Bundaberg & The Mon Repos Turtles Tour

Mon Repos Turtles + Bundaberg Tour

Mon Repos Turtle Encounter is the only ranger-guided turtle encounter available on the East Coast and is instrumental in the research into turtle conservation, specifically the endangered Loggerhead turtles that frequent this beach. We will take an unrivalled peak behind the curtain of a natural wonder thousands of years in the making at Mon Repos Conservation Park. Watch as mother turtles lay their clutches of eggs on a ranger-guided tour at the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter. In January – March form a pathway to the ocean for the baby turtles as they begin their dangerous journey into adolescence with only 1 in 1000 turtles making it to maturity. Come witness a miracle and create memories to last a lifetime with Port Bus.

DAY 1 (LD) HOME TO BRISBANE                          Monday 17 February 2025

With our bags packed and ready to go, we loaded the coach and hit the road. We are off to Bundaberg to see the Turtle hatchlings make their way to the water at Mon Repos. Our travel day has us stopping for lunch in the gracious town of Grafton along the way. We check in for the night and freshen up for dinner in the hotel.

Lunch at Grafton District Services Club and dinner in the hotel

Comfort Inn & Suites Robertson Gardens | 1 night

DAY 2 (BD) BRISBANE TO BUNDABERG              Tuesday 18 February 2025

From Brisbane, we head north through the Sunshine Coast to make our first stop at the Eumundi Markets. This sleepy town transforms into a vibrant mecca for shoppers looking for something different. We step into a world of the original design of jewelry, homewares, clothing, and sculptures.  Take a break from shopping, grab yourself a gourmet delight, and listen to one of the entertaining buskers. This afternoon we drive through to Bundaberg and check into our motel for the next 3 nights. Tomorrow we will be visiting the Mon Repos Turtle Centre. Mon Repos is a very special place; it supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and has the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region. Bring your swimmers!

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

Econo Lodge Park Lane Motel, Bundaberg | 3 nights

DAY 3 BUNDABERG & THE BURNETT RIVER                Wed 19 Feb 2025

We have some time at leisure this morning before we join the Bundy Belle for a cruise along the beautiful Burnett River. From aboard this fully restored classic river ferry, we will see the bulk sugar terminal, the trawlers unloading their catch at the seafood processing plants, and the Bundaberg marina. We’ll enjoy the tranquillity of the river’s lower reaches as we sit in comfort in the cabin or out on the deck. Upon disembarkation, we have some time to purchase lunch at nearby restaurants, such as Grunske’s by the River. This afternoon we visit Bundaberg Barrel Brewed Drinks. We look at the True Brew Experience Tour, which has interactive touch screens showing us how the ginger root is transformed into the delicious Ginger Beer produced.  We have a chance to sample some of their 14 flavors and of course, there will be time to make purchases of our favorites before we head back to the motel for an early dinner, as we will be heading to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre this evening. Our tour will take us down onto the beach and our ranger guide will talk us through the Turtle hatchlings, as they emerge from their nests and make their way to the water. As turtles can nest and hatch at any time Mon Repos ranger staff cannot always guarantee a sighting. Remember - we are viewing wild animals in their natural environment.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost

Please Note***Our tour has 3 nights in Bundaberg, and we have left each night open in case we have to change the nights we see the turtles.

Day 4 (BLD) BERT HINKLER & BUNDABERG RUM           Thu 20 Feb 2025

Following breakfast, we set off for our days touring in Bundaberg, with a local tour guide stepping on board the coach. As we drive around ‘Bundy’ look out for the local landmark of the ‘Whaling Wall’. This is a fantastic marine life wall mural on one of Bundaberg’s highest buildings in the town centre. Our next visit is to the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens and visit the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, dedicated to the life and times of the famous aviator Bert Hinkler. In 1928 he made the first solo flight between England and Australia.  The house in which he lived his final years was transported from Southampton, England to its present location within the gardens. Following our tour, we have lunch and some time to look through the gardens before heading to the iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery. This Australian spirit has been rolled out of the production line for 110 years and today we are here for a guided tour. We’ll be able to look, feel, and taste our way through the making process starting with the raw material molasses to aromas of maturing spirit.

Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | Lunch at Café 1928

Day 5 (BLD) BUNDABERG TO BRISBANE                   Friday 21 February 2025

We depart Bundaberg after breakfast this morning meandering our way to Maryborough. Jump into the magical world of Mary Poppins and visit the Mary Poppins statue outside the heritage-listed bank building where the author P.L. Travers was born in 1899, explore the streets on which she grew up, and enjoy the striking public art that explores the themes of her novels. Lunch is at the Maryborough RSL Club. We take a drive down Wharf Street, which hosts the greatest concentration of old buildings. The post office, which was built in 1869, is just one of the many buildings which reflect Maryborough’s early prosperity. Next, we visit the Brennan & Geraghty’s Store Museum. Bought by the National Trust in 1975, the store was originally opened in 1871 by Irish Immigrants. When in 1972, Geraghty’s youngest son George (aged 88) decided to close the family’s grocery store; he closed it complete with stock, packaging, and an assortment of other items dating from the 1870s through to the 1970s. The family retained outdated stock of Curry Powder from the 1890s, toilet paper from the 1950s, and even customer grocery orders that were written out on the back of used envelopes! Some of the items in stock in the store are still produced today, however, other items have gone and are all but faded from our memories - until we spot these products from our youth and rekindle the memories of long ago! From Maryborough, we express south, past the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains, and into Brisbane.

Breakfast and dinner in motel | lunch at Maryborough RSL Club 

Comfort Inn & Suites Robertson Gardens | 1 night

Day 6 (BLD) BRISBANE TO GLEN INNES                 Saturday 22 February 2025

Our destination today is Glen Innes on top of the New England Tablelands. We travel south and onto the Granite Belt area of Southeast Queensland. Set in the middle of a rich, mixed farming area, the industries range from vineyards, wineries, and orchards to sheep and cattle grazing. We make a stop at Vincenzo’s at the Big Apple in Thulimbah. We have a chance to sample most produce that comes from the area here. It is a culinary delight, so we have arranged lunch here. From here we travel through to Ballandean where we arrive at Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, Ballandean Estate. The Puglisi family has made wine on this estate for over 90 years. Sit back and relax as we enjoy a wine tasting amongst the rustic wine barrels with views over the rolling vineyards. This afternoon we continue south to Glen Innes for our final night on tour.

Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | Lunch at Vincenzo’s

New England Motor Lodge | 1 night

Day 7 (BL) GLEN INNES TO HOME                             Sunday 23 February 2025

Settled by the Scots, the town of Glen Innes regards itself as the Celtic Capital of New England and is known fondly as “the land of the Beardies”. It is also renowned for its gemstones and minerals. The town built a stone monument to the early settlers of Celtic origin who helped build the Australian Nation. Glen Innes had the distinction of being chosen for the site of the Australian Standing Stones – the only standing stones to be erected in the last 3000 years. We take a quick sightseeing tour around Glen Innes and then travel via Armidale and then south to the nearby town of Uralla, a pretty little village containing historic buildings and residences. It is also where bushranger Captain Thunderbolt was buried in 1870 after being killed at Kentucky Creek, just outside the picturesque town. Thunderbolts Rock quite near the town was one of his hideouts. We have lunch at the Uralla Bowling Club and then commence our journey home, arriving late afternoon following a wonderful holiday traveling with friends.

Breakfast in motel and lunch at Uralla Bowling Club

Tour Inclusions

•              6 night’s motel accommodation

•              6 motel breakfasts

•              6 motel dinners

•              5 included lunches – see below.

•              Lunch at Grafton District Services Club

•              Visit Eumundi Markets

•              Morning cruise includes morning tea Burnett River Cruise

•              Tour including tasting at The Bundaberg Barrel

•              Entry to Turtle Tales includes interpretive displays and theatrette areas, access to Hatchling Hall at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre Bundaberg

•              Locally guided tour of Bundaberg

•              Visit Bundaberg Botanical Gardens

•              Cockpit Tour at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation

•              Lunch at Cafe 1928, Bundaberg

•              Distillery and Museum Experience Tour at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery

•              Entry to Story Bank, Maryborough

•              Locally guided tour at Maryborough

•              Lunch at the Services Club Maryborough

•              Entry to Brennan and Geraghty's Store Museum

•              Lunch at Vincenzo's The Big Apple, Thulimbah

•              Wine tasting at Ballandean Estate Wines

•              Locally guided tour of Glen Innes

•              Lunch at Uralla Bowling Club

$2,774 pp twin | $4,198 pp Single | $500 pp deposit

For more information or to book;           

Phone:              02 6583 3330

Email:               admin@portbus.com.au

Website:           https://www.portbus.com.au

Book Online:     https://events.humanitix.com/mon-repos-turtles

All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions on opening times/days of some attractions, e.g., churches, wineries, etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather, etc. All tours require a minimum number to proceed.