Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Bundaberg, Australia

Bundaberg is situated amidst sugar cane fields close to the coastline of southeastern Queensland. Since the 1870s, sugar has been the cornerstone of Bundaberg’s economy; however, it is renowned as Australia’s capital of rum, with Bundaberg Rum exported globally. The subtropical climate also supports a variety of crops, contributing to local beverages, such as Bundaberg Brewed Drinks’ famous ginger beer. Visitors to Bundaberg will find a remarkable botanic garden, home to attractions including a museum dedicated to aviator Bert Hinkler, a pioneer of aviation in the 1920s and 1930s.

1. Bundaberg Rum Distillery

The Bundaberg Distilling Company has been operational since 1888, utilizing the by-product molasses from sugar production. The globally recognized brand has received numerous accolades and is currently part of the Diageo portfolio. In 2016, the distillery launched a new visitor center, representing an investment of $8.5 million, which offers insights into the rich history of Bundaberg Rum and serves as the starting point for guided tours. The multisensory Museum Experience allows guests to step inside one of Bundy’s massive 75,000-litre barrels.

During the tour, visitors can follow an expert guide through a modern distillery in operation. For an additional fee, guests have the opportunity to blend their own rum. The shop enhances the visit by offering the full range of Bundaberg Rum, alongside rum-infused sauces, jams, and fudge.

2. Bundaberg Botanic Gardens

Bundaberg’s economy remains primarily anchored in subtropical agriculture, making a visit to the botanic gardens an essential activity. This verdant landscape spans nearly 30 hectares, featuring boardwalks and pathways that showcase over 110 species of birds. The gardens host approximately 10,000 trees and plants organized into various precincts, such as the Australian rainforest, rare fruit tree orchard, prehistoric garden, and a special garden dedicated to local aviation pioneer Bert Hinkler. Children will enjoy a ride on the two-kilometre narrow-gauge Australian Sugar Cane Railway.

Guests can treat themselves to refreshments or meals at Cafe 1928, which also offers duck feed for the adjacent lake.

3. Hinkler Hall of Aviation

Born in Bundaberg, aviator Bert Hinkler (1892-1933) achieved numerous remarkable feats, including being the first individual to fly solo from England to Australia and executing the first solo flight across the South Atlantic. In 2008, the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, a multimillion-dollar facility, opened in his honor at the botanic gardens, featuring a design that mimics a biplane wing. Visitors can explore Hinkler’s extraordinary achievements and sit in a replica Avro Baby cockpit, which was used in his historic flight from Sydney to Bundaberg in 1921. The hall also includes glide simulators, historical aircraft, personal memorabilia, and the relocation of Hinkler’s preserved home, Mon Repos.

4. Mon Repos Turtle Encounter

From November to January, the beaches of Mon Repos welcome the largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific. Following this period, from January through March, the hatchlings embark on their challenging journey from nests to the sea. This captivating yet vulnerable cycle can be observed through the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, where interactive exhibitions and an immersive theatre provide education on loggerhead turtle biology and their hazardous reproductive journeys. During nesting season, visitors may participate in a nighttime Turtle Encounter to witness the turtles or hatchlings traverse the beach.

5. The Bundaberg Barrel

Recognized far beyond Australia, Bundaberg’s significance is not limited to rum production; it is also famed for Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, established in 1960. While primarily known for ginger beer, Bundaberg also produces a variety of other soft drinks, including sarsaparilla and lemon, lime, and bitters. Visitors can tour the Bundaberg Barrel to observe the automated brewing process and watch bottles moving along the production line. Interactive exhibits allow guests to engage with the process, culminating in a tasting of 18 different flavors and the gift of a six-pack of their choice to take home.

6. The Hummock Lookout

The surrounding region of Bundaberg is predominantly flat, with the exception of this volcanic remnant located just east of the Central Business District en route to Bargara. Historically, the Bundaberg Hummock served as a navigational reference, notably employed by the cartographer Matthew Flinders during his second circumnavigation of Australia at the start of the 19th century. The lookout offers expansive views of the low-lying landscape, showcasing the Pacific Ocean to the east and the sugar cane fields extending back to Bundaberg Distillery and Mill. To the west, Paddy Island can be seen in the Burnett River, a location historically marked by a tragedy involving the local Taribelang Aboriginal people in the 1850s, which is memorialized by an extensive Aboriginal art mural at the Hummock.

7. Bourbong Street

The modern-day central business district of Bundaberg has its origins in the late 19th century, with much of the original architecture remaining intact. Bourbong Street is particularly notable for its abundance of independent shops, hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes. The aesthetics along the eastern end, beginning at Buss Park, are further enhanced by a row of heritage-listed weeping fig trees planted in 1888 and during the 1920s. Significant historical buildings to watch for include the 1891 Commercial Bank (191-193), the Neoclassical Bundaberg School of Arts (184) built in 1889, and the Italianate Bundaberg Post Office (155) from 1891.

