A: The Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounters start from 6.30pm. If ticket holders wish to enjoy a delicious dinner beforehand, they can do so at the Milbi Café, located within the Turtle Centre from 6.00pm.

A: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers and the Centre’s Volunteers will greet you on arrival to check-in. Group allocations are made before this time so it doesn’t matter where you are in the queue. It is important that you arrive on time to ensure that you are onsite for when your group is called for turtle activity, (remember turtles can take a while to arrive on any given night).

A: The group you are in is automatically allocated based on the date you purchase your ticket and is finalised on the night of the tour. Bundaberg Tourism staff cannot change this allocation. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers may be required to alter tour groups, due to early turtle events or other factors that may arise on the night.

A: As marine turtles are wild creatures we cannot guarantee this, however, it is very unusual for no turtles to be seen at all during the nesting and hatchling season. While you wait, you do have the opportunity to explore the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, talk to the Rangers and volunteers; learn more about these magnificent marine animals and browse the incredible Indigenous artwork that adorns the walls of the Centre.

A: The turtles are wild animals and it is up to them when they are ready to come ashore to lay eggs or when the hatchlings will emerge from the nest. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Rangers and volunteers patrol the beach for turtles and groups are called as soon as events occur. You will be escorted onto the beach when your allocated group is called so you may be on the beach quickly, or you may be waiting until quite late. If turtles are scarce you may have to wait for up to five hours before going onto the beach. The total visit time at Mon Repos can be up to six hours. Please be patient and listen to the instructions of the Rangers and turtle volunteers. Please be aware that on some occasions turtles may not appear. Although this is unusual, we must remember marine turtles are wild creatures and we cannot guarantee viewing.

A: Heaps of things! In the redeveloped Turtle Centre, take time to explore the Turtle Tales and absorb the evenings program in the immersive theatrette. These have been set up to give you a greater understanding and appreciation of turtle biology and the little things we can all do on land to aid in the survival of these endangered species. If you’re concerned about being bored, bring a book, tablet, board game or another quiet activity to fill any time.

A: The turtles don’t mind – they’re pretty used to getting wet! Take a rain jacket as no umbrellas are allowed on the beach. As long as the tour is running, there is no refund for cancellation due to inclement weather. In the event of storms when tours are cancelled for safety, you may be offered the opportunity to re-book for another night or receive a refund.

A: Yes! Food and drinks are available for purchase at the Turtle Centre between 6.00pm til late at the on-site Milbi Cafe, seven days a week. The Milbi Cafe will offer a variety of light dishes, snack and sweets with a boost of native flavours to tickle your taste buds! Oh and of course a barista ready to give you your caffeine fix! You are also more than welcome to bring your own food on the night. With conservation at the forefront of our mission, help protect the turtles by choosing sustainable packaging for your snacks when visiting the Centre. We also encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle and make use of the water refill station in the Turtle Centre.

A: No. Mon Repos has a no-alcohol policy. Bundaberg is famous for its amazing drinks, though, so make sure you drop into one of our breweries, distilleries, bars and cafes the day after your Mon Repos experience!

A: Smoking is not permitted at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, the beach or surrounds.

A: There are toilets available in the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

A: An immersive experience engages multiple senses and creates an environment where participants feel deeply involved in the activity or setting. These experiences are designed to captivate attention and often evoke strong emotional responses, making them memorable and impactful.

Our turtle encounters on the beach are immersive – involving most of our senses in an awesome real-life turtle experience – the smells of the ocean, sounds of the waves, the glow of the moonlight, and the feeling of the soft sand under our feet.

The other immersive experiences at Mon Repos are created using multi-media technologies, sound, animation, scale and lighting to transport you from the Turtle Centre into the world of marine turtles in a flexibly designed theatre. Immersive experiences can also be challenge-based interactions that require imagination to participate, for example in a simulated world of a turtle researcher in Turtle Tales.

A: A moderate level of fitness is required for the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter tour. You may be required to walk up to 1.6km (return trip) along the beach at night, in natural light or limited torchlight. On the beach, there will be water, soft sand, rocks, branches, sticks, pebbles so we recommend you wear closed-in walking shoes or sandshoes. During the Turtle Encounter tour, you will also be standing on natural, uneven surfaces for up to 2hrs. Please understand that Mon Repos has limited vehicle access in the event of an emergency.

A: Walking through soft sand can be tricky at the best of times, let alone in the dark, if you are unsteady on your feet or struggle with walking long distances or standing for lengthy periods, then this experience may not be suitable for you. Please understand that Mon Repos has limited vehicle access in the event of an emergency.

A: Wheelchair-accessible parking is available at the Centre. Universal access toilets are located at the Turtle Centre. Please note that access to the beach is either via a raised wooden boardwalk with steep ramps, or along a bitumen path which then leads to the beach over uneven vegetated dunes. Due to the sandy beach and access points, unfortunately, conventional wheelchair access is sometimes not possible for the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounters, so please call the Mon Repos Turtle Centre to discuss prior to your arrival.

A: Turtle nesting and hatching activity occurs at night. If you would like to learn more about a turtles life journey and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services conservation research, the Mon Repos Turtle Centre is open during the day for you to explore.

If you are spending your day at Mon Repos Beach, help look after the nesting beach by staying off the dunes, using beach umbrellas 1m below the dune edge grass line and keeping the beach clear of trip hazards such as sandcastles and holes. Be sure to pack up and leave the beach before the 6pm closure.

A: Although turtle nesting occurs along much of the Queensland coast, Mon Repos Turtle Encounter is the only way you can take part in an organised tour with Rangers providing expert information and ensuring you have minimal impact on endangered marine turtles. You can, however, swim with the turtles twelve months of the year at Lady Musgrave Island or Lady Elliot Island.

A: No, you cannot feed, touch or swim with the turtles at Mon Repos. You can, however, swim with the turtles twelve months of the year at Lady Musgrave Island or Lady Elliot Island.

A: Nesting turtles are easily disturbed by artificial light and movement, especially when leaving the water, crossing the beach and digging their nests. Do not approach or shine lights on turtles leaving the sea or moving up the beach. Remain with your allocated group at all times and avoid sudden movement. Hatching turtles emerging from their nests are disorientated by lights. Always listen to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services Rangers and Volunteers on the beach and follow their instructions. They are there to look after the turtles and give you a memorable experience!

A: Yes, but only at certain times, so please follow the directions of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Rangers to take advantage of limited photo opportunities. Please read the Mon Repos Turtle Centre Conditions of Entry for further information on photography. Be sure to tag @visitbundaberg in all of your holiday snaps!

A: Yes, a brand-new nature resort has just opened next door to Mon Repos Turtle Centre. At Turtle Sands, you can glamp, camp, caravan or stay in a villa just meters from our turtle-y iconic Mon Repos Beach. There is also a number of accommodation options available nearby in Bargara and Bundaberg CBD, all just a short drive from Mon Repos. Check them out here.