Sailing to Great Keppel Island: Liveaboard Adventure on Australia's East Coast Episode 133

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 22:00:09 +0000

Hi and welcome aboard @SailingAstridTheWombat
We are Gav and Shezz and two and a half years ago we bought our Beneteau Oceanis 430 sailboat with absolutely no sailing experience and jumped straight into the deep end of liveaboard sailing. Our very first passage was just over 700 nautical miles, launching us headfirst into the world of bluewater cruising, learning to sail, and real life at sea. Since that moment, we’ve been fully immersed in boat life, documenting the journey of turning a production cruising sailboat into a capable, self-sufficient home for full-time liveaboard life. From major sailboat upgrades and off-grid power systems to everyday maintenance and skills building, we have been learning what it truly takes to own, sail, and live on a boat while preparing to sail around the world. We have now left the dock and our adventure has begun so hit subscribe to come along on the journey of a lifetime. If you’re into sailing adventures, beginner sailing, sailboat ownership, cruising lifestyle, and traveling the world by sailboat, our journey is all about real-time learning, ocean freedom, and realising our dream of world cruising under sail...Let's go!

Join us as we leave the stunning anchorage of Pancake Creek and set sail along Australia's spectacular east coast to one of the Southern Great Barrier Reef's most beautiful destinations – Great Keppel Island. This sailing passage may be calm, but the reward at the end is nothing short of incredible. Crystal-clear water, white sandy beaches, secluded bays, and breathtaking scenery make Great Keppel Island a must-visit for anyone cruising the Queensland coast.
We're living aboard our 1990 Beneteau Oceanis 430, Astrid the Wombat, as we chase our dream of sailing around the world. Follow along as we share the reality of full-time liveaboard sailing, from passage planning and navigation to discovering remote anchorages, hidden beaches, and unforgettable moments along Australia's coastline.
In this episode, we depart Pancake Creek, enjoy a peaceful sail with glassy seas, briefly encounter a couple of playful dolphins, and arrive at Great Keppel Island, where we spend time exploring some of the island's most beautiful beaches. Whether you're planning your own sailing adventure, dreaming about buying a sailboat, or simply love travel and the ocean, this episode is packed with inspiration.
If you're interested in liveaboard sailing, sailing Australia, cruising the Queensland coast, Great Barrier Reef sailing, boat life, Beneteau Oceanis 430, anchoring, cruising lifestyle, beginner sailing, off-grid living, or travelling by sailboat, you've come to the right place.
Every week we share honest sailing adventures, lessons we've learned, beautiful destinations, and what it's really like living full-time on a sailboat as we work towards sailing around the world.
If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to help support our journey. Your support helps us continue creating sailing videos and documenting life aboard Astrid the Wombat.
Subscribe and join us as we sail Australia's east coast and beyond!

Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 430
Mission: Sailing Around the World
Lifestyle: Full-Time Liveaboard Sailing
Route: Pancake Creek to Great Keppel Island Queensland Australia

Don't forget to subscribe and follow along as we navigate Australia's coastline and continue our quest to explore the world by sailboat.

You can also become part of our crew over at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/sailingastridthewombat/posts

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Leaving Pancake Creek
04:33 Port of Gladstone
04:49 Sunrise
05:25 Dolphins
05:40 Headsail Out
06:22 Humocky Island
08:00 Great Keppel Island
09:40 Anchored at Fisherman's Beach
10:45 Ashore on Keppel Island
14:00 Sail Plans
14:18 Monkey Beach Keppel Island
15:05 Hideaway Bar
15:36 Sunset Great Keppel Island

Please leave a comment, like and subscribe to follow our journey.
Join us now as we head off up the coast of Queensland to explore the world by sailboat.

We promise you will have a laugh!
Welcome aboard Astrid The Wombat
Gav and Shezz
You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook: Sailing Astrid the Wombat