Bundaberg Turtle Watching
:: Click Here For A List Of Accommodation
Mon Repos Beach is located just 15kms east of Bundaberg City central. Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the Eastern Australian mainland and is one of the two largest Loggerhead turtle rookeries in the South Pacific Ocean. Bundaberg Turtle watching is becoming a prominent attraction, and people travel from all over to watch the magnificent display.
More people visit Mon Repos every year to watch nesting turtles and emerging turtle hatchlings. Although turtles nest along the entire "Turtle Coast" between Woodgate and the Town of 1770, long, isolated beaches and darkness ensure few are actually seen. Turtles are also easily disturbed which makes Mon Repos an ideal place for a chance to see these 'ancient mariners'.
To manage turtle watching at Mon Repos, the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service has implemented ticketed beach access and constructed a Visitor Centre. Here visitors can see slide shows, films and static displays and talk with the rangers and turtle volunteers. Then, if a mother turtle makes her way up the beach and starts to lay her eggs, the rangers will take groups of up to 60 visitors onto the beach to see this natural marvel.
Nesting turtles are best viewed after dark one hour before to two hours after high tide from mid November to February. Turtle hatchlings are best viewed from January until the end of March between 7pm and midnight. As turtles can nest and hatch at any time Mon Repos ranger staff cannot always guarantee a sighting. Remember - you are viewing wild animals in their natural environment! Tidal variance may mean you are walking in soft sand and in the dunes - visitors with mobility problems should speak to Rangers so that they are not "left behind' the group whilst walking on the beach. So be sure to check out the Bundaberg turtles on your trip to of through the area.
