FROM upmarket oceanfront accommodation, to beach villas, glamping tents, and a cottage or two on a winery, we've researched the region's best beds in which to lay your head.
For those yearning to recapture their simple, salty childhood beach holidays of the 1970s, look no further than the Absolute Oceanfront Tourist Park. As the name suggests, this establishment steals pole position right on the Pacific Ocean, in fact, it is hard to think of a caravan park in Queensland that is closer. Absolute Oceanfront Tourist Park opened nearly 40 years ago and 15 years ago its cute cabins were painted in gregarious shades which resemble Victoria's Brighton Beach shacks. Boasting 11 cabins and 26 powered sites, a small pool and central cooking area, this quaint park is ideal for those who want to sleep as close as possible to the ocean without actually getting their feet wet thanks to a rock wall which separates the cabins from the sea.
2. Bag the best bed in Bargara
Sleepy seaside villages like Bargara are becoming more and more rare along the coveted Queensland coastline, so staying here is a travel treat indeed. There's a smattering of absolute oceanfront apartments here and one of the best ways to select the right fit for your holiday needs, is through Bargara Coastal Accommodation. These operators have the management rights for three apartments: The Point, Bargara Shoreline Apartments and Sandcastles, which all offer ocean views, as well as two motels, The Palms and the Bargara Beach Motor Inn. It also has another five accommodation operators on its books, which are growing rapidly, and they will find the best bed for you and your budget. Meet them at the new visitor information centre along See Street where outside you'll also find retro bikes to hire and ride along Bargara's well-pathed cycle and walking track.
Holiday makers seeking family-style accommodation in a family-owned operation are invited to head to Kelly's Beach Resort which sits on 2.2ha and offers 40 self-contained units. There's a restaurant and pool on site, spa, sauna, children's wading pool, three barbecue areas and a games room, but the real find here is its eco focus. With a lovely lily pond which runs through the heart, it also borders a nature reserve which is home to water and bearded dragons, possums, lizards, non-poisonous pythons, and various species of butterfly. And it's a short and pleasant walk to Kelly's Beach.
For those whose idea of the ideal holiday is being able to wander among the vineyards, drink locally-produced wine and then flop and drop without having to get in the car, Childers offers some excellent options. At Mango Hill Cottages, you can visit their Hill of Promise Winery & Cellar Door, partake in a free tasting and enjoy some lunch before retiring to your Queenslander-style cottage. Enjoy pine and silky oak furniture, timber floors, patchwork covers and the surrounding rolling hills. Nearby, at Vintners Secret Vineyard, taste the cheekily-named wines produced from this beautiful six acres, amble around some of the coolest sculptures you'll find, and then spend a delightful night or two in one of three rooms: the Copenhagen, the Paris or the Den Hague.
This blog was written by Christine Retschlag from The Global Goddess. Christine visited our beautiful region thanks to our incredible members and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism.