Bundaberg, Coral Coast and Country

The Bundaberg, Coral Coast & Country region is the southern gateway to the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef. With its coral keys, national parks, rare marine wildlife and 140 km of coastline, the region is an exciting study tour destination.

Bundaberg is 368km north of Brisbane, easily accessible by road, rail and coach as well as commercial flights. It is a bustling provincial capital lying along the banks of the Burnett River, and is one of three principal east coast clearing ports for international sea-craft. The region is also a large sugar-growing area and the Bundy Sugar Company is the largest canegrower in the state. An internationally-famous by-product of sugar is the well-known Bundaberg Rum. Their factory and visitor centre is open for tours most of the year.

Mon Repos is the largest loggerhead sea turtle nesting area in the South Pacific and is just 15kms from Bundaberg. From November to January, when it is dark, you can join a ranger-guided tour to watch these magnificent creatures make the journey up the beach to lay their eggs. From January until March you can watch hatchlings make their first struggling steps back to the ocean.

An extension of the nesting area is the Woongarra Marine Park with fringing coral reef supporting a very wide range of marine life from both temperate waters and tropical ecosystems. The park is just offshore and offers easy access for exploration.

The region’s other marine wonders are the premier islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef: Lady Elliot Island, a beautiful tropical eco-resort, and Lady Musgrave Island, an untouched jewel in the barrier reef crown.

Places of Interest

• The many historic townships of the region feature interesting heritage buildings and museums. Among them are Gayndah, Queensland's oldest town.
• Join an agricultural or horticultural tour and sample fresh food, for example in Queensland's citrus capital Mundubbera.
• Go off-shore diving at Bargara Beach and the Coral Coast.
• Visit the town of Childers with its quaint shops, historical buildings. Visit Mammino’s and indulge in a richly flavoured old fashioned ice-cream.
• At Cania Gorge — experience abundant wildlife, sandstone cliff formations, lush rainforest gullies and Lake Cania.
  
  

Fast Facts

• Bundaberg has the most equable climate in Australia, shared with Hawaii along latitude 25.
• Just north of Bundaberg lies a true geological wonder: the Mystery Craters at Gin Gin.
• The Bundaberg region is the only known habitat in the world for the rare Ceratodus, or Lungfish.
• A study by Deakin University found the Bundaberg region to have one of the highest wellbeing ratings in the country, because of its lifestyle and climate.