Things to do

Mon Repos Turtle Centre

The Mon Repos Turtle Centre is dedicated to marine turtle research, protection and education. At Mon Repos you can learn about the special journey turtles and people have taken at Mon Repos.

Spend an inspiring hour or more exploring Turtle Tales, browse through our gift shop after a walk through this peaceful conservation park.

Opening hours.

Mon Repos Turtle Tales

Submerse yourself in the lives of marine turtles, researchers and rangers in our new immersive theatre and interactive displays.

Relax in the theatre and enjoy the story of loggerheads told through film, and light and soundscapes.

Kids, have fun exploring the tools and techniques used to look after our turtles in the Junior Discovery zone.

Discover the details, the big picture and the people protecting these ancient mariners.

Opening hours and ticket prices.

Mon Repos Turtle Encounters

Witness an ancient life cycle of the animal kingdom, as majestic marine turtles make their journey to the shore to lay their eggs. Delight at the sight of their young, hatching a few months later, and making their tenacious journey to the sea.

Every year, from November to late March, you can join Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre on a guided tour to watch nesting (November to January) and hatching (January to March) marine turtles.

Visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre page for a complete guide to the turtle nesting season and information to plan your Turtle Encounters experience.

Bookings are essential—limited numbers of tickets are available. Book ahead to avoid disappointment. Opening hours and ticket prices.

Walking and cycling

Explore the park by walking the Mon Repos coastal track and the Turtle Trail—a shared trail for walkers and bicycle riders. Tracks and trails through Mon Repos Conservation Park are open during daylight hours (between dawn and dusk).

• Mon Repos Conservation Park map (PDF, 173.5KB)

Mon Repos coastal track

Refer to Coastal track information.

Turtle Trail

Refer to Turtle trail information.

Track standards

Grade 2 walking track: The track is a hardened or compacted surface and may have gentle hill sections and occasional steps. No bushwalking experience required.

Easy bike trail: Wide trail with gentle gradient and smooth surface. Suitable for beginner bike riders.

Beach recreation

Swimming is not recommended at Mon Repos Beach as it is not patrolled by Queensland surf lifesavers. Swim at nearby patrolled beaches—visit the Bundaberg Regional Council’s website for information about other patrolled beaches in this region.

Enjoy your beach recreation and help reduce hazards for turtles and visitors by:

• flattening large sandcastles and filling in any holes you create before you leave
• staying off the sand dunes to protect turtle eggs during the marine turtle breeding season (15 October to 30 April) and fragile sand dunes from erosion.

Seasonal closure: From 15 October to 30 April, Mon Repos beach is closed to public access from 6pm to 6am for turtle conservation purposes. Read more about the Mon Repos Designated Area.

Boating

The coastal waters adjacent to Mon Repos Conservation Park, Bargara, Burnett Heads and Elliot Heads are within the Great Sandy Marine Park. Before you go boating, please ensure you are aware of the marine park zones and the management provisions.

See Great Sandy Marine Park for more information.

Read about how boaties can help protect marine life.

Camping and accommodation

Camping

To protect this small park’s significant conservation values, camping is not permitted in Mon Repos Conservation Park.

Nearby accommodation

There is a range of camping, caravanning and other accommodation options in Bargara and Bundaberg. For more information see the tourism information links.

• Mon Repos Conservation Park information guide (PDF, 3.1MB)
• Mon Repos Conservation Park map (PDF, 173.5KB)

The park is a quiet retreat where you can walk along the beach on Mon Repos coastal track, take a bike ride, walk or run along the Turtle Trail, explore rock pools and snorkel in the marine park on the fringing reef.

Many people visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre to witness one of nature’s most fascinating spectacles by participating in Turtle Tales and Turtle Encounters. From November to late March each year you can take a Turtle Encounters tour for a chance to see nesting sea turtles on the beach at night from (November to January) and hatchlings emerging from nests (January to March).