$30 one way, $55 return: that is the adult fare Keppel Konnections charges from Keppel Bay Marina to Great Keppel Island, and on 1 October 2026 it was the only published fare on the route. The other boat out of Rosslyn Bay has just changed hands, and its new operator has not put a timetable online yet.
Keppel Konnections departures as published on its timetable, home and FAQ pages, read on 1 October 2026; no end date is given, and a separate Christmas Day timetable exists but is not published. Keppel Ferry Co had no timetable online on that date Keppel Konnections – Great Keppel Island Ferry Timetable · 2026-10-01
Five published departures a day, one operator publishing them. Keppel Konnections sails from the Red Jetty at Keppel Bay Marina at 07:30, 09:00 and 15:00 every day and its 14:00 and 16:00 sailings leave Great Keppel's Fisherman's Beach for the return, with an adult fare of $30 one way or $55 return. The crossing takes about 30 minutes by the operator's own description, though its booking system lists 35 minutes out and 45 minutes back. It is a locally owned company, and its website sits on the domain of the island's Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
The other half of the route is in transition. Freedom Fast Cats, which ran Great Keppel transfers for more than 27 years, now says Keppel Ferry Co has taken over its island ferries and tours, and that it will concentrate on chartering and leasing its vessels. On 1 October 2026 Keppel Ferry Co's website said it was under construction and gave only a phone number, an email address and its Pier One address, while the old Freedom Fast Cats booking page listed no products. Until the new operator publishes its times and fares, this page cannot show them.
Keppel Konnections prices both directions identically, and a return works out cheaper than two singles. Its booking form gives the child band as 4 to 14 and the infant band as 0 to 3, while the same product description says children are 5 to 14 and infants 4 and under; if your child is exactly four, check which fare applies before paying.
| Adult | $ 30 |
| Child 4–14 | $ 20 |
| Family, 2 adults and 2 children | $ 100 |
| Infant 0–3 | Free |
| Adult | $ 55 |
| Child 4–14 | $ 30 |
| Family, 2 adults and 2 children | $ 160 |
| Infant 0–3 | Free |
Keppel Konnections fares as shown in its booking system on 1 October 2026, with no validity date stated; Keppel Ferry Co publishes no fares Keppel Konnections Reservations – Transfer departing Keppel Bay Marina to Great Keppel Island · 2026-10-01
Both operators leave from Rosslyn Bay Harbour on the Capricorn Coast and head out across Keppel Bay to Fisherman's Beach. Great Keppel has no roads, which is why the boats carry people and luggage rather than cars. Keppel Konnections is emphatic that the island is neither a national park nor privately owned, so day visitors are welcome and so are dogs. Tasmania's Maria Island is the reverse case: the whole island is national park, so every passenger on the Maria Island ferry needs a parks pass on top of the boat fare. Further south down the Queensland coast, the next island crossings on this site are the Heron Island ferry and Gladstone's Facing Island ferry.
Rosslyn Bay Harbour has two sides, and Keppel Konnections warns that its departure point is easy to miss. Turn off the scenic highway towards the harbour and take the first exit at the mini roundabout for Keppel Bay Marina, the side with the Waterline Restaurant and the private moorings. Boats leave from the Red Jetty; you can unload beside the shaded area at the top of it, then park in the marina car park, which the operator says is free but not secure or patrolled. Route 20 buses run by Youngs stop outside the main marina building. Keppel Ferry Co, the other operator, gives its address as Pier One on John Howes Drive in the same harbour.
There is no jetty or pontoon on Great Keppel. Boats nose onto the sand at Fisherman's Beach, a name Queensland's place-names register traces back to a 1919 survey plan, and the crew hands luggage down over the bow. Island accommodation meets each ferry to collect bags. For the trip home, Keppel Konnections asks you to be on the beach at least 15 minutes before departure.
Keppel Konnections allows one suitcase or backpack plus one small bag per person, and one esky of up to 40 litres, with a 23 kg limit per paying passenger. Larger eskies are refused because everything is unloaded by hand over the bow.
Every landing is onto soft sand. The operator says a passenger who cannot walk would most likely need to be carried off the boat, and asks anyone with limited mobility to phone before booking.
Your own kayak, SUP or wakeboard can travel only if it is booked in advance with Keppel Konnections; they are not accepted on the day.
Day trippers can use the bitumen car park outside the marina office; the dirt area is off limits. For overnight stays the operator suggests arranging secure parking with a private storage business.
Freedom Fast Cats says Keppel Ferry Co will honour and run every booking already made. Ring Keppel Ferry Co on (07) 4933 6888 to confirm your time and where to board at Pier One.
That leaves a practical split. If you want to book online today, with a published fare and a fixed departure, Keppel Konnections is the operator that offers it. If you already hold a Freedom Fast Cats ticket, you do not need a new one: the old operator says Keppel Ferry Co will honour it. Either way, the island end is the same beach, and the weather decides as much as the timetable, since Keppel Konnections states that every sailing is subject to sea and weather conditions.
Keppel Konnections also sells whale-watching cruises across Keppel Bay, but only in August and September, so the 2026 season is over; its crew follow the national guidelines, which usually mean staying 100 metres from adult humpbacks and 300 metres from mothers with calves. Those trips are separate from the island transfer and are not priced here.
Two operators leave Rosslyn Bay Harbour: Keppel Konnections from the Red Jetty at Keppel Bay Marina, and Keppel Ferry Co from Pier One, which has taken over the services Freedom Fast Cats used to run.
No. Its website says Keppel Ferry Co has taken over its Great Keppel transfers and tours, and that the new operator will honour existing bookings. Freedom Fast Cats now charters and leases vessels.
For an adult, $30 one way or $55 return. Children aged 4 to 14 pay $20 one way or $30 return, two adults travelling with two children $100 or $160, and infants up to 3 travel free.
The last daily Keppel Konnections departure from Fisherman's Beach is at 16:00. A Friday evening boat runs most weeks, but the operator's pages disagree on its time, so confirm it when you book.
From Pier One on John Howes Drive, Rosslyn Bay Harbour. Its timetable and fares were not online on 1 October 2026; phone (07) 4933 6888 for current sailings.
No. All landings are on the sand at Fisherman's Beach, and luggage is handed down over the bow. Passengers who cannot walk may need to be carried ashore.
Yes. Keppel Konnections carries dogs for a small fee, and says dogs are welcome on the island because it is not a national park.
Yes. Keppel Konnections says a return is valid on any departure on any day; just amend the booking so a seat is held, which costs nothing if there is space.