Things to Do in Bundaberg

Lady Musgrave Island

The Southern Great Barrier Reef offers visitors to Queensland, Australia the chance to see large hard coral reefs firsthand and join colourful fish and big marine life like turtles and manta rays for a swim. At just over 4 hour drive from Brisbane; the Great Barrier Reef starts right here in Bundaberg.

Located 51 nautical miles from Bundaberg and the second island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Lady Musgrave Island and lagoon is a pristine coral cay with 1,192 hectares of spectacular fringing reef ready to be explored. The unique lagoon is home to a myriad of tropical reef fish, turtles, dolphins and manta rays, amidst spectacular coral reef gardens. Guests can immerse themselves in this spectacular underwater world, snorkelling, diving and glass bottom boat coral viewing.

Lady Elliot Island

Lady Elliot Island is one of only six island resorts on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and one of only three with direct flight access to the island airstrip. The island is located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in the highest possible classification of Marine National Park Zone meaning the reef is in pristine condition and will be for future generations to come.

Lady Elliot is an island teeming with life and live corals, famous for a resident population of over 80 Manta Rays which form the iconic logo of the island. From the beginning of May until the end of August is Manta Migration Season on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Mon Repos Turtle Tour

This is a MUST DO! Every November to March is Turtle Season in Bundaberg. Tickets can be obtained from the Tourism Information centre. Booking in advance is highly recommended! Don’t miss out!

Bundaberg is home to the Largest Logger Head Turtle Rookery in the Southern Hemisphere. Every year hundreds of turtles make their way to Mon Repos Beach to lay their clutches of eggs. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services offer Ranger Guided Tours from November to March for the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent sea creatures.

The Turtle Express Turtle Tour which includes coach transfers and the Mon Repos Turtle Ticket which does not include transfers and is based on first in best dressed.

The Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Home to Australia’s now world famous rum. Come and discover firsthand why we’re the most awarded rum distillery in the country. We’ll give you a hint it’s a combination of hard work, and loads of experience, which started way back in 1888.

Just like our proud history, we’re equally proud of our revamped Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience.

The moment you set foot inside you’re in for an immersive experience like no other. To be a part of the excitement, book one of our unique tours today. You’ll be in for an unforgettable experience.

Hinkler Hall of Aviation

Come and be amazed by the awe inspiring, dynamic and unique structure of soaring glass and steel made in the shape of an aircraft wing. Set in the lush Bundaberg Botanical Gardens, the Hinkler Hall of Aviation brings to life the adventures and achievements of Australia’s famous pioneer solo aviator – Bert Hinkler

With numerous full size display aircraft exhibits and unique museum artifacts, including the beautifully restored Hinkler House ‘Mon Repos’, Bert Hinkler’s relocated Southampton home, this memorable and extraordinary experience in Bundaberg, Queensland is a must do aviation adventure.

Bert Hinkler House

Bert Hinkler was born in Bundaberg, Queensland on the 8th December, 1892.
The son of a mill worker, he was fascinated by flight. In 1911 and 1912, he built man-carrying gliders and flew them successfully at Mon Repos Beach near Bundaberg.

Bert Hinkler planned most of his epic solo flights from “Mon Repos” house.
The Ibis aircraft, his dream machine, was planned and experimented upon at the site. Some years passed before the home became the property of the South Hampton Council. In May and June 1983, the house was dismantled and transported to Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, his home town, and rebuilt as a Memorial Museum in Bert Hinkler’s Honour.

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, makers of the iconic Ginger Beer, have revamped The Barrel with new self-guided tours. Spend time learning about the brewing experience and history of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. Taste-test from the entire range and pick your 6 favourite brews to remember your trip. Bundaberg has been brewing its world-renowned drinks for three generations, perfecting its craftsman brewing process to deliver an unsurpassed depth and roundness of flavour.

Kalki Moon

Born out of the cane fields in Australia’s Rum capital Bundaberg, comes the regions artisan distilling company Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing. Founded in 2017, Kalki Moon is 100% family-owned and operated company focusing on quality over quantity.
Our current portfolio includes GIN, VODKA & LIQUEURS, with the highly anticipated first RUM release pencilled in for mid-2020.

Ohana Cider House & Winery

Since opening the Ohana Cider House & Winery in April 2015, Josh and Zoe have worked tirelessly to create a boutique range of tropical fruit wines and unique liqueurs to share with visitors at the Cellar Door. All the fruit wines are made with 100% fresh fruit that is either grown in the Ohana orchard or by local farmers. Josh the winemaker, strives to produce high quality fruit wines that are well balanced and complex, without high levels of sweetness that people have come to expect with fruit wines. In the first year of production, the winery collected seven medals in its debut competition at the 2016 Perth Royal Show Commercial Fruit Wine Competition.

The Hummock

Situated off the road to Bargara is the low-lying volcanic remnant known as “The Hummock” which, although only 96 metres above sea-level, offers visitors good views over the whole area. The ocean is visible to the east while, to the west, the sugar fields can be seen encircling the city with the smoke stacks of the Bundaberg Distillery and Mill on the horizon. Watch the moon rise over the ocean as the sun sets over the land.

Alexandra Park Zoo

Nestled on the banks of the Burnett River on Quay Street, Alexandra Park offers a playground for all ages under the shade of large trees. The kids can play on the playground or run in the large open spaces. The Rotunda gives the park an old time feel. Alexandra Park is also home to Bundaberg’s council operated zoo. Alexandra Park Zoo is home to a compact menagerie featuring exhibits with pint size monkeys, dingos, lizards, birds and more. While you are there, keep an eye out as the wildlife keeper may just bring the dingoes out for their daily stroll through the park.

Dive HMAS Tobruk

Ex-HMAS Tobruk’s final resting place is just off the coast of Bundaberg and is the newest dive in Australia, a unique wreck dive experience. Abundant marine life is already attaching to the metal surfaces and fish, turtles and other marine creatures have moved in to this new estate. The ex-HMAS Tobruk is best experienced with a dive package through Lady Musgrave Experience’s ‘Tobruk Experience’ available soon. Limited public mooring permits for private divers will also be available.

Snakes Downunder

Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo is a fun and affordable day out to be enjoyed by the whole family. Just south of Childers displaying over 45 species and sub-species of Australian reptiles, amphibians and marsupials. Other attractions include a fantastic snake house, a walk though vivarium housing dragons and frogs and a kangaroo reserve where the animals can be hand fed. The most recent additions to the zoo are the koalas. Ian and staff invite visitors to come and meet Millie and Matilda.

Flying High Bird Park

Flying High Bird Sanctuary is the largest free-flight aviary in Australia and has over 2000 birds. Visitors can walk around inside the aviary to see the birds. 

The facility opened to the public in December 2002 as Flying High Bird Habitat. At the time, it had only the main aviary with about 300 birds.

By 2010 the complex had been expanded with additional aviaries and a macaw breeding complex and was home to almost 3000 birds.

Since 2010 the Sanctuary has expanded even further with the addition of the Kangaroo and Emu enclosures, a separate enclosure for the resident owls and animal nursery.

Visitors can enjoy a real hand on experience with the birds at feeding time as well purchasing food to hand feed the animals at any time of day.

One of the biggest highlights for people young and old is bottle feeding and interacting with the baby goats as well as the other numerous baby chicks and ducklings.