Nepean Island
A small island off Kingston, quarried for the stone the convict buildings were cut from.
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Nepean lies a short distance off Kingston, a low island of calcarenite, a limestone made of cemented shell sand, and that is why it matters: the blocks in the Georgian buildings at Kingston were quarried here and rafted across. Nothing lives on it now except seabirds, which nest in numbers on the flat top. Landing is restricted and the crossing depends entirely on the sea. The island is only around ten hectares and the whole of it is visible from the Kingston shore.
What you actually see
- The quarry ground - where the Kingston building stone was cut.
- The calcarenite - the cemented shell sand the island is made of.
- The seabird colonies - the nesting on the flat top.
- The crossing - the short but swell-dependent boat passage.
When to go
September to May is warmer and calmer. Landings are cancelled often. Seabird nesting is heaviest in the warmer months.
Honest expectations
Landing needs a permit and is frequently impossible because of the swell. There is no shelter or facility of any kind. Nesting birds must not be disturbed.
Nearby
Phillip Island is south, and Kingston is north.
What to pack for Nepean Island
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
