on what type of beach you’re after.

Fisherman’s Beach: Best for Easy Access

This beach is the main beach on Great Keppel Island – it’s where all the ferries arrive. It’s also the busiest beach, when the island is “busy,” that is. I always liked walking down to the far end of the beach, by the rocks.

Putney Beach: Best for Swimming/Sunbathing

This is the other main beach on Great Keppel Island, located up the side of the Hideaway resort. If you are wanting to just lay out in the sun and go for a dip, this is the best spot! The mid- and late-afternoon sun here is just perfect. It’s also a top spot for watching the sunset.

Shelving Beach: Best for Snorkeling

Shelving was my favorite beach for snorkeling on the island! It’s convenient to get to – about a 15-minute walk from Fisherman’s Beach. And the reefs are really amazing for wildlife. I saw my first turtle while snorkeling here and it was the best experience!

Leeke’s Beach: Best for a Quieter Alternative to Putney

If you want to lose the crowds on Putney Beach, head up over the hill and down to Leeke’s Beach. You’ll still get good late-morning to mid-afternoon sunshine, but with fewer people. I recommend wearing trainers to do the walk, as the path is pretty rocky.

Monkey Beach: Best for Wide Open Spaces

If you want to enjoy huge stretches of pristine white sand and shallow, sparkling blue waters, Monkey Beach is the one for you. It only requires a bit more effort to get to than Shelving Beach, but it’s much bigger – so you can enjoy the wide open space.

Long Beach: Best for Nudists

Long Beach is the nudist beach on Great Keppel Island – so if you’re wanting to tan sans swimsuit, this is where you should go! Having said this though, I rarely saw anyone fully nude on this beach. And yes, the beach really is long!

Second Beach: Best for Solitude

If you want to have a beach all to yourself on Great Keppel Island, head to Second Beach. You’ll need to hike for just over one hour to get here (it took me 1 hour and 10 minutes, one-way), but it’s well worth it. There’s great sun in the afternoon, and there likely won’t be anyone else there.

Svendsen’s Beach: Best for Yacht Spotting

The rich and fancy usually moor up at Svendsen’s Beach, to take advantage of the sheltered bay. Check out the boats and yachts as you relax on shore – and maybe try to make some new friends haha! It’s about five minutes further from Second Beach, so about 1 hour and 15 minutes’ hike.

Butterfish Bay: Best for Seclusion and Snorkeling

Butterfish Bay is secluded and peaceful – and absolutely worth the hike to get there. It’s approximately a 1.5-hour walk to get here. You’ll be rewarded with a wide stretch of perfect white sand, and there probably won’t be many others there. It’s also one of the best snorkel spots on Great Keppel Island! Unfortunately, the day I went was very windy and after some rain, so the visibility for snorkeling was very poor. I wish I could have gone back on a better day!

Wreck Beach: Best for Sand Dunes, Surfing, and Emptiness

This beach also requires a trek to get there – the access is via the Lighthouse trail, and will probably take about 2 hours, one-way. But the chances are very good that you’ll have the entire epic beach to yourself. Relax among the sand dunes! If you have access to a boat, bring your surfboard and catch some waves here.

The Best Snorkel Spots on Great Keppel Island

Great Keppel Island remains some of the best snorkeling I’ve experienced in Australia! My trips to the Whitsundays and Fitzroy Island (off the Great Barrier Reef) were slightly marred by poor weather, and nothing really held a candle to Great Keppel. Great Keppel Holiday Village offers free snorkel and fins hire for your stay, otherwise be sure to pack your own! These are the top places to snorkel on the island.

• Fisherman’s Beach (far end, by the rocks)
• Shelving Beach
• Monkey Bay
• Clam Bay
• Butterfish Bay

The Best Hikes on Great Keppel Island

I spent so many of my days on the island doing bush hikes and exploring. Be prepared, though! The trails on the island, particularly out towards the Lighthouse, are not well-signposted at all. The markers are sometimes just small rocks in the middle of the path, with white writing. Sometimes the paths are indistinct, and little more than goats’ trails. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear, too!

1st Lookout

It takes about 20 minutes to walk up to 1st Lookout on Great Keppel Island. It’s not a long walk, although it is a steep climb up. The trees have really grown since the pictures that are on the GKI map, but you can still get a nice view. It’s easy to get lost and turned around on the trails at the beginning, getting to the paved road that goes to the dump!

Time: 40 minutes

Distance: 2.6km

Long Beach

Head into the bush to Long Beach, which will take about 30 minutes. Stroll along the beautiful white sand, then head over the ridge to Monkey Beach. Come back via Shelving Beach. It’ll take just under 2 hours altogether, but you’ll probably want extra time for swimming.

Time: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours

Distance: 5.6km

Mount Wyndham

Mount Wyndham is the highest point on Great Keppel Island at 178 meters, so this is one hike that can’t be missed! The views from the top are stunning, and well worth the climb. You’ll definitely want sturdy footwear for this one, as the final steep ascent is on a very rocky path.

Time: 2.5 hours

Distance: 7.6km

The Lighthouse and Wreck Beach

This is a full-day hike, and not to be underestimated! Hike across the entire island to see the Lighthouse, and get down to Wreck Beach. This was one of the best days on the island for me – I absolutely loved it. The girls I was working with and I all had the whole day off work to get to do this together, and it was just the best day. The views over the coastline and other Keppel islands were simply incredible. I loved getting to see so many different parts of the island I’d never seen before! Keep your eyes peeled for the trail markers – black stones with white writing – as they’re very east to miss.

Time: 7-8 hours

Distance: 22.5km

Butterfish Bay

Spend a perfect day or afternoon hiking out to Butterfish Bay for swimming and snorkeling. I recommend walking there via Svendsen’s Beach – on the way back, return via Leeke’s Beach to extend the hike. Again, keep a lookout for the trail markers, to make sure you’re on the right trail. It took me 1.5 hours to walk there, and 2 hours to walk back.

Time: 3.5 hours

Distance: 15.6km

Other Things to Do on Great Keppel Island

There are other things to do on Great Keppel Island, if you are still looking for something different from swimming and hiking! Keppel Dive offer scuba diving sessions, as well as PADI courses. You can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from them, too. If you’re wanting to visit some of the beaches on the far side of the island, but don’t have the time to hike both ways (or just don’t want to!), they can arrange beach drop-offs, too!

I loved kayaking out to Middle Island. I also loved when I had boat access for snorkeling around Passage Rocks. Passage Rocks was the best snorkeling I think I’ve ever experienced! If you can get a boat transfer with a surfboard, surfers will want to head to Wreck Beach for surfing.

I absolutely recommend spending a few days on the island. But if you’re short on time and after a day tour to Great Keppel Island, check out the below options!

Planning Your Trip to Great Keppel Island

Great Keppel Island is accessible only by boat. There are no cars allowed – the only vehicles on the island belong to the businesses. You won’t see any street signs here, as there are no real streets. There are no supermarkets or stores – the Hideaway resort has a small gift shop with essentials. Tropical Vibes also has a souvenir shop, as well as the island Post Office. The only places to dine out on the island are the Hideaway and Tropical Vibes (they close mid-afternoon, after lunch). Be sure to stock up at the supermarket before your ferry, and bring all your own food (and drinks!) with you. Bring bugspray, as the mosquitoes can be brutal (and I say that as a Minnesotan) – you can thank me later.

While there is an airstrip on the island – which I believe is only used for emergencies – the closest airport to Great Keppel Island is Rockhampton airport. I always use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Rockhampton has train and bus connections up and down the East Coast. You can take a bus to Yeppoon and Rosslyn Bay Marina, to get the ferry to Great Keppel Island. There is free long-term parking available at the car parks in the marina – I parked my car here for five weeks with no problems. There is secure paid parking available, too. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Where to Stay on Great Keppel Island

There are two places to stay on GKI: Great Keppel Island Hideaway, which is the main resort. You can also stay at Great Keppel Island Holiday Village, which is where I stayed during my five weeks on the island! The Hideaway has more rooms and amenities, while the Holiday Village is best for travelers on a budget. There are a few other private rental properties around the island, but nearly everyone stays at these two.

Great Keppel Island Holiday Village offers a variety of different accommodation options, along with a large, fully equipped communal kitchen, BBQ, and a firepit for socializing in the evenings. The different types of accommodation are:

• Twin rooms (sleeps two)
• Family room (sleeps four, one double and two singles)
• Glamping tents (sleeps two, both doubles and twins available)
• Cabins (sleeps four, one double and two singles)
• Dolphin Cottage (sleeps five, two doubles and one single)
• Camping sites

Note that the only camping accommodation on Great Keppel Island is at the Holiday Village. No camping is allowed on the beaches around the island.

I was lucky enough to meet some of the best people during my time on the island. Everyone I worked with was wonderful, and I’m so grateful that I got to spend my five weeks here with such an incredible family. Thank you all for making my experience so special!!

Great Keppel Island was one of the best places I’ve visited in Australia. It is truly an island paradise, and I feel so blessed that I got to spend five amazing weeks living there. If you’re traveling the East Coast of Australia, do NOT miss this incredible island! Give yourself at least a few days to enjoy all the island has to offer. I hope this post has convinced you to visit Great Keppel Island, and helps planning your trip!

Have you visited Great Keppel Island? What was your favorite place on the island?

You might also like my posts:

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Exploring the Waterfall Way: Bellingen to Wollomombi, New South Wales

A Guide to Jervis Bay, New South Wales

A Travel Guide to Blackdown Tableland National Park, Queensland

Moving to Oz on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life in Australia

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All of my Australia posts!

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