Visiting Mon Repos safely

Getting there and getting around

• Mon Repos Conservation Park map (PDF, 2.2MB)

Mon Repos is about 4hr 30min drive north from Brisbane; 15min east of Bundaberg; and 10min from Bargara. Train, bus and plane transport is available to Bundaberg.

Car parks are provided at:

• Mon Repos Turtle Centre—from the park entrance at 141 Mon Repos Road, turn left on to Rookery Road and travel 750m to the Turtle Centre car park. This car park has designated parking bays for Disability Parking Permit holders close to the Turtle Centre.
• the end of Mon Repos Road.
• the end of Moores Road (northern park entrance).

Getting to Mon Repos

Road access:

• From Nielson Park and Bargara access 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.
• From Bundaberg access is via Bargara Road, turn left at Bargara State School into Potters Road, then right into Grange Road and then continue straight ahead to Mon Repos Road.

Walk or bike via a Bundaberg Regional Council Turtle trail that travels from Kellys Beach in Bargara, through the conservation park and on to Burnett Heads Harbour.

Night access during turtle nesting season

• 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.
• Mon Repos turtle watching tours Turtle Encounter tours operate from the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, 7 nights-a-week during turtle tour season from November to late March (closed 24, 25 and 31 December). Bookings are essential and fees apply.
• Turtle Encounter tours car parking: drive to the park entrance at 141 Mon Repos Road, turn left onto Rookery Road and continue 750m to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre car park.

Wheelchair accessibility

Park close to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre on Rookery Road. There are designated parking bays for Disability Parking Permit holders. From here access:

• Mon Repos Turtle Centre on flat, wide cement paths. Activities within the Turtle Centre are all accessible, including the immersive theatre that has front row spaces for people in wheelchairs.
• Turtle trail—suitable for wheelchair users who have a companion to assist them. It is a shared trail (bicycles, walkers and runners) on a bitumen path and relatively flat close to the Turtle Centre.
• Turtle Encounter tours—the sandy beach and steep access points, makes conventional wheelchairs not suitable for this tour. Some all-terrain wheelchair users may be able to access this tour. The tours are on a soft, sandy beach at night and up onto the foredunes where turtles nest. For further information about access for people with mobility disabilities, contact the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

For further information about access for people with mobility disabilities, visit Bundaberg Region Accessible Destination Guide.

Staying safe

• Never walk alone; always walk with a group or in sight of another group.
• Carry a mobile phone.
• Wear suitable footwear and clothing for the activities you choose.
• Stay on the walking track and shared trail.
• Mon Repos Beach is not patrolled by Queensland surf lifesavers. Swim at nearby patrolled beaches—visit the Bundaberg Regional Council’s website for information about patrolled beaches in this region.
• Thieves use Mon Repos Conservation Park too! While visiting the park, please ensure that you lock your vehicle and remove all valuables, including garage remotes. Do not leave valuables unattended.

For more safety information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

Before you visit

Essentials to bring

• footwear suitable for wearing in a sandy beach environment
• sunscreen, a hat and long-sleeved shirt
• adequate drinking water (a water refill station is provided at the Turtle Centre—accessible 9am–2pm daily and for Turtle Encounter Tour participants from 6pm)
• insect repellent and a first-aid kit.

Turtle Encounter essentials

Be prepared for a long wait (up to 6 hours) in the Turtle Centre—turtle arrival time is unpredictable.

You will need a good level of fitness to beach walk—up to 1.6km (return journey) in the dark, and be able to:

• stand on uneven and soft sandy surfaces for about 2hrs
• traverse short steep, soft sand sections on vegetated dunes, and boardwalk ramps
• walk in natural, night light or with limited light in most sections
• keep pace with a large tour group in the dark.

Am I able to do a Turtle Encounter beach tour?

