1. Snorkelling
Great Keppel Island forms part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and with the island covering an area of more than 14.5 km², there are lots of reefs and sensational snorkelling opportunities! There are a couple of options when it comes to snorkelling Great Keppel Island you can hire equipment from Keppel Dive & Watersports and go for a snorkel off the beach yourself or join one of the fantastic guided tours available on the island. The best locations vary from day to day depending on the conditions and the staff can also point you in the right direction if there’s a particular type of marine animal you’d like to see. A local’s favourite is Monkey Beach which has quite a nice coverage of coral reef and is also a great place to swim with turtles.
2. Bushwalking
One of the benefits of being such a large island is that there are a number of bushwalking tracks available. These range from basic beach walks through to the more adventurous and challenging walks. The more challenging walks include amazing views from 1st Lookout and a visit to Leeke Homestead, the heritage listed homestead built back in the early 1920s. There’s so much history on Great Keppel Island! If you’re heading off on one of the bigger walks be sure to take lots of water and let someone know your plans.
3. Sailing
A trip to Great Keppel Island wouldn’t be complete without a sailing adventure! Join Funtastic Cruises for a sail around Great Keppel Island and the surrounding islands. It’s a great change of pace and a perfect way to explore some of the more remote islands in the bay.
4. Glass bottom boat tour
If you’d like to see the reef but don’t really want to get wet, then make sure you check out the Glass Bottom Boat Tour. Keppel Ferry Co. offer these tours daily and they’re a great way to get up close with the coral gardens, fish and turtles that call Great Keppel Island home. If the conditions are right, you’ll also get a chance to watch lots of hungry fish as a part of the fish feeding at the old Underwater Observatory. The Observatory is no longer operating but it has now been turned into a green zone which means it’s illegal to fish here. As a result, there’s a huge population of fish!
5. Water sports – kayak, SUP, boat hire
For those of you who love action-packed water sports, Great Keppel Island also has boat hire, kayaks and stand up paddle boards for hire. There are a number of businesses which operate from Putney and Fishermans Beaches and offer these activities with the option to take part in guided tours as well. GKI Boat Hire is a great way to explore parts of the island that you wouldn’t normally get to. With 17 beaches scattered around Great Keppel Island, a jet ski is definitely the best way to visit and snorkel them all!
