Mon Repos Conservation Park Bundaberg

4.1

Google reviews (46 total)

Google reviews for Mon Repos Conservation Park

4.1 Write a review

  • 5 Pamela Svenson
    7 months ago

    My sister and I had the most wonderful experience watching the hatchlings emerge from the sand😊 Our guide was so knowledgeable and dedicated to this cause. We are in our late 60’s and read up on the experience before going so we’re prepared to wait however long it took to witness this incredible feat for these little babies! It’s something we will never forget, we saw 162 hatchlings emerge and watched them begin their life journey all alone. Such a struggle for them to even make it to the sandy surface…….we were blown away by it all🐢🐢

  • 1 Hannah Davey
    8 months ago

    Unfortunately we had a terrible experience which left my family and I infuriated. We pre-booked our turtle encounter experience at Mon Repos back in September 2025 in the pre-sale ticket allocation as part of our booking to stay at the Turtle Sands caravan park. I registered for the waitlist for the pre-sale ticket allocation to ensure we didn’t miss out as my family and I were very excited for this. When we arrived for our encounter in late December, we were shocked to find ourselves amongst hundreds of people who had also booked… clearly not the intimate experience we had hoped for. We were then further disappointed to learn we had been allocated to group 5 for the night with little chance of seeing a turtle until 10:30/11pm at best. Now, I completely understand that we are at the beck and call of nature and I read all the terms and conditions about what to expect, however, I was infuriated to hear from the staff that they didn’t receive our booking for the encounter until 9 November! What is the point of pre-booking and taking my money on 2 September?!?! I have a confirmation email and receipt for my booking dated 2 September! What was even more frustrating was the rangers at the desk told us the people who had been allocated to group 1 for the encounters had booked on 2 September… when I actually booked!! There is clearly a massive issue with the booking process which is fed by gross false advertising. Needless to say my young daughters left in tears as they were too tired to wait until 10:30/11pm. I am so disappointed as Mon Repos Turtle Centre were obviously very happy to take my money at the earliest convenience whilst not providing the experience we were promised through the pre-booking process. I would not recommend.

  • 5 Maria Mohorovic
    7 years ago

    A fascinating beach that changes so much as you walk it. Starting as golden sand at one end, moving through to shellgrit then pebbles and finally volcanic rock. Beautiful.

  • 5 Joanna
    6 months ago

    What a most amazing experience. I never thought I'd be part of something so incredible. Thank you all, but especially Emily.

  • 5 Debbie Wadwell
    a year ago

    Wow what an experience, our guide was fantastic and and extremely knowledgeable on the turtles, about 8 turtles came up while we were there. Highly recommend to all who are visiting. 17/122024 Thankyou from Deb, Scott and Ross, we will be back, keep up the great work

  • More info and reviews

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

About Mon Repos

    Park features

    Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland. This is the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific Ocean region. Successful breeding here is critical for the survival of this endangered species.

    At this globally-significant site you can learn all about these extraordinary animals and the conservation and research programs that are protecting them—visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre (the centre does not display captive, live turtles); discover the Turtle Tales Immersive Experience (including interactive displays and theatre) and book a Turtle Encounter tour for a chance to see living turtles on the beach—a tour like very few others in the world. During the day you can explore on a Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided walk and learn about turtle conservation and research, turtle tracks and nesting sites.

    The park is culturally significant for the four identified First Nations groups—Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai peoples.

    Still standing today, is a heritage-listed basalt stone wall built around 1884 by South Sea Islanders as they cleared rocks to prepare the land for sugarcane crops.

    The park's natural features include dune plant communities, Woongarra rainforest scrub remnants, mangroves, a tidal lagoon and rock pools.

    The beach and dunes were the launch site for Bert Hinkler's first glider flights in 1912.

    Nearby, the basalt slabs and reefs that form much of this coastline provide an ideal canvas for colourful displays of corals, sponges, barnacles and shellfish. This stunning diversity of sea life so close to shore has made the Woongarra Coast area of Great Sandy Marine Park, one of the most popular shore-diving areas in Australia.

