A visitor's guide to Woodgate

Boasting pristine sandy beaches stretching farther than the eye can see, clear calm waters, secluded forests and friendly locals ー some of whom can be seen hopping along the beach or grazing at sunrise and sunset ー Woodgate offers everything you need for the perfect beachside escape.

Located in the Bundaberg Region, just 45 minutes from Bundaberg Central and 30 minutes from Childers, Woodgate is an easily accessible destination that brings visitors back time and time again. Whether you’re holidaying as a couple, you’ve got the entire tribe in tow or you’re heading north and looking for a top spot to take a break from the road for a night or two, you’ll find this charming beachside town on the Burrum Coast perfect for relaxing and unwinding, not to mention an excellent opportunity to experience stunningly beautiful and natural coastal surroundings at its most pristine.

Things to do in Woodgate

With its immaculate beaches, serene waters and year-round beach-friendly climate, relaxing, unwinding and swimming are definitely on the cards on a Woodgate holiday, but you’ll find there’s so much more to keep you busy in the local area ー should you so choose ー once you arrive.

Naturally, visiting Woodgate Beach is a must. For many holidaymakers, it’s the main drawcard, with its unspoilt surroundings, calm waters that make it suitable for swimmers of all ages and easy access to Woodgate accommodation ー wherever you choose to stay. If you have a 4WD, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to explore the southern end of the beach towards Burrum Heads. The beach access point is easy to navigate, even if you have little beach driving experience, and no permit is required.

The Esplanade, the stretch of tarmac that lines Woodgate and Woodgate Beach is home to shops, cafes, restaurants, bowls club and pub, is dotted with picnic tablesー making it the perfect spot for fish and chips on the beach. The (sometimes) paved track that runs alongside is perfect for morning and afternoon walks where you can often spot the local kangaroo population on the beach or the residential side of the Esplanade where they spend dawn and dusk grazing casually.

If you’re looking for things to do in Woodgate, swimming, kayaking and stand-up-paddle boarding are popular pastimes at Theodolite Creek, a pristine waterway with clear turquoise waters made even more stunning by its white sand floor. Like the other beaches in the local area, Theodolite Creek is pet-friendly and a popular picnic spot, but as the shaded picnic tables get snapped up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays, either get there early or prepare for a beach picnic by bringing a beach umbrella. Easily accessible at the top end of Woodgate Beach and boasting some of the most beautifully clear and calm waters in the Bundaberg Region, Theodolite Creek is a must-do if you’re planning on spending time exploring the waterways around Woodgate.

For meals or a drink, head to the local lawn bowls club, ‘Woodgate Club’, or the local pub, the ‘Woodgate Beach Hotel’, both of which are located on the Esplanade. Also located on the main thoroughfare is the immensely popular Serenity Cove Cafe, the top spot for burgers or fish and chips in the local area, and there’s also Woodgate Beach General Store and Happy Moments Cafe. 

Burrum Coast National Park is located just behind the town, placing the Woodgate section within walking distance, depending on where you’re staying. While you’ll need a 4WD to explore most of this beautiful coastal national park, several walking trails are easily accessible by 2WD, including the Banksia Track Boardwalk (800 metres return and accessible by wheelchair) which is an easy stroll for holidaymakers of all ages, and the significantly longer Melaleuca track (12.3 kilometres return).

With its calm waters and easily-accessible boat ramps, Theodolite Creek and Walkers Point, Woodgate is well-known for the boating opportunities it presents. Woodgate Beach and Walkers Point boat ramps are both concrete all-tide ramps, while the boat ramp at Theodolite Creek is only accessible from half in to half out tide.

The town is renowned as an angler’s paradise, with beach fishing a popular pastime along its sandy beaches as well as its local estuaries ー north of Woodgate Beach at stunning Theodolite Creek and south of Woodgate towards the mouth of the Isis River. The area is renowned for the plethora of fish species, including mackerel, barramundi, golden trevally, cobia, parrot, squire, emperor, whiting, cod and tailor. Moreover, there’s also the Woodgate Artificial Reef, located about one nautical mile offshore, a popular spot among anglers craving offshore fishing adventures.

If you don’t have a boat to try for pelagic and reef species like snapper, tailor and mackerel, the most popular fishing spots are Theodolite Beach and Woodgate Beach, both of which are abundant with smaller species, especially whiting, the area’s most common species. Bait and fishing supplies are available in town.

As Woodgate is an easy distance from Mon Repos (50 minutes) and Hervey Bay (1 hour), depending on the time of year you’re holidaying, you won’t have to travel far to experience turtle hatching season from November to March or whale watching season from July to October.

Woodgate accommodation

As one of the Burrum Coast’s most popular destinations, there’s a good mix of accommodation at Woodgate and Woodgate Beach with options to suit all preferences and budgets, ensuring all holidaymakers can find suitable digs for their stay. Woodgate’s holiday rentals ー everything from cosy beach shacks ideal for couples to modern homes with expansive verandahs boasting luxurious amenities and stunning ocean views ー are easily the most popular accommodation style in Woodgate, but other accommodation options are available, including caravanning and camping.

The main caravan park in Woodgate, NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park, now offers glamping safari tents complete with ensuite and kitchenette which can sleep up to four people, perfect for a couple’s retreat or a comfortable beachside holiday with the kids. Located at Woodgate Beach, this popular holiday park also offers one and two bedroom cabins and villas, along with caravan and tent sites. A luxury beach house is also available for those looking for a luxe beachside escape.

If you have a 4WD and have your heart set on staying in even more natural surroundings on your Woodgate escape, national park camping is available at Burrum Point (Burrum Coast National Park). This leafy, beachside campsite offers toilets and showers, and is suitable for tent and camper trailer camping, but it’s only accessible by 4WD from Walkers Point Road and the beach access point in Woodgate (the junction of Twelfth Avenue and Walkers Point Road). A little farther from the town is the Kinkuna section, with the campsite located behind the dunes. As the access road can be a touch rough in places, you’ll need a 4WD with high clearance to access this section of the national park.

Taking your four-legged mate and looking for pet-friendly accommodation in Woodgate? NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park offers pet-friendly options for campers and caravanners (be sure to make a ‘pet booking’ in advance), and some Woodgate holiday rentals also offer pet-friendly stays. Holiday rentals are generally booked through online platforms and the local real estate agent.

When to visit Woodgate

With its oceanic climate and beachside location, Woodgate delivers sunny days and a little rain every month, with the warmest months November through to March and the wettest months December and March. The coolest months are June to August ー which are also the driest months ー with average daytime temperatures sitting around 21^oC before dropping to around 15^oC at night.

As a beachside holiday destination, the summer months are the most popular time to visit, especially among those planning on spending as much time as possible in the water, but this holiday destination is also very popular over autumn and winter when the weather’s a little cooler and, for many, more pleasant.

Getting there and away

Woodgate is easily accessible from all directions, with Bundaberg Central just a 45-minute drive south and Brisbane a 5-hour drive away along the M1. If you’re holidaying on the Fraser Coast, Hervey Bay is just an hour’s drive away ー making it an easy day trip ー and the historic and pretty town of Childers is a short 30-minute drive. The nearest airports are at Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.