Bundaberg Town Centre

Bundaberg Qld 4670 (Pop 60 000)

Bundaberg is a prosperous Coral Coast city 363 km north of Brisbane. Sitting on the Burnett River and 20 km from the coast, it is renowned for its elegant Classic Revival buildings, tropical parks and gardens and its Bundaberg Rum Distillery. The name derives from the Aboriginal word ‘Bunda’ and the Saxon word for town ‘burg’. European settlement began in 1866 with large numbers of German and Danish migrants as well as thousands of Islanders/Kanakas providing labour for the sugarcane plantations. Today sugarcane is still a vital industry supplying 20% of the country’s sugar with four sugar mills. Bundaberg is also Australia’s largest producers of brown rum and tomatoes, while beef and dairy cattle and tropical fruits are also important to the economy. Markets every Sun. Country Music Roundup (Easter), Multicultural Festival (July), Bundy in Bloom Festival (Sept), Arts Festival (Oct), Food & Wine Festival (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
The Water Tower, Sussex St unusual National Trust-listed eight storey building of industrial archaeological importance with each floor having 8 arched windows. Historic Bundaberg includes the School of Arts building (1889), Commercial Bank building (1891). The Botanical Gardens Complex, Mount Perry Rd  includes the HinklerHouseMemorialMuseum paying tribute to famous local aviator, Bert Hinkler and aviation history as well as the FairymeadSugarMuseum located in an old plantation house and chronicling the region’s sugar history.  Baldwin Swamp Conservation Park, Steindl St follow the boardwalks to view the native fauna, prolific birdlife and lagoons filled with waterlilies. Whaling Wall, Bourbong St 7 storey high wall filled with whale murals. Arts Centre, cnr Barolin & Quay Sts comprises 3 galleries of local & touring art exhibitions.

Nearby:
The Hummock (7 km n-e) low volcanic remnant affording views of the city, coast and sugar fields. Mon Repos Conservation Park (15 km n-e) home to the Flatback, Green, Leatherback and Logger Turtles that have a rookery here. Access to the park is restricted during the nesting season between Jan-Mar and other times of the year, snorkeling and swimming in the rock pools are popular. Meadowvale Nature Park (10 km west) and Sharon Nature Park (12 km s-w) both feature lovely rainforest areas, native fauna and walking trails. The Mystery Craters (28 km s-w) series of 35 craters formed in a huge red ochre hued sandstone slab known to be at least 25 million years old. Open daily (8am-5pm). Burrum Coast NP huge 23 100 ha park divided into two sections - Kinkuna (14 km south) and Woodgate (57 km south). The Kinkuna part is a rugged undeveloped wilderness with limited access suited to keen bushwalkers and birdwatchers. The Woodgate section has established walking tracks and boardwalks where plentiful bird and wildlife can be seen. Littabella NP (38 km n-w) picturesque area of tea-tree forests surrounding billabongs and lagoons. Lady Elliot Island beautiful coral cay less than 30 mins flight away for watersports and whale and turtle watching. Lady Musgrave Island NP 14 ha coral cay surrounded by coral reefs and countless varieties of tropical fish. Enjoy bushwalking, snorkeling, diving and bush camping here as there are no facilities. Boat day trips from Bundaberg Port.

Accommodation:
Bundaberg has 25 motels, over a dozen hotels and 8 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: 271 Bourbong St. Tel (07) 4153 8888 or 1800 308 888.