Did you know Bundaberg is home to some of the most epic encounters? We know what you're probably thinking, 'of course you have to say that, you work there', but we're not just saying it because we have too, we're saying it because we mean it! 365 days of the year our backyard is home to curious turtles, ninja warrior type goats and warm blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Now if that hasn't convinced you just yet, come a little closer, here's your complete guide to a holiday jam-packed with epic encounters and tasty treats 👇
Glamp the night away
If there's ever been a time you've wanted to experience an escape to the country, this is your calling. Begin your holiday with one of the most rewarding encounters our backyard has to offer and experience a unique farm-stay at Splitters Farm. Situated just a short 10min drive from Bundaberg's bustling CBD, this 160 acre farm and animal safe haven is the perfect setting for you to reset and relax. Home to an array of animals with lots of personality, Splitters Farm is unique in that they not only accommodate to host you and your family but are also a sanctuary for rescued farm animals, ones you'll find happily wandering the farm during your stay. Venture from one paddock to another hand feeding horses, cows, cheeky alpaca's, pigs, chickens, ducks and baby goats (if you can manage to catch their attention while they parkour around the farm). With plenty of fun to be had, pull up a seat and sit back as the sun sets from the deck of your Deluxe Glamping Safari Tent, overlooking platypus filled waters of Splitters Creek as the sounds of surrounding wildlife soothe the soul. Rest assured that you can comfortably glamp the night away knowing you have all the creature comforts and the necessary luxuries to help you enjoy a full farm-stay experience.
Swim with turtles, majestic mantas and colourful fish!
It's the encounter everyone should have on their bucket list and it's easily accessible with just a boat ride or short flight from Bundaberg! As the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and most accessible departure point for those visiting from down South, you can tick swimming alongside turtles in the crystal clear waters of a coral lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef off the must-do list. An experience unlike any other, you'll be in awe of this natural wonder and the thriving life that lives both above and below the surface. Explore the ladies of the reef, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island, and marvel at the giant marine life that call the surrounding plankton filled waters home. Spot feeding turtles, manta rays, giant clams, enormous Maori Wrasse and Potato Cod swimming in the lagoon with Nemo often spotted not too far away. Talk about epic encounters!
Did you know you can sleep on the reef!?
Now, you might think that one-day on the reef is enough, but for those wanting to spend a little extra time soaking up some sunshine on a secluded island where little to no reception can be found, then choose to spend a night (or two) on Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort where the reef is just meters from your door. This eco resort has been dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring the land so that future generations and wildlife can enjoy in the years to come, and is also one of Sir David Attenborough's favourite destinations on the Great Barrier Reef. With eco glamping tents and both garden view or beachfront units to choose from, enjoy a genuine eco-tourism experience and spend some extra quality time exploring the in's and out's of this southernmost coral cay and recognised climate action leader.
For the romantics out there, the newly launched Lady Musgrave HQ pontoon offers a unique sleep-on-the-reef experience aboard a three tier pontoon that has been built specifically with the reef in mind. Choose to sleep in the comfort of an Island View Upper Deck Queen Glamping Bed and wake to the sun rising above a reef-filled lagoon or fall asleep in an underwater observatory liveaboard bunk bed as curious marine life wander by, a great experience for large groups. With additional exclusive experiences offered to overnight guests, tick a romantic picnic on Lady Musgrave Island, glass-bottom boat kayaks, and if you're visiting during turtle season (November to March) witness mamma turtles nest and baby turtles hatch at night on the island with Lady Musgrave Experience reef experts.
A tantalizing experience for the taste buds
When you think Bundaberg, your first thought is probably that of Bundaberg Rum or Bundaberg Ginger Beer, and these icons certainly deliver on both taste and experience!
Voted Australia's best visitor experience, immerse yourself in a tour through the heart of the fully working Bundaberg Rum Distillery with a Bundaberg Rum expert and uncover the history behind the success of Australia's most favourite spirit. Become a connoisseur for a day with a Blend Your Own Experience and spend an afternoon blending your very own signature bottle using distilled rums from a range of barrels only available to the rum lovers on this tour.
After uncovering the home of Bundaberg Rum, hop in the car and make your way to the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Barrel, home of Bundaberg Ginger Beer. A proud family owned business for more than 50years and counting, venture on a self-guided tour learning the tricks of the trade and passion behind crafting delicious flavours and sample the entire range at the end of your tour. Don't forget to mix and match your favourite drinks with a complimentary customisable 6-pack before you head home.
Fill your belly
Upon arriving in our backyard you can't help but notice the sugar cane lined roads, rich red soil and abundance of produce being grown at every turn. You'll find everything starting from the letter A to Z right here in our backyard waiting to be devoured. With passionate and hard-working producers delivering fresh tasty eats to local cafe's, eateries and restaurants daily you can't help but enjoy a unique paddock to plate experience. Pull up a seat at the Windmill Cafe and try their delicious Dragon Bowls that are filled to the brim with fresh local fruits. Set your taste buds on Water Street Kitchen, a cosy modern cafe-by-day and restaurant-by-night with delicious eats that range from sweet potato croquets to watermelon and mint granita, coconut gelato, or take a seat with riverside views for company at seafood haven Gruskes by The River where fresh local catches are delivered straight to the kitchen.
Go nuts at Macadamia's Australia
Okay, not to brag, but did you know Bundaberg is home to the largest producing region of macadamia's in Australia? *Que the applause*. Recently unveiled, offering a unique culinary experience for visitors to the region, Macadamia's Australia have a new and exciting Visitor Experience and Cafe which is simply a must. Growing more than 200,000 macadamia trees in the Bundaberg region, this family owned and operated macadamia plantation have been producing quality macadamia nuts for more than 60years. With the mantra 'to leave the soil in better condition than they found it', follow their journey and uncover their passion for innovation, sustainability and quality with a wander through their Visitor Centre. Grab a bite to eat from the onsite cafe tasting their freshly harvested nuts in a range of delicious treats immersing yourself in their raw paddock to plate journey, right on the farm.
They don't call us the town the turtles call home for no reason...
Each year between November to March, turtle tracks paint the shores of Mon Repos Beach, the largest conservation beach for nesting and hatching Loggerhead turtles in all of the South Pacific. If you're seeking a one-of-a-kind encounter then look no further than the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter. Offering the only ranger-guided turtle encounter on the Australian East Coast, each year during turtle season, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Turtle Rangers invite visitors to come take an unrivalled peak behind the curtain of an ancient old ritual and learn about the conservation efforts that go into protecting and preserving this incredible species. Visit between November to January when mother turtles haul themselves up sandy dunes to dig their chambers and watch in awe under the guidance of QPWS Turtle Rangers as they nest their clutches under the cover of darkness. During late-January to march, witness the emergence of baby turtles on a Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter as they erupt from their nests and scurry to the sea, guided by the glow of the moonlit sky where only 1 in 1000 will survive the odds to maturity, and return to their birthplace some 30years later. With exciting interactive displays and a theatrette to help educate and inspire you to take part in helping the turtles, you can also experience the Mon Repos Turtle Centre with a Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter or on a day tour.
This year, in-line with Queensland Parks and Services COVID-Safe plan, capacity for Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounters have been reduced this season. To book a nightly turtle encounter we encourage you to book early. Tickets are now on sale and can be booked here with limited dates currently available. For more information please click here.