Great Keppel Island: Day Trip Ferry & Lunch from Yeppoon

Summary

Catch the Yeppoon ferry to Great Keppel Island for a relaxed day with lunch and water sports included

You’ll step straight onto Great Keppel Island’s soft sand after a quick ferry from Yeppoon, with lunch and your choice of snorkel hire or an hour on a kayak or SUP included. Enjoy cold drinks on the lawn, swim or explore at your own pace — it’s easygoing and feels like summer should feel.

What’s the experience like?

I remember feeling oddly giddy as we waited at Keppel Bay Marina — maybe it was the salty breeze or just the idea of a whole day on Great Keppel Island. The ferry ride only took half an hour, but it felt like we were crossing into another world. There’s no jetty, so you literally step off the ramp right onto the sand (yes, my feet got wet — should’ve worn shorts). Kids around us squealed when the cool water hit their ankles. I could smell sunscreen and seaweed, that sort of holiday mix.

We followed a sandy path past a sign with hula girls (which made me laugh for some reason), then found GKI Watersports. The guy running it handed over snorkel gear with a grin and told us where to spot parrotfish near the rocks — he said “just look for flashes of blue.” My partner tried out a stand-up paddleboard instead, wobbling at first while a local couple cheered her on from their towels. I liked how nobody rushed us; it all felt easygoing, like time moved slower here.

Lunch was up on this patch of lawn under big umbrellas at the Hideaway — nothing fancy but good food, and cold drinks that tasted even better after swimming. I went for fish and chips (couldn’t resist), washed down with a schooner of Great Northern. There was music playing somewhere nearby, but mostly just chatter and the sound of kids chasing each other barefoot through sand. We had hours to wander or just do nothing before catching the 4pm ferry back to Yeppoon. I still think about that quiet stretch after lunch, toes in warm sand, not wanting to check my phone at all.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Great Keppel Island day trip

• Depart 9am ferry from Keppel Bay Marina
• 30-minute ferry to Great Keppel Island
• Disembark onto soft white sand
• Head to GKI Watersports & Activities
• Arrange snorkel hire or 1hr SUP/kayak
• Walk to Hideaway lawn area
• Enjoy lunch and refreshments (11:30am-2pm)
• Depart island at 4pm ferry

Top questions

How long is the ferry ride from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island?

The ferry takes about 30 minutes each way between Yeppoon and Great Keppel Island.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

Yes, lunch is included at the Hideaway between 11:30am and 2pm.

Do you get wet getting off the ferry at Great Keppel Island?

Yes, there’s no jetty so you step straight onto sand and may get wet feet.

What activities are included in this tour?

You can choose full-day snorkel hire or one hour using a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP).

When does the ferry depart from Yeppoon?

The ferry departs every day at 9am from Keppel Bay Marina near Yeppoon.

When does the return ferry leave Great Keppel Island?

The return ferry departs Great Keppel Island at 4pm.

Are drinks included during lunch?

Your lunch includes one drink: either a schooner of beer, glass of house wine or soft drink.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes, children can join but must be accompanied by an adult; infants can sit on laps or use prams.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip ferry transfers from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island, full-day snorkel hire or one hour using a kayak or SUP, lunch with your choice of drink (beer, wine or soft drink), plus all taxes and environmental fees are covered before heading back in the afternoon.