Monkey Beach is a stunning crescent of white sand on the northern coast of Great Keppel Island, part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Sheltered and calm, the beach offers easy shore-entry snorkeling directly onto fringing coral reefs just metres from the sand. The water is clear and shallow, making it ideal for spotting colourful reef fish, rays, and green sea turtles. With its remote island setting, minimal crowds, and excellent reef access right off the beach, Monkey Beach is a hidden gem for snorkelers seeking a pristine Great Barrier Reef experience without the need for a boat.
Monkey Beach / Monkey Beach Reef
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Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 3.3 sWind Speed 1.0 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Marine stingers (jellyfish)
Stinger season (marine stingers including box jellyfish) can be present in Queensland coastal waters during the warmer months. Wearing a stinger suit is recommended.
Low risk: Outgoing tide current
The snorkeling reef lies a few hundred metres offshore; strong outgoing tides can create currents that may pull swimmers away from the beach.
Low risk: Sun exposure / sunburn
Sun exposure is intense in tropical Queensland. The shallow sandy areas and reef flats reflect sunlight, increasing burn risk.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Monkey Beach is on the northern side of Great Keppel Island, accessible via ferry from Rosslyn Bay (near Yeppoon, Queensland). From the ferry jetty on Great Keppel Island, follow the walking track north across the island for about 20–30 minutes to reach the beach.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Rosslyn Bay Boat Harbour carpark (fees apply) before catching the ferry to Great Keppel Island. No parking on the island itself — only walking tracks connect the beaches.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports