You don't need to chain yourself to trees in the Amazon to help the environment...

1. Go Witness the Turtles Nest and Hatch at Mon Repos

The unique Mon Repos Turtle Encounter experience offered at Mon Repos during turtle season provides much needed funds towards turtle conservation and the continuation of this program. The Mon Repos Turtle Conservation Park has been essential and ground breaking in turtle research and the survival of the endangered Loggerhead Turtle. Come support turtle conservation and witness a miracle at Mon Repos.

 

2. Discover what had Ellen DeGeneres talking at Barolin Nature Reserve

The long-awaited announcement of Finding Dory took the world by storm, but no-one was more excited than Ellen DeGeneres. Piggybacking off the release of the film, Ellen DeGeneres was a strong activist for the Disney x Greenfleet 'Remember the Reef' campaign and her support helped raise enough funds for the Barolin Nature Reserve Project and many others all over the world.

The Barolin Nature Reserve reforestation saw the plantation of 80,000 trees which, when fully grown, will help 'cut the glow' from the coastal town of Bargara which disorientates the turtles hatching at Mon Repos. The trees are also set to offset well over 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide within 30 years, the equivalent of removing 11,000 medium cars from the road for a year.

 

3. Become a Marine Biologist for the day

See the Southern Great Barrier Reef like never before and spend the day as a Marine Biologist with Lady Musgrave Experience. Learn how the experts record reef health and the abundance of marine wildlife from turtles, to manta rays and coral. You’ll be supporting the conservation of this Australian icon and become a Citizen Scientist for life!

 

4. Drink More Coffee

I know this is a hard one, but you should drink more coffee. Enjoy a guilt-free holiday (and cup of coffee or two!) by enjoying your favourite hot beverage from a reusable coffee cup. 90% of disposable coffee cups end up in landfill, equating to around 60,000 kg of plastic waste per annum, and the plastic ends up in our ocean and affects the survival rate of our turtles. Reusable cups, if you don't already have your own, can be purchased at the Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre of at various coffee shops around town like Alowishus Delicious and Nourish Café. You can even pick up your own 'Green Caffeine' cup from The Windmill Cafe to use and return, for free! 

 

5. Take a trip to Lady Elliot Island

Recently award the Gold Steve Irwin Award for Eco Tourism at the Queensland Tourism Awards, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort's carbon offset program in partnership with Greenfleet means you can enjoy a day trip out to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, guilt-free! Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort asks each guest to donate only $2 to help reduce the environmental impact of their holiday by planting native forest trees at the Barolin Reserve (mentioned in point 2.) to offset the carbon admission from the flight over. Now that you've done your bid for the environment you can now explore the pristine reef you are helping protect and say hello to the turtle, manta rays and marine life that call it home!

 

6. Have a Beer or Two 

Head to Bargara Brewing Company's 'The Brewhouse' for a beer or two and raise your glass to the reef. The 'Great Barrier Beer', a collaboration with 'The Good Beer Co.' donates 50% of it's profits to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Why not settle in for a guilt-free night on the town and enjoy a woodfire pizza while you're at it?!

7. Spend a Night Away from Home

Give yourself and the environment a night-off and book a room at Eco-certified Kellys Beach Resort or Childers Eco-Lodge. Whether you're looking to go bush and enjoy a campfire, farm animals and do some bush-walking, or you want to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean, we have you covered.

8. Turn all the Lights Off

Staying in Bargara? 'Cut the Glow' and help the turtles by switching off unnecessary lights and close your curtains and blinds. The 'Cut the Glow' Campaign was begun after rangers and researches at Mon Repos noticed the baby turtles heading along the beach towards town instead of the ocean as the light from Bargara was brighter than the light from the horizon. Help 'Cut the Glow' this turtle season by turning your lights off, shutting the blinds and enjoying a game of monopoly or a movie with the kids.