10 incredible things to do in Bundaberg

By Liz Whitehead
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Bundaberg is brimming with things to do, whether you want to kick back at a distillery or pass through the Southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Bundaberg is synonymous with vast swaths of sugarcane and barrels full of honey-coloured rum. Although most people come to town to visit the rum distillery, there’s plenty more to discover in the township and its surroundings.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff or a foodie – you’ll find plenty of incredible things to do in Bundaberg. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites below.

1. Visit the distilleries

Bundaberg is most famous for its rum, and for good reason. Not only is Bundaberg rum an Aussie staple – it’s a world-renown distiller that’s been studded with international prizes and awards.

outside view of The Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Pay a visit to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Pay a visit to the Bundaberg distillery and immerse yourself in the craft of rum-making, where you’ll learn about the process from the sugar cane to the bottle. Rum aficionados can opt for the Blend Your Own Rum experience, where you’ll learn to create your own personalised blend (and receive two bottles to take home too).

If rum isn’t your drink of choice, there are plenty of other breweries in the region that are well worth a visit. For a non-alcoholic option, head down to the Bundaberg Barrel for a tour and a taste of Bundaberg’s famous craft-brewed soft drinks. We’ve also rounded up more distilleries and tours in Bundaberg, so you can choose your favourites.

a bartender behind the bar with different bottles of gin on show

Premium gins and vodkas are available at Kalki Moon Distillery. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

2. Get up close with turtles

Dubbed the gateway to the Southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, the Bundaberg region is brimming with luscious nature and fantastic wildlife.

Located on the coast just a 15-minute drive from Bundaberg, Mon Repos Turtle Centre offers visitors the opportunity to witness some of nature’s everyday miracles. With the largest concentration of turtles on the east coast, Mon Repos is the ideal place to get up close with these fascinating creatures.

the pathway at Mon Repos Turtle Centre

Head to the conservation park at Mon Repos Turtle Centre. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

From November to January, you can join a guided tour to witness mother turtles laying their eggs in the sand. If you visit from January to March, you’ll get to see the adorable hatchlings emerge and scurry down toward the ocean. Be sure to book in advance, as these are popular tours. For an immersive wildlife experience, visitors can now book a stay at Turtle Sands, a new wildlife resort right next to the beach where you’ll see the turtles crawling towards the ocean.

a baby turtle taking its first few steps on the beach at Mon Repos Turtle Centre

Get a chance to witness a turtle nest hatching and release. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

3. Explore the beautiful beaches

Bundaberg is blessed in its proximity to a beautiful stretch of coastline where you can find idyllic beaches at your fingertips. And with sun-drenched days year round, there’s hardly ever a bad time to head to the coast.

an aerial shot of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is hailed for its unspoiled beach and coral reefs. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Whether you prefer bustling beach towns like Bargara or a patch of quiet coast, there are plenty of great spots to soak up some sun. We’ve written more on the best beaches close to Bundaberg here.

breathtaking sunset on Bargara Beach

Witness scenic sunset views on Bargara Beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

4. Relax in the Botanic Gardens

The beautiful Bundaberg Botanic Gardens are spread over 27 hectares featuring a diverse array of plants. There are lots to discover, from Japanese and Chinese gardens to an Australian rainforest.

Take a step back in time in the prehistoric garden, or marvel at the fruits in the rare fruit orchard. There’s a picnic area where you can unwind and a cafe where you can grab a coffee while you soak up the environment. There are also some museums located within the botanical gardens – learn a bit more about each of them below.

verdant botanic garden fronting the Hinkler House & Museum

Soak up relaxing nature views. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

5. Hinkler Hall of Aviation

Immerse yourself in local history at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation located in Bundaberg’s Botanic Gardens. The museum celebrates the achievement of Bundaberg-born Bert Hinkler, an aviation pioneer and inventor.

Hinkler was the first person to fly solo from England to Australia, and the first person to fly solo across the South Atlantic Ocean. Head down to Hinkler Hall to learn more about Bert’s achievements and discover unique museum artefacts, including full-sized aircraft exhibits.

an aircraft exhibit at Hinkler Hall of Aviation

See various types of aircraft at Hinkler Hall of Aviation. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

6. Fairymead House Sugar History Museum

Take a step back in time in a heritage-listed homestead with a visit to the Fairymead Sugar History Museum.

Here, you’ll learn about the history of sugar in Bundaberg in all its complexity – from pioneering families to the industry’s dark colonial past with indentured labour. The beautiful house is a fascinating way to get acquainted with Australian history, as well as learn about the process of creating sugar from cane to crystal.

exterior view of the Fairymead House at dusk

Discover how the Fairymead House maintained its glory through the years.

7. Cafe hop around town

With a reputation as the food bowl of Australia, Bundaberg has some of the country’s finest produce located right on its doorstep. Take some time to kick back at the cafes and eateries to sample some delicious local produce served up with creative culinary flair.

Whether you’d prefer to brunch by Bargara beach or dine alongside the river, we’ve rounded up the best cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy the region’s best eats.

an acai bowl consisting of fresh local produce at Windmill Cafe in Bargara, Bundaberg region

Stop by the Windmill Cafe to order some fruity acai bowl. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

8. Grab a drink

It’s hard to pass through the rum capital of Australia without grabbing a drink. Luckily, you’ll be spoiled for choice, with a great range of pubs and bars to choose from.

The Bundaberg Rum distillery has a bar where you can sample a range of Bundaberg Rum products. Alternatively, Ballistic Bargara’s Brewery is the perfect spot to enjoy a craft beer by the beach.

If you have a penchant for historic buildings, then head down to the Old Bundy Tavern to quench your thirst. We’ve rounded up more of the best places to grab a drink here.

folks having fun inside Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Exploring inside Bundaberg Rum Distillery is always a rewarding experience. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

9. Alexandra Park Zoo

Get up close with some of Australia’s most fascinating native wildlife at Alexandra Park Zoo. The Zoo has been delighting visitors since it opened in 1911 and has grown to be one of the Bundaberg region’s most popular attractions.

One of the highlights is the opportunity to see the rare and endangered cotton-top tamarin (which is just as cute as it sounds) and learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts.

a close-up photo of a green tree frog

Large amphibians like green tree frogs roam freely around Alexandra Park Zoo.

10. Day trip to Lady Musgrave Island

Explore the beauty and abundant marine life of the Great Barrier Reef with a trip to Lady Musgrave Island. Located a two-hour boat trip from Bundaberg, it’s one of the Barrier Reef’s most untouched islands.

Grab a snorkel or head out on a glass-bottomed boat trip and witness a kaleidoscope of colour beneath the water’s surface. Here, you can encounter turtles, manta rays and a fascinating array of marine life. Tours leave from the Bundaberg Port Marina.

an aerial view of the crystal blue waters and reefs along Lady Musgrave Island

Navigate the pristine waters of Lady Musgrave Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Headed to Bundaberg? We’ve also written a guide to accommodation in Bundaberg.
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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This new beachside resort comes with a front-row turtle show

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    One night encountering nesting turtles at Mon Repos Beach is all it takes to transform holidaymakers into awestruck witnesses of marine conservation in action. 

    A new ecotourism benchmark, NRMA Parks and Resorts’ Turtle Sands fits neatly behind the dunes – front row to the wonder of nesting and, weeks later, hatching loggerhead, flatback and green turtles.  

    turtle swimming

    Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Mad Dog Productions)

    This stretch of the Southern Great Barrier Reef has long been a holiday playground.

    Mon Repos Conversation Park

    Mon Repos Conservation Park (Image: Tourism Australia)

    And now this former caravan park has been transformed, leading the way in wildlife-friendly design with environmental sustainability and accessibility at its core. 

