Turtles
365 days of turtles
The 2022/23 Turtle Season has come to an end.
If you'd like to be kept in the loop with information on the 2023/24 Turtle Season, please sign up to our e-news or follow us on Facebook for all the latest updates, holiday inspiration and deals.
Come experience the beautiful Southern Great Barrier Reef and snorkel alongside curious turtles in an effervescent coral lagoon all year round! Between November to March, turtle tracks paint the shores of Mon Repos Beach, Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island, as mother turtles haul themselves up sandy dunes to nest, and emerging hatchlings make the mad dash to the sea.
Add more turtle to your holiday during this time with a Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter, the only ranger-guided turtle encounter available on the east coast and home to the largest turtle rookery in the South Pacific. The Mon Repos Turtle Centre is open year-round for immersive daytime experiences. Open year-round, discover where great care begins and how we can all make a difference, with the day time experiences at Mon Repos Turtle Centre, such as Turtle Tales or a Guided Ranger Walk through the conservation park. Combine coffee and culture with brunch in the Milbi Cafe at Mon Repos, before browsing the gift shop and art gallery filled with pieces from local indigenous artists.
Volunteer Ambassadors
Crucial to our Visitor Information Centres are our team of enthusiastic and committed volunteer ambassadors. At the frontline of visitor services at the Bundaberg and Childers Visitor Information Centres, the volunteer ambassadors offer our guests local knowledge and enthusiasm as they promote our region, our industry and our members.
Meet our Volunteer Ambassadors
Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre
36 Avenue Street, Bundaberg Qld 4670 (located behind the Bundaberg Rum Distillery)
Located on Avenue Street in the East Bundaberg Tourism Precinct, within close proximity to the Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks' Barrel, and Ohana Cider House, come and chat with our friendly staff about your travel plans. With a range of travel brochures, maps, itineraries and guides our team can help you plan your stay and book those must-do experiences.
Looking for a special keepsake or gift? Shop our range of turtle-y awesome handcrafted products and souvenirs from our giftshop.
Open: 9am - 4pm Monday - Saturday
10am - 3pm Sunday
Public Holiday Opening Hours: 10am - 3pm
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Anzac Day, and Good Friday
Tel 1300 722 099 | Tel +61 7 4153 8888
Email: info@bundabergregion.org

Childers Visitor Information Centre
Palace Building, 72 Churchill Street, Childers Qld 4660
Located in the heritage-listed Palace Memorial Building, in Childers. Visit our team of passionate, skilled and knowledgeable locals who can assist with travel information including maps, brochures, and itineraries, plus recommendations on things to see, things to do and where to eat. Needing a place to stay or want to book an experience? Our team can also help with our on-site booking services.
Open: 9am - 4pm - Monday – Friday
9am - 1pm - Saturday - Sunday
Public Holiday Opening Hours: 9am - 1pm
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Anzac Day, and Good Friday

Gin Gin Tourism Centre
Mulgrave St, Gin Gin QLD 4671 (located in the center of the main street)
Let us help you plan your time in Gin Gin. For accommodation, tours, attractions, restaurants and destination information, visit our Tourism Centre and ask a local about our many best kept secrets
Open: 9am - 4pm Monday - Friday
9am - 3pm Saturday - Sunday
Closed: Christmas Day
Tel +61 7 4132 8564
Reginald Murray Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre & Visitor Information
23767 Gayndah - Monto Road, Eidsvold, QLD 4627
Open: Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (closed 12-12.30pm daily)
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. 10am-2pm
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Anzac Day and Good Friday
Tel +61 7 4165 7272

Volunteer With Us
Bundaberg Tourism’s Volunteer Ambassadors are the frontline of visitor services at the Bundaberg and Childers Visitor Information Centres.
Would you like to join us? Click here to find out more.
MON REPOS TURTLE ENCOUNTER
The 2022/23 Turtle Season has come to an end.
If you'd like to be kept in the loop with information on the 2023/24 Turtle Season, please sign up to our e-news or follow us on Facebook for all the latest updates, holiday inspiration and deals.
Mon Repos Turtle Encounter is the only ranger-guided turtle encounter available on the east-coast and is instrumental in the research into turtle conservation, specifically the endangered Loggerhead turtles that frequent this beach.
Take an unrivalled peak behind the curtain of a natural wonder thousands of years in the making at Mon Repos Conservation Park. Watch as mother turtles lay their clutches of eggs from November – January on a ranger-guided Mon Repos Turtle Encounter. In January – March form a pathway to the ocean for the baby turtles as they begin their dangerous journey into adolescence with only 1 in 1000 turtles making it to maturity. Come witness a miracle on a Mon Repos Turtle Encounter and create memories to last a lifetime.
SWIM WITH THE TURTLES
Continue your turtle encounter by spending a day on the beautiful Southern Great Barrier Reef swimming with the feeding mother turtles. Take a quick scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island or boat ride to Lady Musgrave Island and enjoy the warm, crystal clear waters teaming with vibrant coral and marine life. Explore these pristine islands with trained marine biologists, learning about this amazing eco-system. Pull on your snorkels and dive in! The waters of the Southern Great Barrier Reef are home to magnificent (and curious) marine life like our friendly turtles and manta rays. Why not bring your underwater camera or go pro and grab an iconic selfie with a turtle?!
WHERE TO STAY
Whether you’re looking for the perfect next family holiday, a romantic getaway for two or an adventure-filled weekend away, we’ve got you covered. Sit back and relax after a day spent exploring the Southern Great Barrier Reef and creating memories to last a lifetime in the town the turtles call home. With beautiful beaches lining Bargara and the Coral Coast, choose to be within walking distance of rolling waves and boutique cafes while being just a short 10min drive to Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
Reef Seasonality Calendar
Year-round get up close and personal with colourful fish and turtles in pristine corals, ledges and caves of the Southern Great Barrier Reef! Between November to March, turtle tracks paint the shores of Mon Repos Beach, Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island, as mother turtles haul themselves up sandy dunes to nest, and emerging hatchlings make the mad dash to the sea. Each year, the pristine waters off Bundaberg come alive with majestic southern humpback whales from July to November. Lady Elliot Island is known as the home of the manta ray, and you can also spot these peaceful creatures at Lady Musgrave Island year-round with peak season from May to August. Take a look at our reef seasonality calendar below for an overview of what you can experience on our reef!