Our Management Team maintain the RFDS Medical Kit in case of major accidents and medical emergencies. Please follow the sorting instructions for used cans and bottles These are sent to specialist recyclers on the mainland and the funds are donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Remember you are on a wonderfully isolated island. Please bring your own first aid kit with Band-Aids and paracetamol and your regular medications. There is a First aid kit in your cabin for emergencies.
We are powered by the sun at Cape Keppel Beach.
To honour our obligations to the planet we have installed the most advanced Australian made battery storage system to support our power needs.
Please help us conserve power by keeping your air-conditioning at 24 degrees. Please turn off your bedroom air-conditioning when you are
not in the room. Turn off all the air-conditioning when you leave the cottage.
We limit the use of diesel fuel to essential transport and infrastructure maintenance. Since the introduction of our solar power system we have reduced our use of diesel consumption by 72%.
We collect beautiful rainwater for drinking. It’s triple filtered and regularly tested.
Your drinking water is delivered to the special drinking water tap in the kitchen sink. The cold tap in the vanity basin in the bathroom also dispenses drinking water. We do not support the use of single us plastic bottles so please bring uou own refillable water bottle. There is plenty of drinking water so make sure you are well hydrated all the time. It gets hot when you are having fun on the beach.
Our shower water is pumped from the aquifer 11 metres under the sand dune to the tanks above the Cape Keppel Lodge.
The water is chlorinated and filtered. Both showers are supplied from this source. Enjoy your showers but please don’t be wasteful of water.
We are committed to protecting our beautiful island and the world at large. You can help us during your stay. There are 6 waste sorting
containers in your accommodation. Please use them.
Sadly, the waste of others finds its way to our beaches. Please collect whatever you find on the beach and put it in the General Rubbish Bin at the wash down pipe. We will then return it to the mainland for appropriate recycling.
Your green waste is fed to the chooks and then raked over and mulched into the veggie patch. Our worms will be most appreciative of your contribution.
We are very protective of our marine life here, so do avoid the use of any plastic wherever possible. Please don’t bring single use plastics to Cape Keppel Beach. There is no need to bring bottled water.
Please bring your refillable water bottle.
Please follow the sorting instructions for used cans and bottles. These are sent to specialist recyclers on the mainland and the funds are donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Where possible, we have utilised eco and organic materials. Our cleaning and laundry detergents are chosen for their eco rating.
Our water storage tanks and pipes are all made from recycled materials.
Our laundry is taken to the mainland for cleaning in a modern ecofriendly establishment using responsible cleaning products.
Our bathroom amenities are 100% biodegradable. Please bring only eco-sustainable bathroom products with you for your stay. Our toilets are connected to a septic system. Please do not put
anything other than toilet paper into the toilet. Feminine hygiene disposal containers are provided in the bathrooms.
‘Bush’ is one of our strange words—it means rural, undeveloped countryside but for us it’s anything that isn’t the city or the beach!
Bush walking, like most physical activities comes with some risks. But that’s not a reason not to do it! It’s a reason to understand the risks and address them responsibly.
Here are some things you should do to make sure you have a safe, enjoyable time in the Queensland bush.
Never hike alone
Rule number one is to never go bush walking alone. If you do get lost or hurt, you want to have someone there with you to help. Always go with a responsible adult or group of at least 3 experienced people over the age of 16.
Before the hike
Prepare before the hike by planning and packing.
Check the weather
Before you go, check to see what the weather is going to be like. If it is too hot, or bushfires or storms are expected, go another time. Don’t go bushwalking in extreme temperatures and there is nothing worse than getting caught in a thunderstorm when out hiking.
Plan your route
Know your fitness, knowledge, experience and skills and choose walks that suit your abilities. If walking in a group, choose tracks that suit the skill and ability of your slowest walker.
Dress for the adventure
Rough ground will need sturdy shoes. You want adequate foot support and a good
amount of grip to reduce your risk of injury. Lightweight sports shoes are not recommended for bushwalking.
Wear your clothes in layers to make it easy to add or subtract a layer to suit temperature changes on the trail.
Long-sleeved, lightweight shirts and trousers are ideal for bushwalking as they help protect against scratches and stings.
