In part 2 we visit Fishermans, Putney and Svensen's Beaches and Humpy Island in our trailerable cruising boat.
The following is bits and pieces of info I gathered from the net while researching this trip, with a few of my own thoughts thrown in.
Provisioning: Keppel Bay fuel and public docks, call marina on channel 21 or phone 1800 336244. Bus service from the harbour to town. In good conditions you can anchor off main street for provisioning. We left the boat on the trailer at the boatramp carpark and went shopping at Yeppoon central shopping centre - very good.
Channel 21 for Weather forecasts. Log on at Yeppoon Coastguard 49336600 between Friday and Mon, and keppel Sands 49344906 Tues to Thursday. Drop in at the Yeppoon Coast guard next to the ramp and they can provide you with useful info, maps, zoning charts etc.
Great Keppel Island:
About 9 nautical miles offshore GKI is about 1300 hectares and the biggest of the 18 islands in the Keppel group, It has 17 white sandy beaches, most with not a soul on them, even in school holidays, and some of the shallowest hard coral on the Great barrier reef system. There are a few no anchoring areas clearly defined by white pyramid shaped buoys, mostly around the Fishermans to Monkey Beach area. There is a small population on the island that run the small businesses. I think some use the business as an excuse just to they can live on that beautiful island! The Pizza place apparently makes great pizza but is virtually never open and didn't at all while we were there. I'm told they usually open for a a few hours on the weekends.. There are two licenced areas including a small sandwich/gift shop and a nice pub with decent meals, everything at Island prices of course. There are public bins at Fishermans beach only plus public toilets. There are walking tracks all over the island including the longest one, the lighthouse walk which looks spectacular, but we couldn't do it unfortunately. GKI has a Reputation for rolly anchoranges...
Fishermans and Putney beaches:
The main area where the ferries (tourists) run to. This is where the resort was, and where the few shops are. Putney Beach has the only restaurant/bar on the island.
Leekes Beach: Good for Southerlies. Leekes Creek is easily accessible for trailerable cruising boats at anything about half tide or higher. When entering, pay careful attention to the marker just inside the creek as there are large jagged rocks under water there. The anchorage is very safe and serene however we were warned that the sandflies are killer. We did not even use insect screens and had no problems until about 06:00 when suddenly they were there in plaque proportions and my wife and daughter got covered in bites in minutes. Mozzie coils didn't deter them but the insect repellent sorted that problem.
Svendsens Beach:
Good in a SEer, okay in most breezes except North - has a small yachties area at Western end with a fire pit. Little Peninsula at the Northern end is where the Drowning Cave is although we didnt find it. You can walk to Butterfish beach to the North for good snorkeling.
Long Beach: on the South side is calm in Northerly and Westerlies and apparently ranks in the top 20 of 101 beaches (out of 11761 total Aussie beaches). Its beautiful but I suspect the people that ranked it like that came on the Ferry and thats as far as they walked because there are many other equally beautiful beaches on Keppel!
Wreck Beach:
on the South side is calm in any Northerly winds
Second Beach:
Good in SE to SW winds. Sailors have left their mark in the form of a giant hammock name Skynet and a rope swing and tree still decorated after some long ago Yachties Xmas party.
Monkey Beach:
Very good snorkeling with turtles and plenty of fish and coral to see.
Clam bay:
Good for snorkeling,
Eastern beaches are very nice but only in SW winds.
Humpy Island:
Well worth visiting, has a fresh water bush shower and toilet block, has a lovely short 1.9km ridgetop walk with spectacular views. Great snorkeling around many rocky areas and a reef marked with buoys worth a snorkel but not quite as pretty as Monkey beach. Catherdral rock is good for a climb but not suitable for children. Frankly its pretty dangerous, and a little scary coming back down with all the tiny ledges covered in loose rocks. There is also an eagles nest or two at the top which I didn't notice until I was up there and the mother Eagle turned up. Not much space to sit at the top, you are pretty much on a cliff face, but quite spectacular!
North Keppel Island:
Considine Beach: Very pretty beach and the wife and daughter did okay in beach coming for shells here. Can walk the boat into Considine creek at high tide, but sandflies.. Bush shower and toilet block close to the creek.
My word limit is up in this box, but I will put useful links in next video description....
12 сен 2024
