Visiting Bundaberg

Whether you want to watch baby turtles hatch, 4WD up the beach or just use the area as a stop-over when visiting Lady Musgrave or Lady Elliot Islands, there is so much to see and do in Bundaberg.

Do a tour of the Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Bundaberg is the birthplace of Bundaberg Rum. Established in the area in 1888, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery is still standing proud today. You can do a tour of the grounds to see how they make the famous Bundaberg Rum and even sample some of this golden liquid that has made the city famous.

See the baby turtles hatching at Mon Repos

Also putting Bundaberg on the map is Mon Repos, home of the loggerhead turtles. It’s a sight to be seen when these massive animals come to shore to lay their eggs. During the months of January – March, the baby turtles can be seen hatching out of the nests and making their way to the safety of the ocean. The Mon Repos Turtle Centre offers tours at night to witness the hatchlings heading to water in the moonlight.

Snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef

Bundaberg is also the gateway to the Southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, so if you like snorkelling, you can be sure there is plenty of underwater life to be seen off the coast. Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands both offer award winning eco-tourism adventures for families, couples, and singles, where you can try your hand at scuba diving or snorkelling with the local manta rays or view the fish and coral on-board a glass bottom boat, if you prefer to stay out of the water. Your kids can also try their hand at becoming a Marine Biologist for the day on Lady Musgrave Island.

If you have your scuba diving certification, you can also explore the Ex-HMAS Tobruk, which was sunk to create an artificial reef and world-class dive site in the region. The ship was scuttled in 2018 in 28.5 metres of water and due to the open design of the shipwreck, divers can access 8 deck levels, including a 100m swim within the cavernous tank deck. The best time to visit is in winter where the visibility is typically between 8-20m.

Visit Bundaberg’s Beaches

Bundaberg also has loads of white sandy beaches along the coast to keep any beach-goer happy. Woodgate beach, Elliot Heads, Bargara, Kelly’s Beach, Oaks Beach and Moore Park Beach are also favourites with the locals in town. 4wd-ing along the beach is a popular past time with two access points at Moore Park Beach and Woodgate Beach.

Humpback whales also frequent the Bundaberg region during the months of July to November when they embark on their annual migration North to warmer waters. Spend a day out on the water during the whale watching season and you can watch as these majestic creatures breech right in front of your eyes.

Try the local cuisine

Bundaberg also offers an array of local produce including delicious strawberries, ripe avocados, juicy citrus, macadamia farms and fresh seafood in abundance. There are loads of local cafes and eateries along the foreshore, where you can spend a morning having a long breakfast or late lunch. If you’re feeling energetic, take the kids for a short bushwalk to Sharon Gorge, Baldwin Swamp Environmental Park, or Barolin Nature Reserve, or spend the day strolling along the Burnett River for a more relaxed atmosphere.

Whatever you choose to do in Bundaberg, there is such a large range of options to choose from.

Bundaberg Accommodation

Southern Cross Motel Group has two 4 star motels located in Bundaberg (Sugar Country Motor Inn and Takalvan Motel) which both offer great rates, comfortable beds, on-site restaurants and fantastic service. Book directly online for the best rates available.