If it weren't for all the fun activities and water sports offered at this resort, it would be a lost cause. There aren't many options for food (which isn't that great anyway), the rooms are mediocre at best, but the activities...wow, what a savior. We rode camels on the beach, went jet skiing out in the ocean, went on the banana boat multiple times (I think that's what they're called) and enjoyed the beautiful weather out on the beach. If this resort did some major (and I mean MAJOR) renovations and updating, it would be a wonderful place to stay because the location and beach are great and beautiful, just the actual accommodations could use a lot of work. I didn't have too much interaction with the staff, but they seemed about average too me. I would definitely recommend this place for young adults who are active and looking for a "no-frills" get-away.

We re called this mediorce island and found the rooms, service, food and activities woeful. We had such a bad time that we left two days early. We were members of the Mercue club but resigned after we complained almost daily to management and then when we got home we called and wrote letters to no avail. The whold resort is just waiting to be bull dozed, the food sub standard and the staff who pushed in line to eat at the buffet, requests for blankets so my kids to go to bed ignored, staff openly rude for simple buffet requests, and to top it all off--one night the bare services closed down so staff could attend a 'reward night', being charged for towels although it rained everyday...however the camel rides were great and a day trip on the Grace was exciting, warm hosts, simple but lovely food--fresh seafood and brilliant local fruit---everything the not so great keppel wasnt!

We decided to stay at Great Keppel resort on our way to Townsville. What a mistake.

The arrival on the island is great. The ferry literally beaches onto the sand. A representative from the resort meets you and off you go by foot to the resort. Unfortunately you are required to follow the guide around while he explains where everything is. This seemed to take foreever. Finally we got to our villa. Yuk. I am not all that fussy but it is run down and disgusting. The shower and bathroom was covered in mould and cobwebs. The drain hole in the sink was stained and mouldy. The balcony was covered in sand as was the floor inside. It was a major operation to get the sand off your feet and get into bed.

We decided to go for a walk and look around. The pools are ok but a bit dated. We went to the bar that eveing and there was pretty much no one there. The place seems to cater mainly for families. We had a few drinks and waited for the entertainment to start which never happened. I ordered a slice of lemon in my drinks and when the bar staff opened the container with lemon it was covered in tiny flies.

The nightclub was closed. The poolside cocktail bar closes early, around 7pm I think.

Buffet Breakfast was good. Heaps to choose from and a nice balcony if you want to sit outside.

All in all, it did not have the resort feel you would expect. It was dreary and there is not a lot to do unless you pay for watersports. We would not go again.

My girlfriend and I took a trip to this resort, as a surprise birthday gift from a relative just over a year ago, and while we had a good time, there were a number of things that really let the trip down.

First of all, I just have to mention how beautiful Great Keppel actually is. The beach is amazing, from top to bottom, flawless golden sand and crystal clear water. There's a coral reef within swimmable distance from the shore, and the resort provided snorkle gear provided probably the best part of the trip, swimming in and around the reef. The sunsets are amazing and it honestly feels like paradise.

I'm sure that if I came here when I was 20, single and the resort was still owned and run by Contiki (party central) that I would have had a brilliant time. Unfortunately, Mercure simply bought the entire package to make into a family resort then did absolutely nothing to change it to suit.

The resort is quite large, and features a golf course, about 4 pools, a spa, a number of restaurants (only one was open), a nightclub (closed) and a few bars - (both empty and full of bored young staff). There's a few shops and takeaway stores, which are nothing to write home about. Most of them were full of day tourists thus it was impossible to get food at all.

Literally nothing has changed since its glory days - the rooms are extremely basic dormitory style with cheap furniture, room flaws (paint smears, damp and mouldy bathroom etc.) everywhere. The room isn't that comfortable and is extremely dated - from fittings to decore. It looked nothing like the website at all.

There is also nothing to do if you don't want to go out on the water. It rained nearly the whole time we were there, but there were no activities planned. The bars and pubs were empty except for at night when the staff drank in them. The only thing to do at night was to eat at the terrible and depressing buffet restaurant then go back to the room.

There was no al-a-carte restaurant open when I was there. The nightclub was closed too, along with 2 other bars.

The pools were small and dated, and in awkward areas (right in the middle of walkways). Day tourists wandered around the resort at leisure, using all the facilities. There was absolutely zero comfort or even the illusion of luxury.

It just felt like a ghost town, or a tacky beach town. Little to no other guests, most of them families and elderly, very few other young couples. Bored young staff, most of them probably left over from when the place actually had a soul. Conversations with some of the bar employees informed me how amazing the place "used" to be when it was strictly under 30s. I could imagine.

I honestly couldn't wait to leave. The whole place was barely half open, the rooms were cheap and nasty, the facilities were tired and rundown, the staff didn't care, the public areas were dirty and day trippers wandered around enmass, using all the facilities we had paid good money for.

The place is in the middle of demolition, to be replaced by a brand new resort. Here's hoping that it does the absolutely stunning Island justice.