Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Great Keppel Island, QLD 4700.
&
1800/245 658
in Australia, or 07/4939 5044. Fax 07/4939 1775. www.
contikiresorts.com. 181 units. A$479-A$549 (US$311-US$356) twin, for 3-night minimum stay; extra nights
A$160-A$184 (US$104-US$119) twin. Rates include brunch and dinner. Ask about packages. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
3 restaurants; 4 bars; 4 outdoor freshwater pools; 9-hole golf course; 2 day/night tennis courts;
2 Jacuzzis; gymnasium (7am-10pm); extensive watersports equipment and rental; concierge; tour desk;
salon; massage; coin-op laundry; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV, minibar
(villas and beachfront units only), coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Keppel Haven
Not far from the ferry drop-off point at the beach is this
campground-style enclave of humble but pretty cabins and tents, which is a
good choice for families. Renovated in 1998, the cabins have terra cotta-look
floors, bright new kitchenettes, a small double bedroom, four bunks in the living/
dining area for the kids, fans, and a little porch. The permanent tents come with
twin or double beds, four bunks separated by a canvas partition, and electricity.
Catamarans, Windsurfers, fishing tackle, snorkel gear, and dinghies are available
for hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. There's a general store selling basic groceries,
and three communal kitchens and barbecues. BYO towels or rent them (towels
in cabins).
Great Keppel Island via Rockhampton, QLD 4700.
&
1800/35 6744
in Australia, or 07/4933 6744. Fax 07/
4933 6429. ktsgki@networx.com.au. 40 permanent tents, none with bathroom; 6 family tents (double bed
and 3 single beds); 12 cabins (each sleeps 6), all with bathroom (shower only). 12 bunkhouses (with 1 bath-
room per 2 rooms). Tent A$18 (US$12) per person triple or quad share, A$20 (US$13) per person twin/dou-
ble, A$28 (US$18) single. Cabins A$120 (US$78) twin or double; additional person A$20 (US$13) extra.
Bunkhouses A$80 (US$52) double/twin; A$25 (US$16) quad share. Family tents A$20 (US$13) per adult and
A$12 (US$7.80) children 5-14. Free for children under 5. A$5 (US$3.25) per person linen for duration of stay
for tents. Cabins and bunkhouses have linen supplied. Ask about 3-day, 2-night packages with Keppel Tourist
Services that include ferry transfers and a
1
⁄
2
-day snorkeling or boom-netting cruise. MC, V.
Amenities:
Restaurant; watersports rentals; hair dryers at front desk. In room: Kitchenettes in cabins.
GLADSTONE: GATEWAY TO HERON ISLAND
550km (341 miles) N of Brisbane; 1,162 (720 miles) S of Cairns
The industrial port town of Gladstone is the departure point for the breathtak-
ingly beautiful Heron Island. It is also home to the delectable mud-crab, best
savored over a glass of wine at the award-winning
Flinders Seafood Restaurant.
About 25km (16 miles) south of the town (but off the Bruce Hwy.) are the twin
beach towns of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands, which are worth the detour.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND
Gladstone is on the coast
21km (13 miles) off the Bruce Highway.
QantasLink
(book through Qantas)
has many flights a day from Brisbane (trip time: 75 min.) and two direct flights
a day from Rockhampton and Bundaberg.
Queensland Rail
(
&
13 22 32
in Queensland, or 07/3235 1122) operates
trains most days to Gladstone from Brisbane and Cairns. The fare from Brisbane
(trip time: 6 hr. on the high-speed Tilt Train) is A$84 (US$55); fares from
Cairns (trip time: 20 hr.) range from A$151 (US$98) for a seat to A$298
(US$194) for a first-class sleeper on
The Sunlander.
McCafferty's
and
Greyhound Pioneer
operate many daily coaches to Glad-
stone on their Brisbane-Cairns runs. The fare is A$78 (US$51) from Brisbane
(trip time: 10
1
⁄
2
hr.) and A$142 (US$92) from Cairns (trip time: 17
1
⁄
2
hr.).
Avis
(
&
07/4978 2633),
Budget
(
&
07/4972 8488),
Hertz
(
&
07/4978
6899), and
Thrifty
(
&
07/4972 5999) all have offices in Gladstone.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Gladstone Information Centre
is located
in the ferry terminal at Gladstone Marina, Bryan Jordan Dr., Gladstone, QLD