Turtle Encounter night tours can be a rewarding experience, but they come with certain challenges that may affect your ability to participate comfortably and safely. These tours can involve long waits for turtles or hatchlings to arrive, which means you may not head onto the beach until late at night—the waiting period can be challenging for families with young children or elderly participants.

Accessing the turtle event requires walking in the dark—either along the beach or via tracks with limited torch light. Once on the beach, you’ll encounter uneven dunes, vegetation, and soft sand, which is physically demanding.

Some factors that may make the tour unsuitable for you include:

• fear of the dark
• difficulty walking over uneven surfaces in the dark
• limited flexibility or mobility in soft sand
• use of crutches or mobility aids
• ability to keep up with the large tour group over 1.6kms
• children who may not be able to stay up late—tours are not recommended for young children.

If any of these concerns apply to you, it’s worth considering whether this type of tour aligns with your needs and abilities.

Wheelchair accessibility

Due to the sandy beach and steep access points, conventional wheelchairs are not suitable for this tour. Some all-terrain wheelchair users may be able to access this tour. The tours are on a soft, sandy beach at night and up onto the foredunes where turtles nest. For further information about access for people with mobility disabilities, contact the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

You will need to bring:

• footwear suitable for the sandy beach, with rocky sections
• a rain jacket—umbrellas are not permitted on beach
• a jumper or windcheater (it can be cold and windy on the beach at night)
• adequate drinking water (a water refill station is provided at the Turtle Centre)
• insect repellent
• only handheld torches with a maximum brightness of 100 lumens are allowed. While torches are not essential, they may only be used with permission from your tour guide, typically when walking along the track behind the beach
• for designated photography time bring a device suitable for low light emission and conditions—photography (limited flash and mobile phone use), videoing without constant light, and using devices that do not emit a light visible to the human eye such as a GoPro, are only permitted when your tour guide announces the designated photography time.

Use of some items are not permitted on the beach tours:

• light-up shoes and glow sticks (to protect turtles from artificial light disturbance)
• umbrellas (for visitor safety—use of umbrellas in the dark and wind create injury risks)
• mobile phones and light emitting devices must be stored away at all times, except during the designated photography period
• wearable devices such as smart watches and smart glasses should be turned off, inactive or stored to prevent accidental light disturbance/emission.

Opening hours, permits and fees

Mon Repos Turtle Centre:

(Including Turtle Tales Immersive Experience, Milbi Cafe and gift shop.)

• Open 7 days-a-week (closed 25 December and 25 April).
• View the Turtle Centre page for detailed opening hours, conditions of entry and fee information.
• Purchase your ticket online.

Mon Repos Turtle Encounter tours:

(Including night access to Turtle Centre, Turtle Tales Immersive Experience, Milbi Cafe and gift shop.)

• Operates 7 nights-a-week during turtle tour season from November to late March (closed 24, 25 and 31 December).
• View the Turtle Encounter tours for detailed night opening hours, conditions of entry and fee information.
• Ticket sales open in June. Bookings are essential and fees apply.

Mon Repos Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided walk

• Operates year round on selected weekdays, with additional walks during school holidays (closed 25 December and 25 April).
• View the Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided day walk information, conditions of entry and fee information.
• Purchase your ticket online.

Mon Repos Junior Ranger program

• View the Mon Repos Junior Ranger program, conditions of entry and fee information.
• Purchase your ticket online.

Seasonal closure:

• 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.
• Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions .
• Please read our Conditions of entry (PDF, 344.3KB) before your visit.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in Mon Repos Conservation Park. Penalties apply to people who bring domestic animals into the park.

Climate and weather

Mon Repos Conservation Park has a mild subtropical climate. In summer, evenings can be humid. Average daily temperatures usually range from 22–30°C in summer and from 11–22°C in winter.

Check weather forecasts before visiting and take appropriate clothing, especially for Turtle Encounter tours when you may need a raincoat or light jumper.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and supplies are available at Bargara, Burnett Heads and Bundaberg. For more information see tourism information links.