8. Alexandra Park Zoo

Established in 1911, the riverside Alexandra Park Zoo remains a cherished free resource for the community. Fully accredited, the zoo offers humane enclosures for a variety of species, including emus, wallabies, dingoes, spotted-tailed quolls, cotton-top tamarin monkeys, and an assortment of snakes, lizards, and Australian parrots. Notably, visitors may encounter the white-throated snapping turtle, which is found exclusively in the wild within the river systems of Central Queensland.

9. Baldwin Swamp Environment Park

Just a short distance from Bundaberg’s central business district, visitors will find themselves traversing a boardwalk surrounded by myriad waterbirds in Baldwin Swamp Environment Park. This protected area encompasses wetlands, grasslands, eucalyptus forests, rainforests, and vine forests. The diversity of bird life in proximity to the city center is impressive, often allowing for sightings of over 50 species during a brief stroll. In addition to waterbirds, one might observe quails, fairy wrens, rainbow bee-eaters, and dollarbirds, whereas raptors such as bazas and goshawks can be seen nesting in the park.

10. Woodgate Beach

A must-visit for day trippers is the town of Woodgate Beach, located southeast of Bundaberg. The beach stretches over 16 kilometers and is bordered by former pineapple plantations, dunes, and the melaleuca swamp and cabbage palms of Burrum Coast National Park. With the Southern Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island nearby, the surf at Woodgate Beach is typically gentle, creating an idyllic environment where kangaroos can be seen lazing on the sands, dolphins frolicking in the waves, and the rare sighting of nesting turtles. Furthermore, from April to November, visitors might witness humpback whales breaching nearby. Roughly 300 bird species have been documented in Burrum Coast National Park, with a designated walking track for birdwatching enthusiasts.

11. Fairymead House Sugar History Museum

This elegant plantation house serves as a tribute to Bundaberg’s thriving sugar industry. Constructed in the 1890s by pioneering sugar cane growers, the Young family, this historic residence has been meticulously restored and relocated adjacent to the botanic gardens. A self-guided tour allows visitors to appreciate the Indian bungalow architecture and delve into the lives of the sugar pioneer families who contributed to the development of modern Bundaberg. Exhibits detail the sugar production process, from cane to crystal, and highlight the significant contributions of the South Sea Islander community. Outside, the beautifully landscaped Front Garden is filled with tropical flora, while a serene Japanese Garden offers a peaceful retreat.

12. Bargara

Only a short 15-minute drive from the CBD of Bundaberg, the coastal community of Bargara offers an inviting tropical escape, complete with swaying palms along the beachfront and a series of attractive beaches. A six-kilometer-long esplanade invites leisurely strolls while providing stunning perspectives of the Coral Sea and Southern Great Barrier Reef. The Basin, a popular family-friendly spot, is a sheltered swimming area located at the northern end of Kellys Beach, featuring locally sourced black volcanic rocks from ancient lava flows to create a tranquil swimming pool at high tide.

13. Alexandra Park

After visiting the zoo, a leisurely stroll in Alexandra Park can be a pleasing follow-up. This historic park, established in the late 1870s, is situated along the banks of the Burnett River and features a waterfront pathway that offers ample natural shade. Among the park’s timeworn structures is a charming bandstand, erected in 1911, alongside three colonial cannons believed to have been acquired in the 1860s and installed in the early 1910s. The park is adorned with numerous mature trees, including historic figs, and features a well-equipped playground suitable for children.

14. Kalki Moon Distilling and Brewing Company

Considering your presence in Australia’s rum capital, a visit to another distillery may be in order. Kalki Moon is a boutique, small-batch operation established in 2017, producing various gins and liqueurs, including chocolate, choc-mint, and pink gin varieties. As of mid-2020, their rum production was nearing completion. Distillery tours are complimentary and scheduled every 30 minutes, providing valuable insights into the production process. Additionally, a tasting room allows visitors to purchase the product range at discounted prices, along with branded glassware and unique soaps crafted from gin botanicals.

15. Tinaberries

Notable among the plethora of fruits cultivated in Bundaberg’s fertile red soils are strawberries. If visiting between June and October, Tinaberries should be on your list. Located just a few minutes from Bundaberg toward the coast, this farm specializes in the luscious camarosa strawberries. Their farm shop offers fresh strawberries available in various sizes, including wrapped plates (250g), punnets (500g), and packs (750g). In September, visitors can even venture into the fields to pick their own strawberries.