Secret island alert: 48 hours on Keswick Island

Being so close to Mackay, it’s a short, 15-minute fight over the Great Barrier Reef to Keswick’s secret island paradise. You can hire one of the many charter planes and helicopters available to make this short trip a scenic one as well. 

Of course, if it’s the reef you’re interested in, motoring from the mainland to the island is the only way to go. You can book the Keswick Explorer for ride to the island or charter a boat too. There's no jetty on the Island at the moment, but Keswick Explorer are working on creating one to help with mooring your boat.

Checking-in

For a small island, Keswick Island has accommodation options to suit whatever comes its way, and won’t blow your budget. With a large, self-contained Beach House and a fully-catered guest house, the island has a home for you, regardless of your preference.

What’s more, there’s no such thing as a room without a view. Every type of accommodation faces the Coral Sea or Keswick’s neighbouring cluster of Cumberland Islands.

To get around, why not hire a golf buggy? Four wheels will make discovering the 530 hectares of sublime wilderness much easier so you can make the most of your stay.

Back at secret island beaches

When there are five magnificent beaches to share with just a handful of residents, you can be pretty much guaranteed of finding a secluded swimming spot.

For a quick dip, head to Basil Bay. One of the most beautiful beaches in Queensland, Basil Bay transforms at high tide into a beach of Maldivian proportions with crystal clear waters and perfectly calm swimming conditions.

At low tide, neighbouring Arthur Bay can be reached with a short stroll. It guarantees snorkelling fun when the water swallows the beach, turning the bay into something like a megasized aquarium you can swim around in. Although you'll have to bring your own snorkelling gear, the variety of aquatic life will make it worth your while.

Keswick Island’s crown jewel, though, is Connie Bay. A vision of sweeping white sand, fringing coral and towering rocky cliffs, this beach is one of a kind. If you decide to walk it, we can tell you the hike is worth it when you dive into those crystal-clear waters.

Go fishing

The protected waters of Egremont Passage attract a vast array of fish including Spanish mackerel that could feed a crew.

Jetty fishing is all well and good on the mainland, but Keswick only deals in reef and deep sea fishing. The island provides a perfect base for keen fishers, with coral trout and red emperor swimming in the outer reef.

Just note that the Keswick Kiosk is currently not open, so all utilities will have to be brought by you.

Get active

Considering 80% of Keswick Island is on national park territory, there’s no shortage of adventures to try. 

Hike to the highest point on the island to cast your eyes over Egremont Passage, the body of water that separates Keswick from its neighbour, St Bees Island. The hike is a bit gruelling, but with a summit 309m above sea level, the view is worth it.

Going in the other direction, a snorkel, mask and set of fins is all you need to explore the Great Barrier Reef coral fringing Keswick Island. Just note that while the reef is incredibly beautiful, all snorkelling gear will need to be brought by you.

From standard snorkelling to cave diving, Keswick’s submarine and scuba scene takes you through deep underwater canyons and the crystal waters of Connie Bay.

The underwater adventures don’t stop there. With no fewer than four shipwrecks off its shores, the Keswick dive sites are some of the finest places to scuba in Queensland.

Of the four ships that went down between 1890 and 1950, only three have been discovered so keep your eyes peeled to spot the long-lost Woy-Woy, said to be on the floor of the Egremont Passage.

Whale-watching

But that’s just on land. Marine life in and around Keswick Island is blessed with a lot of diversity, with dolphins, tropical fish, and manta rays all present in the water.

But if you can time your visit to fall between July and September, you might just get a chance to see humpback whales as they start their migration past the island. These gentle giants use the passage between Bees and Keswick Island as a highway home. You can get a clear vantage from Basil Bay, or any of Keswick’s prominent headlands will provide the perfect vantage point for you to witness this migration. You can even watch from your boat; just make sure you brush up on the Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching.

Meet the local fauna