Where we go

Dotted throughout Keppel Bay off Queensland’s central coast, the Keppel Islands are part of the Great Barrier Reef. They’re east of both the Capricorn coast and Rockhampton. For thousands of years, Aborigines harvested the islands’ rich resources for survival. Today, people visit the islands to relax on the sparkling white sandy beaches, snorkel the coral reefs and swim in the clear waters.

The Keppels are popular amongst resort-goers, campers, day trippers, school groups, boaties, and divers.

Made up of 17 islands, they range in size from small, bare rocks to the 1454ha Great Keppel Island.

The region is the southernmost section of the Great Barrier Reef and boasts some of the best hard coral cover and fish life in the region because of its clear waters and mild temperatures.

Great Keppel Island is also called Wappaburra which means 'resting place’. Situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and only 15 kilometres off the Capricorn Coast, Great Keppel Island is the largest of the 14 islands known as the Keppel Group.

The survival adventure begins at Rosslyn Bay Marina with a ferry ride to Great Keppel Island. Full tuition with an experienced guide and time to practise is provided for first time kayaker’s before embarking on the paddle to Humpy Island. Once camp is set up, you can take a guided orientation tour around the island or just relax and enjoy the beach.

The rest of the tour is up to you:

Humpy island and Great Keppel Island have plenty of walking trails so when you are tired of reading, relaxing, snorkelling and sunbaking you can explore the bushland trails and look for wildflowers, keep a lookout for dolphins or pick oysters off the rocks. Whales frequent the islands in September and as numbers are on the increase, there is a good chance you’ll spot one or two with calf in tow on their journey north or south. Listen to a talk on the Great Barrier Reef or just watch the stars in the evenings after a day on the water, a great meal and sunset, is an excellent way to wrap up a memorable day.

Come and learn about sea kayaking and things you can do to make it more comfortable for yourself. Learn how to organise your own trips and what is available to make your trip more enjoyable.

Scotty Gardner
Experienced Guide

Scotty Gardner is your full time 'survival' adventure tour guide. He has 15 years of experience with sea kayak expeditions and has been involved in outrigger canoe racing and other kayaking sports for over 10 years. Although not all at once of course, he’s had time off for meals and stuff.

Scotty is a fully qualified dive instructor and has been fishing and camping in the Keppel region for over 30 years. That makes him sound really old but he’s quite young at heart.

Although white-water rafting has to nothing to do with anything, if it impresses you then he has done a few years of that too in the Tully river and lived to tell the tale. If it does look like being lots of white water however, you might want to opt out of that day’s canoeing.

He's also an active member of the Emu Park Surf Lifesaving Club so if you do fall in at any time he is fully experienced in panic and first aid.