Holiday houses in Bundaberg

Bundaberg is a large river town minutes away from Queensland’s Coral Coast, between four and five hours north of Brisbane. Visitors make the short journey to the coast for access to the southernmost gateway to Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. This epic swathe of coastline includes over 100 kilometres of sandy white beaches to explore, along with Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island just off the coast — a paradise for snorkelers and divers.

Taking a drive around the Bundaberg region, it soon becomes clear that the town is all about sugarcane. There are towering stalks of the local crop on sugarcane farms wherever you look, and it’s this industry and the town’s strong rum-making heritage that have helped to put Bundaberg on the map — the locally made tipple is well known around the world. There’s plenty to learn about the town’s industrial past at Fairymead House Sugar History Museum and the local distillery’s museum. In the town centre, you can stroll along the picturesque Burnett River and wander among the flora in Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, or browse the local shops and take five at the cluster of cafes surrounding Bourbong Street and Targo Street.

The most pleasant times to be in town are spring and autumn, when you can expect warm, sunny days — ideal conditions for snorkelling the nearby waters. Summer in Bundaberg is characterised by hot days and nights, which makes this season a popular choice for visitors heading to Bundaberg holiday rentals for beach days and making the most of the many ice cream shops in town. Between November and March, flatback and loggerhead turtles nest and hatch on the small beach at Mon Repos Regional Park just outside Bundaberg. Winter here sees mostly crisp, sunny days and mild nights. In June, the Taste Bundaberg Festival takes place, with 10 days of celebrations showcasing the food and drink of the local area.

The Hummock Lookout

A 15-minute drive away in Bargara, this viewpoint offers commanding vistas from a low-lying volcanic formation known as The Hummock. Just 96 metres above sea level, the lookout’s impressive view spans the ocean to the east to the sugar fields in the west, with smokestacks from the rum distillery visible on the horizon. The Hummock is of great importance to the Taribelang Aboriginal people and there is a large Aboriginal mural at the site.

Woodgate Beach

Woodgate Beach is less than an hour from Bundaberg, boasting a 16-kilometre-long stretch of sand enclosed by the dunes, melaleuca swamp, and cabbage palms of the Burrum Coast National Park. The Southern Great Barrier Reef ensures calm waters, perfect for swimmers of all abilities. You would be unlucky not to spot wildlife here, with kangaroos regularly hopping along the beach and dolphins playing in the surf. Between November and March, you may even see a turtle making its nest in the sand.

Bundaberg Botanic Gardens

A network of paths and boardwalks guide you through the 30 hectares of lush gardens on the north side of the Burnett River. There are 10,000 trees and shrubs growing here, arranged in precincts and sub-gardens, making it a haven for more than 100 bird species. You’ll spot flora from the Australian rainforest, rare fruit tree orchards, prehistoric gardens, Japanese and Chinese gardens, and more. The two-kilometre Australian Sugar Cane Railway is another handy way to get around the gardens.