Urban List

When one thinks of Queensland’s eastern coast, the mind drifts straight to either end of the state: The Gold Coast or Far North Queensland. But what if we told you that in between the two exists a region of untapped beauty? A place so serene that glamping by a creek teeming with platypus is trumped only by camping under the stars, floating above the waters of a paradisical, uninhabited lagoon.

Well, that place—known as the Bundaberg region—does indeed exist, and there are more than a few reasons it should be at the top of your travel hit list. For starters, just east of the coastline is The Great Barrier Reef’s southern tip, so the snorkelling, diving and island adventures come standard. And if you look west to the land, you’ll be treated to the finest artisan producers along with a slew of bucolic experiences that you’re going to want to bookmark immediately. And for those wondering, yes, this is the home of Bundaberg Rum, and yes, you can visit the distillery.
Best get bookmarking. Here is everything you need to do, see, eat and drink in the Bundaberg region.

Starts At 60 - News

It’s a balmy beachy evening, the kind that reminds you of those old-fashioned holidays when you were young. You remember the type. When mum miraculously tossed out the rule book about being home by the time the sun conceded to another sultry summer day. Instead, she allowed you to frolic by the ocean with your mates. Mind you, not too late, just enough time to allow you to squeeze that last bit of oozy goodness out of your day, before crawling into your summer sheets, sandy feet and all. Reading under the covers by torchlight way beyond bedtime? You had that sorted too.

Late November/early December in Bundaberg and it’s that same scent of nostalgia. These are languid lollypop days in Queensland’s coastal city most renowned for its rum. The Tilt Train & Turtles Getaway begins aboard Queensland Rail’s Tilt Train. Crawl into your comfortable seat and let the world wash over you on this 351km journey which takes just 4.5 hours.

As you enter the brewhouse mismatched couches and chairs, old electrical wooden spindles for tables and a selection of bar games to keep you entertained greet you. It's laid back, let’s settle in for the long haul type atmosphere, means you will have loads of time to try the huge selection of craft brews on tap. 

Did you know Bundaberg is home to some of the most epic encounters? We know what you're probably thinking, 'of course you have to say that, you work there', but we're not just saying it because we have too, we're saying it because we mean it! 365 days of the year our backyard is home to curious turtles, ninja warrior type goats and warm blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Now if that hasn't convinced you just yet, come a little closer, here's your complete guide to a holiday jam-packed with epic encounters and tasty treats 👇

Beach dips, ice-cream and lookouts are all covered day tripping from Bundaberg to Elliott Heads. Proposed times are for the early birds, but you can push it back if you are not a morning person.