    Looking after the park

    • Help protect fragile sand dunes from erosion and protect turtle eggs during the marine turtle breeding season (15 October to 31 May) by staying off the sand dunes.
    • Follow seasonal closures for night access during turtle nesting and hatching season. These closures are in place to protect marine turtles:
      • From 15 October to 31 May, all areas of this conservation park, beach and inshore waters are closed between 6pm and 6am to protect nesting and hatching turtles. Unauthorised entry into the Restricted Access Area and Mon Repos Area (PDF, 578.5KB) is prohibited during this period.
      • From November to late March, between 6pm and 6am — access to the conservation park and beach is restricted to visitors participating in a Ranger-guided Turtle Encounter tour.
    • Smoking and e-cigarettes are not permitted at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and surrounds or on the beach.
    • Consumption of alcohol is not permitted at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and surrounds or on the beach.
    • Please take your rubbish with you.
    • Leave your pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted in Mon Repos Conservation Park. This includes pets in your vehicle or bicycle basket.
    • Nesting and hatchling marine turtles are disoriented by bright lights. Artificial lights interfere with their natural habits and instincts, resulting in negative impact on their population. Hatchlings that are attracted to town lights, exhaust themselves and become stranded before they even make it to the ocean. The sky glow from townships interferes with nesting turtles as they prefer dark beaches to lay their eggs. Marine turtles are in trouble—they need our help to survive. For light reducing tips visit the Cut the Glow to Help Turtles Go campaign page.

    See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

    Report sick, injured or orphaned wildlife

    If you encounter sick, injured or orphaned wildlife immediately call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) for specialist advice to give the animal the best chance of survival.

    The 1300 ANIMAL call centre operates between 7am and 7pm, 365 days a year. After hours arrangements are in place to ensure help is available. Visit the RSPCA website for information on who to contact after hours.

    To report marine animal strandings (of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphin, dugongs or whales) call 1300 130 372 (Press option 1).

    Park management

    Mon Repos Conservation Park is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, to preserve and present its remarkable natural and cultural values in perpetuity.

    Mon Repos Conservation Park was first declared an Environmental Park under the Land Act in 1990. In 1994 it was re-gazetted as a Conservation Park under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, including 45ha of beach and coastal vegetation that is vital for marine turtle conservation.

    In 2021 land was added to the west of Mon Repos Conservation Park, doubling the park’s size. This important parcel of land is currently being revegetated, with works underway to restore wetlands in a bid to help protect the nesting habitat for marine turtles.

    Park Rangers, Researchers, Volunteers and First Nations people make significant contributions to park management.

    A long-term marine turtle research program that has international significance has been running at Mon Repos since 1968. At Mon Repos Conservation Park, staff protect turtle nests during the nesting season, carry out research and monitoring, and raise public awareness through guided tours where visitors can have the unique experience of watching turtles lay their eggs or hatchlings emerging from their sandy nests.

    For over 50 years Mon Repos has been supported by many community volunteers—they actively fought to have the area protected and since that time have been an integral part of the programs focused on turtle conservation, ecotourism and revegetation.

    Future planning for Mon Repos Conservation Park will be developed under the Values Based Management Framework.

    Tourism information links

    For tourist information about Bundaberg see Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre.

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.

    Further information

    Mon Repos Turtle Centre
    Open 7 days-a-week 9am–2pm (closed 25 December and 25 April).

    From November to late March the centre is open at night for Turtle Encounter tour ticket holders only (closed 24, 25 and 31 December)—QPWS Ranger-led Turtle Encounter interpretative program runs from 7pm till late, Milbi Café and gift shop is open 6pm to 9pm.

    • Book your Mon Repos Turtle Encounters tour online.
    • Purchase your day ticket for Turtle Tales Immersive Experience (includes interactive displays and theatre areas within the Turtle Centre) online.
    • Purchase your Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided walk online.

    • Cut the Glow to help Turtles Go

      The majority of both nesting and hatching turtle activity occurs at night; disturbances and danger from predators, both on land and at sea, is lowest under the cover of darkness. This makes turtles vulnerable to disturbance and disorientation from artificial lights.