Rosslyn Bay departure
The coach drops your group at Rosslyn Bay Harbour, ten minutes south of Yeppoon, for the morning ferry across Keppel Bay.
Capricorn Coast · Southern Great Barrier Reef
Great Keppel Island Tour
Seventeen beaches of white sand, coral you can snorkel straight off the shore, and barely a crowd in sight. Wop-pa — Great Keppel Island — is the southern Great Barrier Reef's quiet achiever, a thirty-minute ferry ride from Rosslyn Bay on the Capricorn Coast.
The reef island without the reef crowds
Most Great Barrier Reef trips mean a long boat ride to an outer-reef pontoon shared with hundreds of others. Great Keppel does it differently: the coral here is fringing coral, growing close to shore, so in the right conditions you can wade off the beach and snorkel over it within minutes of landing.
The island itself is mostly national park and undeveloped bushland, ringed by around seventeen beaches. Fisherman's Beach and Putney Beach sit near the ferry arrival point; walking trails lead over the headlands to quieter bays and lookouts across Keppel Bay.
Cooee Tours includes Great Keppel as a highlight day on extended Queensland itineraries and arranges it within private Central Queensland charters — coach travel, ferry connections and timing all coordinated, so your group just enjoys the island.
How a Great Keppel day comes together
Fisherman's & Putney Beach
Step off near the island's two most accessible beaches — swim, settle in under the casuarinas or grab a bite near the jetty.
Snorkelling the fringing coral
In calm conditions, snorkel over coral gardens close to shore — Monkey Beach and Shelving Beach are local favourites for fish life.
Headland walking trails
Short trails climb to lookouts over Keppel Bay; longer walks reach quieter beaches like Long Beach for those who want the island to themselves.
Afternoon return
Ferry back to Rosslyn Bay where the coach is waiting — with a Yeppoon foreshore stop or Emu Park's Singing Ship on the way through, time permitting.
Woppaburra Country
Great Keppel is Wop-pa, home of the Woppaburra people for thousands of years. Their connection to the island and its waters continues today.
Itineraries are tailored per departure and group; ferry operators, timings and inclusions are confirmed at booking and subject to weather and sea conditions.
Great Keppel questions
How do you get to Great Keppel Island?
Ferries to Great Keppel Island depart from Rosslyn Bay Harbour, about ten minutes south of Yeppoon, and the crossing takes roughly half an hour. On Cooee tours, coach transfers and ferry connections are coordinated for you.
Is Great Keppel Island part of the Great Barrier Reef?
Yes. Great Keppel sits within the southern Great Barrier Reef, and unlike many reef destinations its coral is fringing coral — close to shore — so you can snorkel straight off the beach in the right conditions rather than taking a long boat ride to an outer reef pontoon.
Can you swim at Great Keppel Island?
Yes. The island has around seventeen beaches of white sand, with Fisherman's Beach and Putney Beach near the ferry arrival point being the most accessible for swimming. During stinger season (roughly November to May), follow local advice and consider a stinger suit.
Can this tour be arranged for a private group?
Yes. Great Keppel features in our extended Queensland itineraries and can be arranged as part of a private Central Queensland charter for seniors groups, clubs and special-interest groups. Call 0409 661 342 or email contact@cooeetours.com.au for a quote.
Put the Capricorn Coast on your itinerary
Winter is prime touring season in Central Queensland — calm seas for the crossing and mild days on the beach. Call us to plan a Great Keppel day for your group.
Call 0409 661 342