Make sure you have the following:
In addition to the clothes listed above, also pack:
The 2 Way from your cabin and your phone with a full battery.
Water—When hiking in the Queensland bush, you can really work up a sweat! Stay hydrated by taking plenty of clean drinking water. Always carry more water than you think you’ll need. We all react to heat and humidity differently, but generally, the hotter and more humid it is, the thirstier you will be. Work out how much water the group will need for the hike you’re planning and check that each person has sufficient water.
Sunscreen—Put on a large amount of factor 50+ sunscreen at least 20 minutes before heading out. A hat will offer sun protection too and keep you shaded and cool. Sunglasses can also be good to use on a hike.
Insect repellent—Use an insect repellent to protect yourself from insect bites and stings.
Snacks
First aid kit
Map: Load the Avenza App on your phone, and download the Cape Keppel Beach Avenza Map from the Hospitality Team.
Make sure a responsible and reliable adult who will not be participating in the hike knows where you are going and for how long. The best way of doing this is to tell them:
Don’t drop rubbish: The bush is important to us Queenslanders, and there are a few easy ways you can help keep it that way. We love ‘being green’ which means caring for the environment. You can help too by always carrying all your rubbish with you until you find a rubbish bin to put it in. Dropping rubbish can injure or kill the wildlife or even start a fire!
Never start fires: Lighting fires is illegal as they can easily get out of control. Never do it. Lighting a fire can endanger your life, the lives of others and the lives of animals too.
Look after nature: Don’t touch or damage plants or trees.
The speed limit is 25klm/hr.
Driving in the National Park is restricted to the formed roads Turtles nest in our dunes so never drive on the dunes. Please use the designated access points to enter the beaches.
Always journey on an outgoing tide and park above the highwater mark.
Please watch and observe the instructions in these how-to 4WD videos.
The speed limit on all roads is 25km/hr.
Cattle and native animals have right of way.
Please drive to the conditions of the road.
Our eBike batteries are rechargable from our solar array.
If you hire an eBike please follow the instructions given by the Management Team.
Don’t speed.
Don’t double up.
Don’t ride close to the sides of hills.
Never light a fire unless you have sought permission from the Management Team.
When the weather is right we allow a beach bonfire of a maximum of 1 metre square.
Beach fire must only be set below the high water mark.
Please make sure it is fully extinguished before you go to bed. That means dousing it with sea water and covering it with sand.
North Curtis Island, and more specifically Yellow Patch has very steep sand dunes.
A favourite pastime for visitors to the island is running as fast as you can down a dune and diving into the crystal clear waters of the lagoons at the bottom of the dune.
This can be great fun but also very dangerous so please be careful. Never allow children to dig tunnels in the sand dunes.
North Curtis Island has some of the most beautiful and enticing beaches in the world and when the sun is out it is very tempting to take a nice cool dip.
Our wild beaches are not patrolled by lifeguards and dangerous riptides can often be spotted along the shores, especially on the eastern side.
We recommend you swim only during the day and not at dawn or dusk. Please always wear a stinger suit or rashie.
SNAKES
Spring is the beginning of snake season. For some people this may sound like a nightmare, but it is actually a sign of a healthy and thriving ecosystem.
If you are ever lucky enough to see one of our scaled friends, don’t panic. Back away to a safe distance. Your unexpected visitor will move on because, contrary to popular belief, snakes don’t want anything to do with people. A snake will only bite if it feels threatened; they are much smaller than we are and a bite or a strike is their only
defence if they can’t get away first.
In the warmer weather, snakes spring into action, moving onto greener pastures where food, mates or a nice warm place to rest will often find them in close contact with humans.
CROCODILES
Yes, crocodiles have occasionally been seen at the lagoons and in the mangrove creeks. We have errected warning signs where they have been seen but they could be anywhere. They can see you but generally you can’t see them in the water.
Never take unnecessary risks in crocodile habitat. You are responsible for your own safety, so please follow these guidelines and be croc wise:
STINGERS
Stingers, though rare, are known to enter the waters around the island during stinger season and when a northerly wind is blowing.
It’s always wise to wear a stinger suit in tropical waters and keep white vinegar with you on your trips to the beach.
The most dangerous marine stingers found in Queensland waters are the Box Jellyfish and Irukandji Jellyfish.
