Bundaberg
Turn your convention weekend into a Queensland escape.
Bundaberg is one of Australia’s hidden gems and easy to reach, full of character, and overflowing with sunshine.
Our 2027 Queensland State Square Dance Convention brings dancers together in a location that will feel like a holiday from the moment you arrive.
- Warm weather and coastal breezes
- Friendly regional atmosphere
- Iconic attractions including the Bundaberg Rum Distillery
- Gateway to Mon Repos Turtle Centre and Lady Musgrave Island
- Great food, great company, great dancing
Make the journey. You’ll be glad you did.
Things to see and do in Bundaberg
Bundaberg is famous for growing sugar cane. Sugar cane crops are a significant part of our landscape along with the Millaquin Sugar Mill, by the Burnett River, Bundaberg East.
It is rare to see cane fires these days as most harvesting is now done by large machines designed to cut green crops.
Watch a Bundaberg cane harvest here.
Tractors and trucks transport cut cane to train bins waiting to be hauled to the mill. One of Australia’s largest cane growers, Bundaberg Sugar, also operate the Milliquin Sugar Mill and refinery in Bundaberg, Queensland.
Cane trains run on their own narrow gauge rail network 7 days a week, 24 hours a day during the mill crushing season from June to December.
The sugar industry’s molasses by-product is the key ingredient in Bundaberg Rum. Seven Bundaberg locals used this resource to start the Bundaberg Rum Distillery in 1888.
The distillery is built next to the Milliquin Sugar Mill, making it a good location to see cane harvests being delivered.
Museum and distillery tours can be booked online. There is also a merchandise and bottle shop on site.
The Australian Sugar Cane Railway is a working museum dedicated to operating, restoring and showcasing the history of sugar cane railways in the Bundaberg region and is located inside the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.
The trains runs on most Sundays and Wednesdays plus most public holidays.
Entry to the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens is free and open 7 days a week. 5.30am to 6.45pm September to April and 6.30am to 6pm May to August.Café 1928 operates on site and there are a number of museums within the gardens with entry fees.
Australia’s iconic Bundaberg Ginger Beer is brewed right here in Bundaberg, Queensland. For over 50 years the Australian family owned business has been craft brewing a range beverages for your enjoyment. Visit the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Barrel to learn more and taste test the range. Stock up on your favourite drinks and create personalised bottles.
The open Eucalypt forest, Woongarra Scrub and natural wetlands of Baldwin Swamp Environmental Park is an important habitat for waterbirds and other wildlife.
With several entry points and a network of walking tracks, boardwalks and bridges, there are many ways to explore the park.
Shared walking and cycle paths connect a network of parks across Bundaberg. Surrounding costal areas have some exceptional paths with ocean views. Find parks, reserves and natural areas in our region with the BRC Park Finder.
Alexandra Park Zoo was established in 1911 and is one of Queensland’s oldest continuously running zoological facilities. This small zoo has free entry and is open Wednesday to Sunday – 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Located at 29 Quay Street, on the corner of Quay and Burrum Street at the end of the park. The park can also be accessed from the pathway along the Burnett River. The zoo currently houses a Quoll, Cotton-Top Tamarins, Dingoes, Emus, Wallabies, Australian Parrots, Lizards, Snakes, Freshwater turtles, Frogs and Native bees.
Visit the Mon Repos Conservation Park to enjoy the sun and fresh ocean breezes on the 2km park section of the longer 7.7km
Bundaberg Regional Council Turtle trail.
This sealed trail is suitable for assisted wheelchair access, prams, walkers, runners and cyclists. The trail passes by the Turtle Centre where toilets and a water station are available between 9am and 2pm. Shaded by seaside forests and flanked by a pristine beach, there are plenty of places along the way to stop and take in the stunning coastal views.
Mon Repos Turtle Centre is open 9am to 2pm, 7 days a week (closed 25 December and 25 April). The privately run Milbi Café and gift shop is open 9am to 2pm. Access to the Turtle Centre (includes entrance hall area, Milbi Café and gift shop) is free and does not require a booking.
Daytime access to Turtle Tales Immersive Experience within the Turtle Centre includes interactive displays and theatre. Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided walks leave from the Turtle Centre year-round on weekdays. Admission fees apply and tickets can be purchased online. Mon Repos night time Turtle Encounter tours are from November to March.
