Keppel Bay Islands National Park

Keppel Bay Islands National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Shelving Beach, 2006
Nearest town or city Yeppon
Coordinates 23°02′30″S 150°52′18″E / 23.04167°S 150.87167°ECoordinates: 23°02′30″S 150°52′18″E / 23.04167°S 150.87167°E
Established 1994
Area 7.20 km2 (2.78 sq mi)
Managing authorities Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Official site www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/keppel-bay-islands/index.html
Keppel Bay Islands National Park
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Nearest town or city Yeppon
Coordinates 23°09′39″S 151°04′30″E / 23.16083°S 151.07500°E
Established 1994
Area 1.04 km2 (0.40 sq mi)
Managing authorities Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

Keppel Bay Islands are part of both a national park and a scientific national park in Queensland, Australia, respectively 538 km and 518 km northwest of Brisbane. The islands are positioned in Keppel Bay, off the coast of Yeppoon and Emu Park on the Capricorn Coast. The largest island and a popular tourist attraction is Great Keppel Island.

From the early 1950s to about 1994, a small resort of about twelve cabins on North Keppel Island was operated by old Mr Walls, a former train driver. Old Mr Walls was assisted by his daughter, Geraldine, and her husband, who also lived on the island. His son Tim Walls operated the boat service to the Island, firstly in a boat called the Somerset, out of Ross Creek, Yeppoon, then in a larger boat called the Keppel Star, out of the Roslyn Bay Boat Harbour.

More recently the island has been run by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Camping, reef walking, boating, fishing, wildlife wathcing, diving and snorkelling are all popular activities within the park.[1]

See also

References

  1. "About Keppel Bay Islands". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.