Bundaberg Central
Bundaberg is an Australian city on Queensland’s coast. It’s known for Bundaberg Rum, and the Bundaberg Distillery offers museum tours and tastings. Bundaberg Botanic Gardens is home to the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, dedicated to solo long-distance pilot Bert Hinkler. Nearby on the coast is Mon Repos Regional Park, home to sea turtles, and offshore is Lady Elliot Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef.
Visit Bundaberg and the Great Barrier Reef
Why Visit Bundaberg Australia?
We are often asked what to see and what to do in Bundaberg. When travellers visit Bundaberg, they are often surprised to discover the range of exciting things to do in Bundaberg and the surrounding region.
Travellers can visit the world famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery, explore the Mon Repos turtle rookery and walk the turtle trail, go diving or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, head out whale watching and just sit back and enjoy the sun, sand and crystal clear waters of the nearby Bundaberg beaches. It is all on Bundaberg’s doorstep, just waiting for you to explore! If you’re looking for what to see in Bundaberg, then keep reading our guide to visiting Bundaberg and surrounding areas.
When we visit Bundaberg we always stay in this awesome resort near the waterfront at Bargara.
Things to see in Bundaberg
Bundaberg’s warm climate will have you heading to bright sandy beaches. Along the way you can visit Bundaberg attractions such as the Hummock Lookout where you will see breathtaking views of the coast and the patchwork of sugarcane fields and small crops that surround our fair city.
Pull into road side stalls and sample some of the fresh local produce that Bundaberg is famous for, or better yet the discover the contemporary cuisine on offer at the regions award winning restaurants and cafes. Come and discover what this regional city has to offer, and the fun things to do in Bundaberg Australia.
Top Bundaberg Tourist Attractions
Bundaberg Rum Distillery
One of the top things to do in Bundaberg and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bundaberg is the Rum distillery, which produces and sells Bundy’s iconic export, Bundaberg Rum!
The Bundaberg Rum Distillery or Bundaberg Rum Factory as it is fondly known, attracts tourists from all over Australia and the World. A trip to Bundaberg wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the rum factory and taking a Bundaberg Rum Distillery tour.
Join other Bundaberg Rum enthusiasts for the Bundaberg Rum Tour and discover how Bundaberg Rum is made and sample our famous rum products in the tasting Bar.
My Grandmother always laced her Christmas pudding with Bundaberg Rum, a smell that brings back fond memories of Christmas past.
Bundaberg Turtles – Mon Repos Beach
Walking along Mon Repos long stretch of beach, it’s easy to see why Bundaberg’s famous son, Pioneer Aviator Bert Hinkler chose Mon Repos Beach for his first historic glider flight in 1912.
Mon Repos Beach is also famous for its turtle rookery, the place to see turtle hatching in Bundaberg. The turtle rookery, known as the Mon Repos Conservation Park has the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian coastline and a must visit Bundaberg turtle attraction for anyone interested in turtle watching in Bundaberg.
Mon Repos’s loggerhead turtle nesting population is the largest in the South Pacific making Mon Repos Beach a very important marine habitat.
A visit to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre is an informative way to learn more about turtles and their lifecycle. Every year between November and March Rangers give Mon Repos turtle tours tours to watch the nesting and hatching of marine turtles.
During a walk along Mon Repos beach we were lucky enough to come across turtles hatching. I’ll never forget our excitement as we watched them climb out of the sand and make their way down the beach into the water, such a joyful experience!
Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing Company
Bundaberg is well known for the Bundaberg Rum Distillery and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks but there is another up and coming distillery that has developed a reputation for excellence.
Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing Company started its life as a rum distillery and produced gin while waiting for the rum to mature. While Kalki Moon is still a rum distillery their stunning range of gins and gin liqueurs have become an instant best seller.