The landscape of cane fields in the Bundaberg region has been changing over the years to the more profitable macadamias. Macadamia farms in Bundaberg are generally well over 100 to several hundred hectares per property.
Macadamias Australia has a cafe and shop just outside of Bundaberg. You can book tours and tables at the café on their website.
With a mild, subtropical climate and rich volcanic soil the Bundaberg region is a thriving agricultural area. Along with cane and macadamias you will see fruiting orchards of citrus, avocados, figs, olives, mangos and passionfruit. Large areas are dedicated to small crops such as sweet potato, tomatoes, melons, pumpkin, zucchini, chillies and strawberries.
Alloway Farm Market – Home of the Forbidden Fig! Fresh local produce with fruit and veg, jams and sauces. The café sells in house made food and coffee with take home packs of frozen pies and sausage rolls available.
SSS Strawberries in North Bundaberg has a shop selling their freeze-dried fruit and strawberry soft-serve with their Pick Your Own Patch open from August.
In the Bundaberg suburb of Woongarra you will find Tinaberries. Year round you can buy fresh fruit ice cream at the farm. From June you can buy fresh Strawberries with the pick your own season starting mid to late August until early October.
Bargara Berries retail shop at Bargara Berries Fruit & Vege Market. 100 Hughes Rd, Bargara QLD 4670, opens during strawberry season. Buy fresh berries, gelato, and house-made jams and sauces.
During the season, the farm also opens for a pick your own berry experience at Bargara Berries Meadowvale and Strawberry Kiss Cafe. 104 Hoods Road, Meadowvale, QLD, Australia, 4670
Experience the southern most tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Explore rock pools at low tide to see interesting small marine life along the rocky outcrops between Bargara and Elliott Heads.
For the adventurous, pockets of coral gardens and tropical fish can be found just metres from shore. Snorkel or scuba dive Hoffman Rocks or Barolin Rocks, Coral Cove. Best dived in calm conditions in the Winter.
Experience a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes tour of Monsoon Aquatics’ coral farm. Located on the Burnett River, near the Bundaberg Port Marina, Burnett Heads. Here the wonders of the reef come alive. This immersive, fully guided one-hour tour lets you marvel at over 70,000 vibrant corals and 200 marine species sourced from across Australia. See coral feeding and propagation up close, and discover the art and science behind coral growth and the cutting-edge research supporting future reef restoration. Bookings are essential.
If an ocean cruise and day trip on the reef is more your style, Lady Musgrave Island day tours leave from the Bundaberg Port Marina, Burnett Heads. Enjoy up to 4.5 hours on the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel with marine life in the lagoon. Enjoy a glass bottom boat tour and a guided island walk. Scuba divers can also book trips to other dive sites.
At the Marina you will also find a Gift Shop, Little Fish & Chip Shop and the Baltimore Café Restaurant & Captains Catch Takeaway.
The Bundaberg region also boasts some beautiful sandy beaches.
Elliott Heads is a 15 minute drive from Bundaberg CBD and is surrounded by rural cane and small crop farms. Head down to the shoreline and dip your toes into the refreshing patrolled surf beach, or drop your boat in for a fish at Riverview. Elliott Heads is the popular with jet-skiers and kite-surfers as well as local fishermen. Head up the river a little bit to find your own beach paradise but be careful of high tides! Be careful of shifting holes and shoals out on the sand flats.
Bargara’s beaches include –
Bargara Beach. A small beach surrounded by rocky walls. It is closest to Bargara town centre, cafes and the Turtle Park playground.
Neilson Park Beach. Patrolled by the local surf lifesaving club. Depending on the tides and weather you can catch some small waves here, but generally, it’s a good spot for boogie boards and families.
Kelly’s Beach is Bargara’s Largest Beach. Fully patrolled during the surf-lifesaving season, Kelly’s is the ideal location when you want to be at the beach to get in the water. Here you will find swimmers and all kinds of watercraft utilising the beach.
Burnett Heads, Oaks Beach is a small beach surrounded by rock walls. This is a good place for swimming, snorkelling and fishing.
There is also a 200 metre stretch of beach perfect for surfing.
From Oaks Beach you can follow the 1550 metre Edna Strub Walk to the Lighthouse.
The original Burnett Heads Lighthouse was moved to Lighthouse Park in 1972 