Mon Repos

French for “my place of rest”, Mon Repos is one of the darling’s of the Bundaberg North Burnett tourism tale. For it is here, that the loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs between November and January, and then, weeks later, between January and March, the hatchlings are born.

Daytime activities

While it is tempting to think of Mon Repos as a nighttime destination, there’s plenty to do here during the day as well. Among the rainforest scrub, you’ll find remnants of Bundaberg solo aviator Bert Hinkler’s first glider flights. This area is also home to a tidal lagoon, rock pools and a basalt wall built by South Sea Islanders who were brought to Queensland to work in the sugar industry in the 1880s.

There’s plenty of natural elements to explore along the Woongarra coast here too, such as corals, sponges, barnacles and shellfish which make this one of Australia’s most popular shore diving sites.

Nighttime activities

After dark, head to the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter and learn how just one in 1000 turtles make it to maturity. And that scientists believe a magnetic field draws turtles back to this region to breed from more than 1000km away, making it the largest rookery in the South Pacific. Later, witness the magic of turtles laying their eggs and hatching.

Accommodation is in cabins and camp sites nearby.