    All about the accommodation offering 

    baby turtle at Mon Repos

    A hatchling makes its way across the sand. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Acinta Shackleton)

    When we arrived, we let out a sigh of relief as we spotted a bank of EV chargers. Our new Omoda E5 loaner needs a top-up, and charging spots on the road from Brisbane have been scarce, unreliable or out of action. It’s the first of many sustainability features that set the resort apart. We’ve officially left the everyday and much less eco-friendly world behind. 

    Turtle Sands Beach House

    Inside Turtle Sands’ ultra-comfortable Beach House. (Image: Tim Bond)

    A 100kwh solar system allows Turtle Sands to be almost off-grid but with enough grunt to power energy-efficient, motion-sensor air conditioning and lighting. At check-in, we take the Turtle Protection Promise, pledging to minimise impact and to only walk on the beach between 6am and 6pm. 

    Accommodation includes powered caravan sites, accessible studio rooms, glamping tents, three-bedroom villas and the Beach House – a reimagined 1917 schoolhouse. We’re among the first to put the latter through its paces.  

    Designed for two with an ultra-comfortable king bed, the full kitchen makes self-catering a snap. Like the outdoor kitchen, we don’t get to give it a test run because Bundaberg’s restaurants are too good to miss. Cleverly, the mud room entrance doubles as a butler’s pantry with a pod coffee machine and wardrobe. 

    Beach House's tub

    End the day with a soak in the Beach House’s tub. (Image: Tim Bond)

    I get first dibs on the tempting tub in the oversized and luxurious bathroom. A ceiling fan makes an excellent backup or alternative to the air-con in the combined living and bedroom space that opens through floor-to-ceiling glass to a party-sized deck. It’s the ideal spot for an early morning cuppa to listen to the ocean continually reacquainting itself with the sand. 

    Why NRMA Turtle Sands is the ultimate family holiday 

    Turtle Sands turtle-shaped pool

    NRMA Parks and Resorts’ new Turtle Sands with its turtle-shaped pool.

    Late afternoon, Turtle Sands transforms. Around the pool, families toast to the good life with unfiltered happiness. Plastic glasses gently thud stubby holder-dressed beers. Everyone, it seems, has left their everyday world behind. “Marco!” echoes from one end of the turtle-shaped pool, met with thunderous “Polo!” responses.  

    The Garden Mill Cafe fish tacos

    The Garden Mill Cafe in nearby Bargara. (Image: Tim Bond)

    Sprawling teenagers scroll phones while still-dripping kids dart about smelling of sunscreen. Sizzling sausages mingle with the aroma of fresh pizza from the food truck. The sheer joy is infectious. This is more than a holiday – it’s a celebration of family and nature. 

    With only a million-star sky and sliver of silver moon to light the way, our Omoda E5 seems at home as we return later from dinner at the outstanding Water St Kitchen. Turtle Sands is dark except for motion-sensor lights. Still, except for the occasional blood-curdling scream of eastern curlews, it’s another moment to breathe in the briny air and just be. 

    Turtle encounters with a difference 

    hatchlings on Turtle Encounter tour

    Spot hatchlings on a Turtle Encounter Tour. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jacinta Shackleton)

    Evening unfolds quietly at the world-renowned Mon Repos Turtle Centre near Bundaberg. Rangers carefully guide 60 of us along the moonless beach, after locating the night’s first nesting female loggerhead turtle.  

    Guided by an extraordinary internal compass, she has returned to the exact beach where she hatched three decades ago – a remarkable and puzzling navigational feat. Every sandy plod we take is calculated to ensure we don’t disrupt the turtle’s delicate egg-laying ritual. 

    Mon Repos beach

    Enjoy the beach year-round.

    We have dubbed her Roxanne (inspired more by The Police than Cyrano de Bergerac). She has instinctually and methodically powered her furiously flicking flippers to sculpt a sanctuary for her 114 ping-pong-ball-sized coloured eggs.  

    Our rangers closely monitor Roxanne, recording her measurements and marking the nest’s location. As the kids grow restless, Roxanne may or may not be flicking sand their way.