365 days of turtles

With the Southern Great Barrier Reef just a stone's throw away, our waters are abundant with curious turtles all year round.

Put on your snorkel and grab some flippers, it’s time to dive into the coral filled waters of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and explore a turtle’s paradise in the lagoon of Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Island. Discover where great care begins and how we can all make a difference at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre!

BUNDABERG TURTLE SEASON

The 2021/22 Mon Repos Turtle Season has come to an end. Bookings open for the 2022/23 season in September. 
To be notified of dates and ticket sales, please sign-up to our turtle-y awesome e-news here.

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. Come discover the Bundaberg region's rich turtle history and learn the importance of conservation with a day or overnight stay on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

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?!

MON REPOS TURTLE ENCOUNTER

Mon Repos Turtle Centre and the Mon Repos Turtle Encounters are managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) Ranger. For everyone's safety, and in line with the park's covid plan, visitor numbers have been reduced for the Turtle Centre and the annual Turtle Encounter tours. 

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.

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!

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