How to solo travel your way around Bundaberg

An easy five-hour drive from Brisbane, Bundaberg (or Bundy as the locals call it) serves up a sensory feast for sole travelers with its charming culture and heritage and super-friendly locals. Plus, it’s surrounded by bucolic farmlands that fills and incredible 25% of Australia’s food bowl, so you’d best arrive hungry.  

When it comes to nature, Bundaberg shines too. As the “preferred” home for the largest loggerhead turtle rookery in the Southern Hemisphere, miles of pristine coastline to explore and the cluster of emerald islands dotting the waters surrounding the southernmost tip of the Great Barrier Reef offshore, Bundaberg ticks multiple travel boxes. So, whether you’re planning a holiday or intend to settle in for a while - let our guide to travelling solo in Bundaberg be your guide. 

Tick off these tasty things to do 

If you’ve already heard of Bundaberg, chances are you know about the world-famous Bundy Rum. But for more than just a taste, join a Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour to learn the rich local history, see how it’s produced and then taste a few more surprising versions of this true Aussie icon. If you’re keen to take home an impressive souvenir, add the blend-you-own rum tour into your itinerary. If gin is more your style, Kalki Moon Distilling Company offers free distillery tours to where you can learn about the gin-making process and some distillers’ secrets, plus taste some of their award-winning gin, vodka, liquors, rum and increasingly popular seltzers. 

But it can’t all be about drinking, can it? Take yourself to the sweetest spot in town at Tinaberries, where you are welcome to “PYO” (pick your own) strawberries in Spring and tuck into their mouth-watering real strawberry ice cream year round. While you’re fueling up on Bundy’s best, pop into Macadamias Australia, to take a walk through shaded orchards where you can have a crack (literally) at cracking your own nut. Join a tour to learn how macadamias are planted, harvested, processed and packed, and loop back to the visitor centre to taste your way through a macadamia inspired menu at the Orchard Table.  

Immerse yourself in Bundy’s rich history

Immerse yourself in Bundaberg's rich culture by booking yourself a spot on Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours. Developed with the Taribelang Bunda Elders, Taribelang Bunda guides Bec and Nigel take guests on a half-day tour, where you'll sample local bush tucker, learn how traditional artefacts were used in daily life, and experience a genuine connection to the land while visiting sites of significance across the region.

Another must do? A foot tour of Bundaberg’s town centre will unveil the region's architectural past. On the Bundaberg City Heritage Treasures walk you’ll pass 12 significant buildings, hearing all about their history. And you won’t be able to resist stopping for a selfie at the perfectly pink School of Arts. Close by, you’ll find what locals like to call “BRAG.” Otherwise known as the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, a year-round program includes art exhibitions, workshops and guided tours.  

In the nearby Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, a visit to the historic Fairymead House will share Bundy’s sweetest story (sprinkled with famous Bundaberg sugar of course); with the sugar industry a driving force behind the success of this regional town. Discover how it was harvested, manufactured and sweetens the world at the Sugar History Museum. And while in the gardens, take a ride on the Australian Sugar Cane Railway (ASCR). It’s run on donations and by volunteers who are committed to sharing the historic part sugar cane railways have played in the cane fields and mills in and around Bundaberg. 

Another worthy attraction in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens pays tribute to Bundaberg-born Bert Hinkler and his inspiring fascination with flight. He originally launched his gliders from Mon Repos Beach nearby and via his pioneering endeavors, put this little (and otherwise unknown) sugar town firmly on the world map. 

Hit the beach and the reef 

With fifteen beaches, Bundaberg has plenty of coastline to explore. Southern stretches include the beautiful Elliot Heads and Riverview where you’ll find rock pools to call your own, and long sandy walks to take in the famous Queensland sunshine. Locals also love Bargara with Kellys Beach the perfect spot for a dip in a patrolled swimming area, while the aquarium-like basin is a special spot to snorkel. Off the coast, don your snorkel and visit the stunning reefs, islands and beaches surrounding the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Go day tripping 

Join Lady Musgrave Experience departing from Bundaberg Port Marina and within 2.5 hours find yourself snorkeling in the crystal clear lagoon waters surrounding Lady Musgrave Island. With a pontoon moored close to the reef it’s the ideal base for diving, snorkeling, glass-bottom boating and joining the teams’ resident marine biologist for an up-close look at Lady Musgrave’s fascinating ecology on an island walk. With options available to stay for two nights on the pontoon in sublime glamping tents now available, why not treat yourself to a longer stay and chalk-up sleeping on the Great Barrier Reef in your holiday hall of fame too? 

For another all-inclusive day on the Great Barrier Reef, take a short, spectacularly scenic flight from Bundaberg to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort where you will swim, snorkel or dive on what is regarded as some of the region’s best reefs. Home to turtles, manta rays and whales in season. You’ll step into a sanctuary and experience the circle of life as it spins on Lady Elliot Island. If you do decide to stay, chose from a range of eco-conscious garden units, glamping tents and beachfront cabins, and join daily ecology tours to learn more about the island’s incredible history and native inhabitants. 

Carve out some time for the turtles 

The headquarters for all things turtles is Mon Repos Turtle Centre. Here you will learn about the largest concentration of nesting sea turtles on the eastern Australia seaboard and how critical the loggerhead turtles nesting population is to the species’ survival. Turtles are active from November to March, with nesting from November to January, and hatching from January to March. Join the Ranger-led program and score a front row seat to turtle nesting and hatchings under the moonlight on the beach, while back at the interpretive centre you’ll learn about one of natures’ most inspiring wildlife stories. 

Eat, drink and shop local 

With farmers, bakers, baristas, butchers, and all sorts of avant-garde artisans calling Bundy home, you’ll never go hungry here. Try the award-winning Windmill Cafe at Bargara for decadently delicious breakfasts or sit street-side at Indulge Cafe in the Bundaberg CBD to people-watch while feasting on dishes that regularly win acclaim as the region’s best. 

You’ll also find places to try in the surrounding suburbs too with One Little Farm merging farm fresh flowers with fresh local produce, a gourmet cafe serving tasty home-made meals, muffins and cakes, and shelves full of all sorts of lovely locally inspired goodies and gifts to peruse. 

And if seafood is your thing, feast fresh from the boat at Grunske’s By The River where you can PYOF (pick your own fish) and enjoy eating it while sitting on the shores of the Burnett River. 

Where to stay in Bundaberg

With a range of options to suit all sorts of solo travelers, opt to stay out of town at Splitters Farm where you can choose from a campsite, gorgeous glamping tents or even an adorable 1950s caravan on a sprawling 160-acre farm hosting a menagerie of rescue farm animals. 

For a more central stay, Villa Mirasol Motor Inn offers comfortable, air-conditioned rooms close to the city centre. Or if you prefer to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean, check in at Manta Bargara Resort for an ocean view from your balcony. For something a little more wallet-friendly, there are caravan parks sitting right beside the sea, spacious apartments, and units, and centrally located motels to suit all budgets. 

When to visit Bundaberg

Visiting Bundaberg is always a good idea with a mild, humid subtropical climate (read: perfect for growing all that local produce). Summer temperatures can reach 30 degrees, but with cooling sea breezes, most accommodations offering air-conditioning, plus plenty of places to swim, warmer days are part of Bundaberg’s allure. In winter, nights and mornings can be crisp, but daytime temperatures are mild and pleasant. If you’re coming to see the turtles, time your visit from November to March.