Mon Repos Conservation Park Bundaberg

4.1stars, rated out of 5

Google reviews (29 total)

Google reviews for Mon Repos Conservation Park

4.1stars, rated out of 5 Write a review

  • 5stars, rated out of 5 Kathleen Sanders
    5 months ago

    Wonderful time here today, we watched a cinematic tour of turtles, hatchlings, and how we can all do our bit to help these creatures. Starting one man at a time to becoming a world wide cause. The cafe offered plenty of choices to eat and drink and the artwork on display was totally stunning, no photography allowed so I cannot add a photo. Go see for yourself, you won't be disapointed. Very helpful staff too. Thank you.

  • 5stars, rated out of 5 Lynette Faragher
    6 months ago

    Wonderful volunteers, lots of information provided. My husband walks with crutches, we had a volunteer assigned to us who ensured we got the full experience. The Centre itself is world class with displays and images to maintain interest while waiting to head for the beach. Good compromise between turtle conservation and public information and propaganda. Money well spent. I would come again.

  • 1stars, rated out of 5 Mermaid Bella
    4 months ago

    As a volunteer and Marine scientist who has worked with the turtles at Mon Repos I can tell you I am disgusted with the way the turtles are treated. Hatchings are killed if someone tags them incorrectly, I was told to gouge the mother turtles eyes to stop her from going back in the water. Not when tourists were around of course. They care more about their research data than the actual well being of turtles.

  • 1stars, rated out of 5 Mullins Family
    6 months ago

    We are now leaving with sad kids and broken hearts! We are a family that travelled across the world for this experience from the United States to Australia with four kiddos hoping to experience this, we attempted to buy tickets and spoke with the representative at the front desk and she was kind and agreed to allow us to watch the turtles hatch! However when she talked to the man in charge, he was the most rude Australian we have met! He made my five year old cry because he said we couldn’t see the turtles. He was extremely stand off ish with his hands on his hips and yelled at my husband twice to leave. And when everyone wanted to allow us to wothness the turtles hatching he came out and said he would not allow it! We may never be back in Australia and I hope this man remembers how he impacted our holiday in Australia. I wish I had his name. But he was on shift on Thursday March 16th,2023 Black hair, thin, tall and oh SOO mean.

  • 5stars, rated out of 5 Kylie Wood
    8 months ago

    5 stars for the magnificent girl laying eggs for her first season. What an amazing thing to experience. It was nature at its best and truly appreciated the opportunity to see it. Just wondering though about the appropriateness of the human contact especially moving the eggs. Was this just part of the tourist show or is it really necessary? Will those eggs survive human interference? Does it happen anywhere else? A little disappointed with how much information the volunteers could offer compared to the marine biologist who took us on a tour with Lady Musgrave tours the day before.

  • More info and reviews

Take in the stunning scenery on the Coastal track. Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

Loggerhead turtle nesting on the Turtle Encounter Tour. Photo credit: Lise Pedersen © Queensland Government

The success of nesting and hatchling turtles at Mon Repos is critical for the survival of loggerhead turtles. Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

Mon Repos coastal track

Amble along this gentle coastal walk, richly steeped in South Sea Islander and Australian aviation history.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
4.5km return Start and finish points are the same and the traveller must return via the same path
Time suggested
Allow 2hr walking time.
Grade
Grade 2 walking track

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle
  • Bicycle

Journey facilities

  • Walking

The coastal track leads north and south from the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and explores the beach. Take drinking water with you (a water bottle refill station is provided at the Turtle Centre during opening hours) and wear sunscreen. Insect repellent is recommended.

Heading south from the Mon Repos Turtle Centre along the walking track and you’ll soon arrive at the impressive 1880s South Sea Islander rock wall. The 1.5m-high wall stretches for 1.6km and was built by South Sea Islanders as they cleared rocks from the nearby cane fields.

The track features include saltpans, a tidal lagoon, freshwater ponds, mangroves, remnants of Woongarra rainforest, and coastal scenery. A wide variety of habitats make this park a great place for seeing birdlife, tidal wildlife and other animals. Check tides before setting out as sections of the track can be difficult to access during very high tides.

If it’s low tide when you reach the beach, explore the colourful rock pools for corals, sponges, fish and other marine life.

Getting there and getting around

Getting there

The Mon Repos Coastal track is in Mon Repos Conservation Park, 14km east of Bundaberg in the Wide Bay area.

  • Mon Repos Conservation Park map (PDF, 2.1MB)
  • From the park entrance off Mon Repos Road, follow Rookery Road for 750m to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
  • Access the Mon Repos coastal track from the Mon Repos Turtle Centre. If the Turtle Centre car park is full, alternative parking is available at the Mon Repos Road car park.
  • Arriving via the Turtle trail from Bargara or Burnett Heads. Stop at the Turtle Centre, to access the Mon Repos coastal track to see some other park features. Bike riders secure your bike before heading off on this walking track.

Note: Park access from Nielson Park and Bargara is via Bargara Road, turn right at Bargara State School into Potters Road, right again at Grange Road and then continue straight ahead to Mon Repos Road.

Read more park access information.

Before you visit

Opening hours

  • Seasonal closure: this walking track is closed between 6pm and 6am from 15 October to 30 April to protect nesting and hatching turtles.
  • The walk is open at all other times of the year.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Mon Repos safely and Walk with care.