Yes, the sand was white, it really did squeak!
Walked barefoot on the white squeaky sand on Great Keppel Island.
Swam in the warm water.
Snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef.
Played in the boom nets off the side of a boat.
Took a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef.
Join me in a GKI Resort Holiday flashback from the 1980s.Â
"I got wrecked on Great Keppel Island"
Indigenous Name
The Indigenous name for Great Keppel Island is Wop-pa.
And the Woppaburra people lived on the Keppel Islands.Â
Flashback to the 1980s
In 1980, I flew from Melbourne to Rockhampton in Queensland.
On route by another small airplane flight from Rockhampton to Great Keppel Island.
We called the island GKI. And, GKI is off the coast from Yeppoon.
1980 Photography
Here is a picture representation of what it was like on the island back then. They show some old photos of the Great Keppel Island Resort.
And yet, I can visualize in my mind some of what it used to look like.
Photography was quite different due to the cameras. And they were not digital. Photo taking was much less in quantity due to the expense of developing film.
And, the photos with me in them, were not taken by me. As selfies weren't really a thing back then. The post-production for this post was created by me.
Great Keppel Island Resort
When I holidayed at GKI. It was a resort-like accommodation with everything included.
I remember, every day you received the GKI newsletter. It listed organized activities that you could participate in.
At these events, you met other people who holidayed on the island.
There were walks. The swimming pool races included eating a cold pie and drinking a warm beer. And, there was Hawaiin night.
You took cruises on the boats to the Great Barrier Reef. And, played on the boom nets, sailed to other beaches on the island, and watched the sunsets.
On one of these walking group activities, I met Sue. And even though we live in different states. We are still friends today,
My favorite dish was the Moreton Bay Bugs.
Great Keppel Island Now
GKI today is very different from when I went about 40 years ago. About two years ago, most of the resort was demolished after standing derelict for around a decade.
Now, the accommodation is mainly cabins.
And, you catch a ferry from the mainland to GKI.
A small airplane landing on the airstrip
The view from my room
The entrance to the Great Keppel Island Resort
The beach in front of the GKI resort
The Boom Nets off the side of a Boat
The boom nets off the side of a boat were my favorite activity at GKI.
From the side of the boat, you slid out along the boom. Then, you went down into the nets whilst the boat was moving. The water current was so strong that you had to hold onto your shorts. Luckily, someone had lent me their shorts.
And, I helped others back up higher onto the nets out of the strong current. It definitely wasn't an activity for bikinis.
What's a Boom Net Experience Like Now!
See what a boom net experience is like now at Huskisson in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.
Map of Great Keppel Island
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Island Holiday at Great Keppel Island Resort in the 1980s
Have you been on an island holiday? If so, what's your favorite island?
Great Keppel Island is quite different from what it was like in the 1980s.
I read that there is interest in the island being bought by a new owner.
I wonder if things will change. And, it'll come back to its days of fun.
Did you get wrecked on Great Keppel Island Resort?
There're many islands to visit in Queensland. Here is a couple:
I have been looking for photos of the pool area back then in 1980. Would you have any. Wish I took more when I was there
I’ll have a look. I remember the pool and swimming in a competition in the pool.
oh this is a cool idea! I like what you did here
Thank you Jen
How fun! I love finding and going through old photos. I did not start scrapbooking until my oldest was born. I hope to go back and do the same for those photos in my youth.
Thank you Heather. That’s a good idea. Thanks for the suggestion.
Looks like you had a great time !
Yes, thank you, Courtney