Come discover why families return to Bundaberg each Summer for their perfect family holiday...
Remarkable Moments On The Reef
Did you know Bundaberg is the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and the most accessible point of the reef to South East Queensland? Just a short 4 hour drive or 1 hour flight from Brisbane and you’ve got reef within reach. Bundaberg is home to 2 absolutely stunning corals cays and the first ‘Ladies’ of the reef, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island. These undiscovered paradises are teeming with abundant marine life, friendly turtles, crystal clear waters, and unexplored islands.
Take a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island onboard Lady Musgrave Experience’s luxury catamaran, the Reef Empress. The only tour available from Bundaberg out to the incredible island means visitors are offered an intimate experience with staff available to answer all the kids pondering questions and help out those first-time snorkellers. A Lady Musgrave Experience Day Trip includes transfer to and from the island, island tour, glass-bottom boat tour, snorkelling equipment (snorkels, flippers, pool noodles, life rings and adult and child life jackets available (please BYO infant lifejackets) as well as providing a delicious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea using local produce.
Spend a night, a week or more (trust us, you won’t want to leave!) at Lady Elliot Island. Flying in from the Bundaberg Airport on a quick 25-minute scenic flight over the reef, you can now call Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort home for a few nights. Wake up in your private eco villa, grab your snorkelling gear and hit the water just steps from your front door. Stay in until your fingers prune snorkelling with turtles and manta rays, take an island tour with trained biologists, play I-Spy on the glass bottom boat or just enjoy some family time over a bite to eat at the restaurant.
Out-Of-This-World Turtle Encounters
Described as ‘one of the most magical moments’, the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter is an experience every child (and adult) must do. Under the cover of darkness mother turtles haul themselves up the beach to nest from November – late-January allowing visitors to be privy to first-hand conservation as trained turtle rangers measure the visiting mother turtle, record tag information and count the eggs being laid. The turtle rangers will guide you through this remarkable encounter educating you on the journey of the turtle, the threats it faces and how you can help minimise your impact.
Return some 6-8 weeks later (late-January – late-March) to witness one of nature’s most amazing marvels; the hatchlings march to the sea. Working as a team to make their way to the surface, over 100 hatchlings then erupt from the sand and make their journey to the sea. Again, rangers will guide you through this experience instilling a special love and respect for these tiny creatures. The little ones can even form a tunnel to the ocean to help the hatchling find their way so make sure you bring a small, hand-held, non-LED torch (old fashioned amber light is best).
The Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter is the only ranger-guided turtle encounter available on the east-coast and is instrumental in the research into turtle conservation, specifically the endangered Loggerhead turtles that frequent this beach. Sales from Mon Repos Turtle Tickets go straight back into the Mon Repos Turtle Research Program.
There’s something nostalgic about spending summer at the beach; the smell of sunscreen, sand between your toes, ice cream melting down you arms. With 140km of coastline, the Bundaberg Region is home to many beautiful beach spots for you and your family to explore. One of our favourite family-friendly beaches is local’s favourite, Kellys Beach. Just a short walk from the Bargara CBD, Kellys Beach is home to lifeguard protected waters, kid’s playgrounds, barbeque areas and ‘The Basin’, a calm rock-pooled lagoon full of fish perfect for the little ones and for learning to snorkel. Why not find yourself a spot in the shade and spend the day swimming, building sandcastles and relaxing at Kelly’s Beach.
Family-Friendly Places To Stay
Looking to spend a few nights? You’ll be spoilt for choice with many family-friendly accommodation options just a stone throw from the beach. If you’re really looking for the ultimate family spot, book in at Kelly’s Beach Resort. Kelly’s Beach Resort goes all-out when it comes to providing you with the most memorable family holiday. It’s beautiful 5.5 acres of sweeping gardens give the kids plenty of space to run around and are home to self-contained eco villas, an onsite licensed restaurant, pool, spa, sauna tennis court, BBQ are and even a games room for the kids. If that’s not enough, during the school holidays the kids will be entertained with activities like laser skirmish, movies by moonlight, happy hour with face painting, stargazing and more! Book your stay with Kellys Beach Resort here.