Trish and I have been to Great Keppel Island a few times for various reasons, it's a tropical island only about 30 minutes by boat from a town on the Queensland coast called Yeppoon, which is only 40 kilkometres from Rockhampton where we lived. This trip was just a weekend trip for us with the kids. Reagan was about 3 and Jordan only about 6 weeks old. We had arrange some cheap accomodation on the beach front, but after arriving decided to upgrade to a larger better room in their hillside villas so we actually had some room.

We didn't do a lot, mainly swam ate and napped, which suited us just fine as with a new born baby sleep is always appreciated. The resort itself had just been sold by the Contiki group so was now trying to build up a family image once again after a few years as a singles paradise. There are many things to do if you want such as swim, tennis, basketball and squash, just to name a few. Or one could wade in the glorious clear sea waters or walk alone the white silicon sand beaches. One tip Eskies or cool boxes are allowed onto the island, drinks are very expensive so if you are going for a few days take some drinks for your room, you'll save a fortune... :)

Ah we found the East Coast's best kept secret, Great Keppel Island, we got the ferry first thing, which then landed on the beach, from here we were greeted by a 4wd which then took our luggage back to camp/hostel, Great Keppel is a complete sandy island, no roads and only 3 places to stay, it has a total of 17 beaches, home for a couple of days was the Great Keppel Island Holiday Village, which comprised of some dorms, quiet a few tents and cabin, somehow me & Rachel managed to get ourself in a tent and trust me this was an upgrade from the dorm, so basically for the first time we had our own room so a bit of space, as soon as we got that we booked in for another night and got it for the price of a dorm.  We collected some snorkling gear and headed for one of the many beaches, from here we were able to swim out to the coral for some snorkling which was pretty cool and saw loads of Rays some of them with bright blue stripes on them, our first evening here was chilled and early night just to make the most of having our own room (it was a tent but set up more like a room with proper beds, electricity and even bed side tables!)  Our 2nd day here we spent the morning on the beach lapping up the sun and we didnt see a soul, bliss, then in the afternoon we went on a motorised canoo trip, which basically had bars on the side so it took us out to coral that we couldnt swim too and dragged us along over the top of it, we then went over to a uninhabited island for a look around, then back to the beach for the last of the sun and the sunset.  We decided to push the boat out tonight and go to the 2 bars that are on the island, the 1st one was dead, really not many people on this island, so made our way down to the second, now there had been a wedding here earlier in the day so was full of Australians, which is about the first bar I have been to on the coast which isnt predominently travellers.  And it had Kareoke and Rozy they made you look good!!! but it was a very funny night, we did keep talking about having a sing, but never quiet made it, we couldnt agree on a song, well there was 3 nationalities amongst us and most the music I had never heard off.

Day 3 on the Island, unfortunately it was raining today, and if it is raining then there really isnt anything to do on this island, so we decided to get an earlier ferry back to Emu Park as we couldnt sun bathe.