sustainability

Welcome to the Bundaberg region, where Great Care begins.

Care for our curious sea turtles, magnificent manta rays, intricate corals and giant marine life that call the Southern Great Barrier Reef home.  Care for our incredible mumma turtles and adorable hatchlings who visit our shoreline every Summer. And Care for our vast farmland, rich red soil and hardworking locals who provide fresh produce for the nation 365 days a year.  

This is where great care begins, where every day the people in our community and our local businesses make sustainable choices to help preserve our natural surrounds for generations to come. From implementing eco-friendly packaging, to no-waste policies and practices that minimise run-off into our oceans, we are proud to be a region continually striving for, and innovating to be even more sustainable.

Australia's Newest Eco Destination

Queensland’s Bundaberg Region, the southern-most destination on the Great Barrier Reef and the home of the nation’s most significant endangered loggerhead turtle rookery, has been awarded ECO Destination Certification from Ecotourism Australia.

The globally recognised ECO Destination Certification process through Ecotourism Australia is complex and recognises the efforts of the tourism industry, local government and the entire community towards all aspects of regional sustainability, and the Bundaberg Region is the second destination in Queensland and fifth in Australia to announce the prestigious credential.

SOUTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF

Found just a stone’s throw away from our backyard is two of the Southern Great Barrier Reef’s most spectacular and untouched island gems, Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island. Home to the Great 8, these islands provide a haven for incredible marine life year-round. Passionate about sharing their part of the world with visitors, while helping to protect the islands’ pristine natural surrounds, our operators have implemented practices to ensure the sustainability of the islands ecosystem for years to come.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a world-leading, award-winning ecologically sustainable tourism operator, dedicated to protecting and enhancing Lady Elliot Island, the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding communities. The off-grid Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort produces its own electricity, desalinates and treats its own water and is engaging in a major revegetation program.

Advanced Eco Certified, Lady Musgrave Experience are committed to the reef’s sustainability, and empowering visitors to learn about the simple steps we can all take everyday to help our oceans thrive. Lady Musgrave HQ Pontoon has zero carbon footprint, being completely solar and wind powered, making it one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly builds in the world, whilst below the waves, coral cultivation and Citizen Science programs are giving back to the world's greatest natural treasure. 

SUSTAINABLE CULINARY EXPERIENCES

A foodie’s paradise, our backyard is full of mouth-watering food and drinks that are sure to keep your belly full. In feeding visitors and locals, our culinary operators ensure they are making eco-friendly and sustainable choices wherever and however they can. Reducing carbon emissions in their factories, recycling waste water, donating food wastage to animal rescues and introducing plastic-free alternatives are all initiatives of our operators.

ECO ACCOMMODATION

While exploring our backyard, come stay at one of our eco-friendly accommodation options. Showing they are continually taking steps that leave a minimal impact on the environment, a number of operators in our region are eco-certified. From using environmentally-friendly cleaning products to implementing solar power, and encouraging guests to think green and turn off appliances when not in use, our accommodation providers are playing their part to help protect our region and its surrounds.

SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS AGRICULTURE

Growing 25 percent of all Australia’s fresh produce in our backyard, our farms and agriculture industry play an important role in our local community. From roadside stalls open daily, to resturants and cafes showcasing the ingredients hand-picked by our farmers, we are fortunate to have such easy access to delicious food. Implementing practices to minimise energy usage, placing water storage for recycling and to filter run-off, and using bi-products to cut down on waste, are all steps our farmers are taking to help reduce their impact on the environment.

PROTECTING OUR TURTLES

Every year from November to March, our shores come alive as mother turtles haul themselves up the beach to nest, and hatchlings begin the first steps of their journey as they make their mad dash to the sea. Dedicated turtle rangers, researchers and volunteers at Mon Repos and our islands work to ensure the protection of these animals, their nests and their babies. Year-round, these turtles cruise our waters, calling the Southern Great Barrier Reef home.

ECO DESTINATION CERTIFICATION

In a close partnership between Bundaberg Regional Council, Bundaberg Tourism and the tourism industry, our region is striving for ECO Destination certification with Ecotourism Australia. This intensive accreditation process assures travellers that certified destinations are backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practises and provide high-quality, nature-based tourism experiences within the region.