Monkey Beach, on the northern side of Great Keppel Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, is a stunning white-sand beach fringed by a vibrant coral reef just metres offshore. The crystal-clear turquoise waters offer excellent shore-entry snorkeling directly onto the reef, where you can swim among colourful coral bommies, tropical fish, and sea turtles. This secluded spot is accessible only by a 40-minute bushwalk across the island or by boat, delivering a true escape into untouched reef wilderness. Known as Great Keppel Island's premier snorkel and dive site, Monkey Reef is a must-visit for its pristine coral gardens and abundant marine life.
Monkey Beach / Monkey Reef
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Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 3.3 sWind Speed 1.0 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Boat traffic
Swimmers and snorkelers should be aware of boat traffic in the channel between the beach and the reef.
Low risk: Shallow coral at low tide
The reef can be exposed at low tide, making it difficult to snorkel over the coral without risk of damaging it or being injured.
Low risk: Stinger season (jellyfish)
Stinging jellyfish (e.g., box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in tropical Queensland waters, particularly during the warmer months (October to May).
Low risk: Tidal currents
Strong currents can occur around the reef edges, especially during changing tides.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Monkey Beach is on the northern side of Great Keppel Island, about 40 minutes walk from Fisherman's Beach (the main ferry landing at Great Keppel Island). Ferry services depart from Rosslyn Bay Marina near Yeppoon, Queensland. Once on the island, follow the walking trail across the island to the north shore.
Parking & facilities
Park at Rosslyn Bay Marina (paid parking) and take the ferry to Great Keppel Island. No vehicle access on the island itself.
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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