Great Keppel Islands

Our whole decision to drive towards Rockhampton was to go to the Great Keppel Islands. Then, with the need for car maintenance, we spent a little over a week in Emu Park and only one day on the island. We had talked with a hostel about doing work for accommodation there, but they wanted a 3 week long commitment and we weren't keen on being stuck on an island with only a twice a day ferry as our way off.

I could have spent at least another day on the island, it was way bigger than expected! So many trails and beaches.

After looking at the ferry schedule, on Saturdays and Sundays, an early ferry left at 8am instead of 9:30 and was $15 cheaper. More time on the island plus saving money? Sold. Unfortunately, we didn’t follow the Australian way and pre-book…so since the ferry only had 2 bookings, it bumped everyone back to the 9:30. We were still able to pay the cheaper price but spent an 1.5 at the marina instead of on the island.

We originally planned to walk to a lighthouse, but as none of the maps actually had distances marked, we quickly realized this walk would take 6 hours round trip and we’d be rushed to make It back to the ferry leaving no time to go to the beach and snorkel. We changed course to a lookout point where we ate our picnic lunch and then headed to the beach. 

Quentin and Stella split off to meet up with a friend while Jo decided it was too cold to snorkel so hung out on the beach taking photographs while I swam. He of course saw a manta ray right on the shore while I saw no animals in the water…DANG IT. 

The walk back from Monkey Beach to the ferry ended up being steeper then anticipated - but we made it just as the ferry pulled in. We waited for passengers to get off and all the luggage from the island hotels to be loaded, then hopped on to watch the sunset as we drove back to the mainland. Good adventure day!