Nestled in Queensland’s heartland, the Bundaberg and North Burnett regions are renowned for lush landscapes, rich history, and vibrant communities. Beneath the serene surface, however, lies a tapestry of strange sightings, cryptids, and unexplained phenomena that have fascinated locals and visitors for generations.

Exploring the enigmatic regions: For those intrigued by the unknown, Bundaberg and North Burnett offer a mix of dense forests, haunted buildings, mysterious waterholes, and strange geological formations. Whether searching for Yowie tracks, investigating local ghost stories, or visiting the Mystery Craters, the regions promise adventure into the supernatural and unexplained.

HAUNTED LOCATIONS & GHOSTLY TALES

1. Grand Hotel, Childers – "Luke the Spook"
The Grand Hotel in Childers is steeped in history and, according to local legend, haunted by a spirit known as "Luke the Spook." The tale suggests that Luke was a gentleman who met his untimely demise during a poker game gone wrong. While Luke is generally considered a friendly ghost, encounters with him can be unsettling. Hotel manager Helen Corliss has reported instances of guests experiencing unexplained noises, flickering lights, and a pervasive feeling of being watched. Some visitors have even claimed to have felt a presence sitting beside them in the bistro or heard footsteps in empty corridors.

2. Smiths Crossing – The Phantom Girl
Located along the Kolan River, Smiths Crossing was once a vital river crossing and transport route for locals. Today, it offers a peaceful escape for those seeking nature and history.
However, the area is also the site of a tragic legend involving a young girl who died under mysterious circumstances with locals reporting she was hung from a tree. Drivers passing through Smiths Crossing have reported hearing disembodied voices and encountering a mysterious figure wandering the area, particularly near the water's edge. Some have claimed to see a young girl standing by the riverbank, only for her to vanish when approached. While others say if you park your car under the tree she was allegedly hung, you will get a dint in the roof or your car. These eerie occurrences have led to the belief that the girl's spirit lingers at the crossing.

3. The Ring Road Ghost – Spectral Light and Phantom Cyclist
Late-night drivers on Bundaberg’s Ring Road have reported a spectral light that seems to follow vehicles. Some have even seen an old-fashioned man on a bicycle alongside them. These sightings have been discussed in local forums, with one user recalling, “We both agreed and went qhuiet as he was not in the rear view mirror, he had just disappeared”.
The phenomenon has led to various theories, including the possibility of a ghostly cyclist from a bygone era or a manifestation of local folklore. Regardless of the explanation, these eerie encounters continue to intrigue and unsettle those who experience them.

4. The Old Bundy Tavern
A cornerstone of the Bundy pub scene the Old Bundy Tavern has had its fair share of paranormal encounters. A worker once reported feeling a strong presence beside her and heard doors opening and closing as she worked alone upstairs. When she asked her colleagues later if anyone had gone up there they all denied it and it was discovered that two female staff had died in their rooms in the upstairs area in the early 1900s and are rumoured to roam the halls trying to finish the job they started.

5. Lady Elliot Island
Before it became the beautiful, family-friendly resort that it is today, Lady Elliot Island history is scattered with flickers of darkness and despair. Lady Elliot Island isn't the only lady on the island with two female ghosts roaming the island at all hours of the night. The first is Phoebe Phillips, the daughter of the lighthouse keeper who caught pneumonia and died at the age of thirty. Many visitors have claimed to see her.
The most active ghost is that of Susannah who married Thomas McKee and had four sons. When the family moved to Lady Elliot she found the living conditions unbearable and when her youngest son went off to boarding school she could not handle the isolation any more. In April 1907 she put on her best clothes and jumped off the old guano-loading jetty below the lighthouse and died. Her husband buried her beside Phoebe Phillips when she washed ashore, trapping her in the place she hated the most. The ghost of Susannah was first spotted by lighthouse keeper Arthur Bumpton and his daughter Margaret in 1930 when they spotted a female figure dressed in turn-of-the-century clothing walking between the lighthouse and the cottages behind it.
When Arthur and his daughter left the island the captain of the ship they were on was showing them old photos of people who had once lived on Lady Elliot Island. They both identified Susannah McKee in one of the photographs as the lady they had seen on that night some 10 years earlier, 30 years after her death.

6. The Original Bundaberg Cemetery
When it comes to cemeteries, eerie presences and strange nightly encounters are almost a guarantee. While it may no longer resemble the headstones and green pastures that it used to, Bundaberg's Original Cemetery used to reside in the heart of Bundaberg on a block bordered by Woondooma, Woongarra, Maryborough and McLean Streets between 1869 -1882. Travelling back to 1879, the town of Bundaberg was quickly expanding with the cemetery becoming the centre of town and locals expressing their distaste for the landmark that was quickly becoming an eyesore. After a correspondence letter was filed to council in 1879, it was decided that the site needed to be removed along with the buried. With the value of land and cost for moving the gravesites unable to be agreed upon, to this day there are no records as to who, if anyone, was appointed to move the bodies, and the only recorded statement from 1882 being that the removal of bodies had been completed...But who was really left behind?

CRYPTIDS OF THE REGION

7. Mystery Craters – The Bermuda Triangle of the Land
Most people know the Bermuda Triangle, the mysterious region of the Atlantic Ocean famous for unexplained disappearances. Here in Queensland, we have our own intriguing triangle with a very different story. Renowned Australian author Tim the Yowie Man describes the “Landlocked Bermuda Triangle,” which connects Mystery Craters with the Boolboonda Tunnel and Coalstoun Lakes, creating a remarkable region where history and mystery intersect.
Within this triangular space, dozens of haunted structures—old homesteads, outhouses, and railway tunnels—dot the landscape, each with its own stories. Mystery Craters, considered by Tim to be “the most mysterious” site within the triangle, features perfectly formed geological depressions discovered in 1971.
Unlike its Atlantic counterpart, Mystery Craters is known for its positive energy and peaceful atmosphere. Visitors often experience a sense of calm as they explore the site, making it both a place of wonder and tranquility.

8. The Moore Park Yowie
In early 2021, a family at Moore Park Beach had a chilling encounter with a towering, hairy creature with glowing red eyes moving swiftly between the trees. Initially mistaken for a person, they quickly realised it was something far stranger. The creature chased them briefly before disappearing into the dense bush.

9. Yowies: the Hairy Giants
Yowie sightings are scattered across Bundaberg and the Burnett region. One farmer near Moore Park Beach reported a large shadowy figure moving through his avocado farm. Another near Cedars Bridge described a towering figure with glowing red eyes approaching a vehicle at night.

10. Bunyips: Swamp Dwellers of North Burnett
The North Burnett is home to tales of the bunyip, a mythical creature inhabiting swampy waterholes. The “Bunyip Hole” near Mulgildie has been a source of fascination, with locals reporting strange noises and eerie sightings.

Tips for exploring safely

• Always go in groups when exploring forests, swamps, or abandoned sites.
• Let someone know your location and expected return time.
• Bring a flashlight, first-aid kit, and charged mobile phone.
• Respect private property; many haunted locations are on private land.
• Keep a journal or camera for documenting unusual sightings but prioritise safety over photos.
• Stay alert near waterholes, cliffs, or dense bushland.