When you visit the distillery, you have the choice of 2 free tastings, or you can try a selection of cocktails. Alan tried the Chocolate Hazelnut Liqueur over ice, and I tried the Pink Gin Liqueur with raspberries & Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Apple Cider and both were delicious.
Kalki Moon Distillery & Brewing Company is a must see when visiting Bundaberg.
Check out Tinaberries Strawberries during your Bundaberg visit.
One of the best loved places to visit in and around Bundaberg in Queensland is Tinaberries which is famous for its strawberry ice cream.
This delightful strawberry farm has an old-world charm that will take you back to yesteryear. Trying their strawberry ice cream is a must but there are other flavours to enjoy including passionfruit and dragon fruit & lime.
If you do not like ice cream, Tinaberries also sell passionfruit butter and strawberry jams. You can pick farm fresh strawberries during the strawberry season which lasts between June and October.
Tinaberries is a fun place to relax in the Queensland sunshine. To get to Tinaberries drive on Elliot Heads Road and look out for the Tinaberries sign just after the Innes Park turn off.
Visit Bundaberg to explore the turtle trail
The Turtle Trail is a bike and pedestrian pathway that starts at Bargara Beach and links Mon Repos beach with Burnett Heads Harbour. The trail is a changing landscape of virgin bush, salt flats and stunning coastal scenery.
We have enjoyed many early morning walks along the beach and trail, we always get so much pleasure out of spotting the kangaroos, bush turkey’s, sea eagles, dolphins and kookaburras that make this area their home. It is one of the most enjoyable free things to do around Bundaberg and highly recommended.
Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef begins at the northern tip of Queensland and stretches 2,300 Kilometres down the coast to just north of Bundaberg.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Great Barrier Reef has the distinction of being the World’s largest reef and can been seen from space. Bundaberg is referred to as the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and there are many Great Barrier Reef tours from Bundaberg.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is made up of coral reefs, coral cays, inshore mangrove islands and continental islands and is the World’s largest coral reef ecosystem.
Great Barrier Reef day tours from Bundaberg
Day trips in Bundaberg include a visit to the outlying islands of Lady Elliott Island and Lady Musgrave Island. These tours fill up quickly so to avoid disappointment is usually wise to pre-book your tour before your stay.
Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef and approximately 80 kilometres north east of Bundaberg.
Lady Elliot is home to 1,200 species of marine life and one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations in this region. Lady Elliot Island is free of the marine stingers that can be found in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef.
Visit Lady Elliot for the day or stay at the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, buffet dinner and breakfast are included in the overnight rate.
Getting there…Flights to Lady Elliot Island leave daily from Bundaberg Airport.
Lady Musgrave Island
Lady Musgrave Island is located 52 nautical miles from Bundaberg. Lady Musgrave day tours include morning tea and buffet lunch, snorkelling, fish feeding, glass bottom boat tours and Island walks.
Bundaberg whale watching tours are available during whale migration season.
Getting there…Lady Musgrave Island can be reached by luxury high speed catamaran from Bundaberg Port Marina.
Planning a trip to Bundaberg
Bundaberg is located on the stunning Burnett River in Queensland, Australia. One of the nearby attractions of this city is the 25 million-year-old crater caused by a meteorite.
Sitting on a dreamy stretch of sandy beaches and relaxed coastal towns, the city is also home to a rare colony of nesting loggerhead turtles.
Travellers from all over Australia and the world visit Bundaberg for conferences, sightseeing and all kinds of holiday packages. Perched at the hub of the Coral Coast, Bundaberg motels are varying and offer visitors comfort and a relaxing stay.
Are you travel ready?
During the Mon Repos turtle hatching season organised visits are available to watch the turtles lay eggs and the hatchlings emerge and make their way to the ocean. A sight not to be missed.
Many visitors take time out to see the city’s many attractions. So if you are planning a trip to Bundaberg, the first decision is where to stay. The city centre or coastal regions. Both are easily accessible and offer good value hotel and motel choices.