Turtles

At Mon Repos beach on Bundaberg's coastline some very special marine visitors have established East Coast Australia's largest and most accessible mainland turtle rookery. Mon Repos is the largest loggerhead turtle rookery in the South Pacific and has seen a steady increase in turtle numbers over the years due to the conservation efforts of the Queensland National Parks team.

Loggerhead, Green and Flatback turtles come ashore from November to February and 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. Some six to eight weeks later the tiny hatchlings may be seen emerging from their sandy nests to head towards the sea (early January until late March). The sex of baby turtles is determined by the temperature of their nests. The golden sands of Mon Repos are just that bit warmer and produce mostly females, whilst the white coral sands of the islands such as Lady Elliot produce mostly males. It's easy to remember "the girls are hot…the boys are cool". Only one in one thousand turtles survive to maturity and the females born at Mon Repos return some thirty years after birth to breed, nest and start the cycle again.

Mon Repos is 14 Kilometres from Bundaberg or just five minutes drive from Bargara. The area is a Conservation Park designed to protect the turtles, ensure their ongoing use of the area and provide opportunities for turtle watching. Loggerhead Turtles are an endangered species and access to the beach is limited during the season and rangers conduct guided walks each night.

The Mon Repos visitor centre has been set up to understand and appreciate turtle biology, take the time to look at the displays and browse through the shop. Ranger shows and videos are presented in the outdoor amphitheatre (weather permitting). Bookings can be made through Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism by telephoning (+61) 07 4153 88 88 or online at www.bookbundabergregion.com.au 

As there is a limited number of visitors allowed on the beach each evening please book early as some nights can be booked out in advance.

Mon Repos Turtle Encounter

To purchase your tickets for the "Mon Repos Turtle Encounter" between the months of November to March call into any one of Bundaberg North Burnett Tourisms two accredited blue and yellow visitor information centres, located at Bundaberg West (next to the Bundaberg Base Hospital), or the Gin Gin centre on Mulgrave St (Bruce Highway) Gin Gin.  

• Booking are essential with some nights being completely booked out 2-3 days in advance - this is generally in the Christmas/Dec-Jan school holidays, but other nights can apply.
• Bookings can be made through the Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre between 9am and 5pm 7 days a week and at the Gin Gin Visitor Information Cente between 9am and 5pm Mon- Fri, 9am to 2.30pm Sat/Sun
  
• *with limited access to both centre's on public holidays
• Alternatively you can purchase your tickets (excepting Family tickets) by going to www.bookbundabergregion.com.au or by phoning Bundaberg Visitor Information Centres on (07) 4153 8888. 

Admission to the Centre:-Prices for 2011-2012 season

** a 2.5% booking fee will be charged to the total amount of your booking/s

Adult $10.20 adult (18+),

Children $5.40 aged between 5-17yrs

Under 5 FREE

Concession: $5.40 Australian & International senior card holders (must present card at time of booking or on the night when asked)

Family Tickets $24.30 - a family can be made up of 1 or 2 adult/s with 1 or more children, children under 5 years of age free of charge, please let the operator know when booking if there are any infants (under 5 yrs) in your party.  

Tickets will only be valid for the date that appears on it.
**Please note that Family bookings CANNOT be made online, and can only be made by phoning Bundaberg Visitor Information Centres on (07) 4153 8888 or in person at 271 Bourbong Street Bundaberg and Mulgrave Street Gin Gin.
Online bookings will not be confirmed until full payment has been made - bookings that have not had payment received,  will be cancelled,  no other night will be offered on cancellation.
All groups are designated by the time and date of your booking, not by your position in the queue on the evening of your visit. 
Education Group Bookings ** Please note that Group bookings are limited to ONE group per night, please check with the operator when booking for availability of the night that you require.

• Education Group Admission Price is $2.39 per person (adult and child), bookings for all Schools or educational groups must booked in advance, there is a limit to one school per night.  Group Bookings CANNOT be made online but can be made by calling Bundaberg Region Visitor Information on (07) 4153 8888.
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• Guaranteed sightings are never promised by the Department of Environment and Resource Management or Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism, as turtles are classed as wild marine animals, therefore refunds are NOT given if you do not actually see a turtle on the night of your booking. All fees go towards continuing turtle research as well as providing the centre displays and films shown.

• There are no set tour times and sighting can never be guaranteed, although turtles appear most nights, there can always be the odd evenings when they do not show at all. 
• There is limited flash photography opportunities allowable at the Mon Repos site, please ask the Ranger for further details. 
• The tour will operate in almost all weather, including rain.  Refunds are not granted if it rains on the evening of your booked tour.

Refunds will not be given if you do not turn up on the evening that you have booked or you do not see any turtles/hatchlings or if you decide to leave early without accessing the beach.

Tours will only be cancelled by the DERM-Rangers and once contacted with this information Bundaberg Visitor Information staff  will try their best to contact all visitors prior to 7pm on the evening - please make sure that you can provide a contact number for this purpose. 

Smoking is not permitted in the Mon Repos Information Centre or in any of the surrounding areas, including on the beach during turtle viewing.

To protect the animals and preserve your safety as a guest, all turtle watching guidelines must be followed at all times.  The Rangers and or volunteers at the centre will give a short spiel on safety, photography etc before you leave the centre for the beach.  *If you do not follow these guidelines, you may be asked to leave the Mon Repos Conservation Park at any time and without notice.  In this instance, we advise that no refund will be granted.  

The turtle encounter at Mon Repos Conservation Park is managed by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.  The experience is not offered by Bundaberg Region Visitor Information or its affiliates, as we act only as a ticket booking and ticket information agency.
 
Neither the Department of Environment and Resource Management or Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism or its affiliates offer any responsibility for your motor vehicle or your belongings while you are at Mon Repos Conservation Park.  We strongly recommend you lock your motor vehicle and hide/secure any valuables.
 
If you are unable to join the tour on the evening of your booking for any genuine reason eg illness, incapacity, etc, changes can be made to your booking firstly by offering another night, prior to a refund.  To change the date of your booking, you must contact Bundaberg Region Visitor Information prior to the night of your Encounter on 07-4153 8888.  Any requests to transfer your ticket received after 3pm on the day of your booking may not be accepted.  

*******Please note that Bundaberg Region Tourism reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee if you cancel within a 24 hour period for the evening you have booked, there may also be a % charged if you cancel your tour for any other reason. All monies will be forfeited if you do not turn up on the night you are booked or do not attempt to contact Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism to change your pre booked ticket.

To report any complaints of your experience whilst at Mon Repos Conservation Park, please contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management direct on 13QGOV (13 74 68), or write to the Department of Environment and Resource Management, Wide Bay/Burnett District, PO Box 1735, Bundaberg QLD 4670.  Bundaberg Region Visitor Information cannot handle any complaints regarding the turtle encounter.