A sad return to Great Keppel Island
22 April 2008 | Great Keppel Island, Queensland
After leaving Pancake Creek we spent a night at Gladstone Marina to stock up on supplies and to treat ourselves to a night out with dinner and a movie. It was all very civilised after being isolated for a week. But we were keen to move on and get to the Islands. Jay and I in particular were keen to get past Great Keppel Island and into an area we were yet to explore.
We left Gladstone Marina early to make our way through The Narrows which can only be crossed at high tide, at low tide much of The Narrows is dry and they walk cattle across from one side to the other. We made it through in good time and headed straight for Great Keppel Island.
Loretta worked at Great Keppel Island many moons ago and was keen to have a look around. True to reports the resort has been closed down and high wire fences erected to keep people out. Rumours are that the person who has acquired the resort has plans to redevelop or refurbish but has not yet had any plans approved. It was a far cry from the last time we were there when the place was full of people in holiday mode, now it was overgrown and quiet. We met quite a few other daytrippers who were walking around as if in a daze saying how sad it was.
We spent the night anchored up in front of the resort and set off the next morning for somewhere we hadn't explored yet! Yay!