Great Keppel Island Queensland Australia

"...I defiantly recommend you take some drinking water with you..."

great keppel island beach

Once you are there you are pretty well trapped and at the mercy of Great Keppel Islands offerings which is not much.

The accommodation was basic with the majority of bungalows without air conditioning. This was OK when we were there but I'd hate to sleep in 40 degree heat without it. The hillside bungalows do have air-conditioning for a few dollars extra if you don't mind climbing a steep hill to go to bed every night and these are also furthest from the beach.

great keppel island ferry drop-of

I defiantly recommend you take some drinking water with you, as the Islands water tastes horrible. The food is equally questionable. You can eat at the resort, but the options are extremely limited. Contrary to the slightly confusing marketing materials issued by the resort, the 5 advertised dining options are actually just a choice of 2: a beachside bistro and a restaurant that operates as a perpetual buffet.

great keppel island rainbow lorikeets

The other options are bars. So unless you're an alcoholic, things start to look limited fairly quickly. The Mercure Resort Restaurant has all the atmosphere of a funeral - tired families eating dinner and old married couples staring at each other in stony silence. This I didn't understand, because the buffet offered more conversation starters than you could poke a stick at.

Great_keppel_island laced monitor lizard

The buffet costs $32 a head every night, which was overpriced given that the quality and choice simply wasn't there. And don't even think of trying to eat your way to value. Do you have any idea how many serves of fluorescent beef and potato wedges you'll need to eat? Of course, if you have no tastebuds and an insatiable appetite, things could be looking up for you. If that's not the case and you want to find something remotely edible, there are currently two other dining options on the island which you will find quite easily.

Monitor Lizard

Don't rely on being able to buy much on the island either. Although the resort has a shop and there are some other little spots on the island that sell grocery items, the range is limited and staggeringly pricey.