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Bundaberg Top 10 Things to Do ~ Queensland
The historic sugar cane city of Bundaberg is located on the Burnett River, 365 kilometres from Brisbane.
There is plenty to see and do in Bundaberg, from discovering the world-class rum distillery to learning about turtles at Mon Repos.
It is also a foodie’s paradise as this region grows 25% of Australia’s fresh produce.
Bundaberg offers visitors a mix of vibrant culture, nature, and adventure, with stunning beaches, beautiful gardens and lovely heritage buildings.
Bundaberg Rum Distillery
A trip to Bundaberg wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the world-famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery and a photo with the giant rum bottle.
The Distillery is open every day from 10:00 a.m., and you can book a guided tour to see how the iconic rum is made, learn about its history, and enjoy a tasting session.
In the Distillery Store, you can get some great souvenirs and even purchase exclusive bottles that can’t be found anywhere else. They also have a bear garden and cafe, with a life-size wooden Bundy bear.
2. Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Thirteen kilometres from Bundaberg, you can visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre. Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and has the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific.
The Mon Repos Turtle Centre is open 12 months of the year from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and visitors can learn more about turtles through interactive displays and movies.
From November to March, you can book a Turtle Encounter tour, where you will join expert Park Rangers for a rare and wonderful night experience with endangered marine turtles.
From November through to January, it is an amazing sight to see these huge creatures heaving their way up the beach to find a safe spot to dig a nest and lay their eggs.
And then, 6-8 weeks later (generally between January to March), you can witness the tiny hatchlings emerging from their sandy nests to scurry down the beach towards the sea.
3. Explore the Beaches
Bundaberg has lots of stunning beaches, and two of our favourites are Elliot Heads and Kellys Beach.
Elliot Heads is located 20 kilometres from Bundaberg and is perfect for those looking for a relaxed beach experience, with crystal clear water, soft sand and plenty of shady areas to sit and relax. The beach is popular for walking, swimming, and fishing.
Kellys Beach in Bargara is another must-visit – it’s great for swimming, snorkelling, and enjoying a laid-back day by the sea.
4. Enjoy Local Foods
Bundaberg is a food lover’s paradise, with lots of fresh local produce and unique regional flavours.
Our favourite place for Breakfast is Oodies Cafe on Kolan Street North Bundaberg. It is open daily from 6.30 am and serves delicious local produce and great coffee
For the best strawberry ice cream visit Tinaberies on Zinks Road, they are open daily from 10.00 am. You can enjoy your ice cream in the beautiful gardens and pick your own strawberries in August and September.
For great farm fresh produce, you can visit the Alloway Farm Market every day from 8.00 am or visit the Shalom Market on Sundays from 6.00 am to 12.00 noon.
5. Discover the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens
The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens are beautifully landscaped 27-hectare subtropical gardens with native and exotic plants.
They are open seven days a week, and entry is free. You can wander around and enjoy the Japanese and Chinese Gardens, and watch the ducks at the lake.
On Sundays and Wednesdays, you can ride on The Australian Sugar Cane Railway’s heritage trains. Purchase your ticket at the station platform and climb aboard for a fantastic 2-kilometre trip through the gardens.
6. Tour the Bundaberg Barrel
At the Bundaberg Barrel, you can take a free self-guided tour and get a behind-the-scenes look at the famous Bundaberg Brewed Drinks factory.
It is open Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm and on Sundays and Public Holidays from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.
Here, you’ll learn how their iconic ginger beer and other soft drinks are made. It has informative and interactive displays about the whole process of creating these iconic drinks.
You can also book a tasting of the whole range of beverages and take home some gifts and drinks from the gift shop.
Discover Macadamias Australia
Bundaberg is one of the largest Macadamia-producing regions in Australia, and just outside Bundaberg, you can visit Macadamia, Australia to learn more about these amazing nuts.
At the Visitor Experience Centre, you can learn all about the origin of macadamia nuts and how they are planted, harvested, processed and packaged.
The Orchard Table is the onsite cafe which has lovely views over the Macadamia Trees, delicious coffee and amazing Macadamia-inspired dishes.
You can also get some natural macadamia nuts and have fun cracking them in the orchard rows.
There is a paid guided tour of the farm, where you will learn how macadamias are grown and processed and enjoy tastings of delicious macadamia products.
8. Visit the Hinkler Hall of Aviation
The Hinkler Hall of Aviation is located in the Botanic Gardens and celebrates the adventures and achievements of Australia’s pioneer solo aviator, Bert Hinkler.
It is open daily from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm and you can learn about Bert Hinkler through glide and flight simulators, movies, display aircraft and a vintage motor vehicle.
There are many unique museum exhibits and interactive displays, including having your photo taken with his plane.
You can also explore the Hinkler House called ‘Mon Repos’, Bert’s relocated English home with furniture and memorabilia.
9. Discover Street Art
Bundaberg has some interesting and colourful street art around the city centre. As you wander around the streets look out for these great artworks.
From murals celebrating local history to stunning abstract works, these public artworks offer a unique and colourful way to experience the town’s creative spirit.
For more amazing artwork, visit the amenities block at Archies Beach. Paul Perry created these stunning mosaic displays, and more than 200 people from across the community, spent 6,200 hours and 100,000 tiles creating this incredible artwork.
10. Heritage Buildings
Bundaberg is rich in history, and one of the best ways to experience its past is by wandering around to see the heritage buildings.
The School of Arts Building was built between 1888 and 1889 and is the oldest public building still standing in Bundaberg.
The Post Office building and the tower were opened in 1890 and the exterior has remained virtually unchanged since its construction, it is still used as a Post Office today.
The Holy Rosary Church was the first church in Bundaberg and was built on this site in 1875. This beautiful church was completed in 1888.
The Anglican Church known as Christ Church was completed in 1927, built in an English Gothic style with the characteristic features of pointed arches, a bell tower and a 34-metre spire tower.
The East Bundaberg Water Tower in Sussex Street was built in 1902 and is 32 metres high.
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