Continental islands and reef-fringed shores off the Capricorn Coast

Overview

Keppel Bay Islands National Park protects 13 islands off the Capricorn Coast, about 15km east of Yeppoon. These are continental islands rather than coral cays, with steep hills, rocky headlands and sheltered sandy bays rising straight from the sea. Great Keppel Island sits within the island group but is not part of the national park. The park also sits within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and its islands are edged by fringing reefs, seagrass and intertidal habitats that link the land closely to the surrounding marine environment.

Highlights

The character of this park comes from contrast. Some islands are little more than rugged rock outcrops, while others carry quiet beaches, forested slopes and tucked-away bays. Steep cliffs and rocky peaks give many of the islands a bold profile from the water, but the shorelines soften into sandy coves and reef flats. Around the islands, fringing coral reefs add another layer to the scenery, making the whole group feel distinctly tied to the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Best Time to Visit

The most comfortable months are usually the cooler, drier stretch from autumn into spring, when the air is less humid and walking feels easier on the islands’ exposed slopes and beaches. Conditions can still vary quickly on offshore islands, so this is a place that tends to feel best outside the wet season’s heavier heat.

Plants and Animals

Despite their modest size, the islands protect a surprisingly varied patchwork of plant communities, including grassland, heath, shrubland, open forest, woodland and pockets of low rainforest. North Keppel Island is particularly notable for seasonal freshwater wetlands with cabbage palm open forest, a combination that is unusual on Great Barrier Reef islands.

The park and adjoining waters are important for wildlife both on shore and at sea. Islands in the group support nesting habitat for marine turtles, including loggerhead, flatback and green turtles, while the surrounding marine habitats are used by dugongs, dolphins and migrating whales. Coastal birds are another big part of the picture, with the islands providing habitat for resident shorebirds and internationally significant migratory species that spend the non-breeding season along this coast.

Culture and Heritage

Keppel Bay Islands National Park has direct Traditional Owner connections to the Woppaburra and Darumbal people, both of whom are identified as having an interest in the management area. North Keppel Island holds particularly important cultural places, including middens and fish traps, and the islands carry a long history of living with the rich marine resources of the surrounding reefs, shores and intertidal zones.