A Bundaberg accommodation guide to suit every style of travel

Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
hero media
Linger a little longer in Bundaberg, with one of these accommodation options to suit your travel style.

Dubbed ‘sugar country’ for the swathes of sugarcane that flank the roads, there are plenty of things about Bundaberg that are totally sweet. The sun-drenched town is known as the gateway to the southern end of The Great Barrier Reef, with kilometres of pristine beaches that snake the coast. Bundaberg is also famed for its abundance of rum and delicious local brewed drinks. Bundy offers plenty of reasons to stick around, so we’ve rounded up some of the best accommodation options in Bundaberg to suit your style of travel.

Bundaberg hotels

Turtle sands

The newly launched Turtle Sands Resort offers visitors the chance to get up close with turtles. Located just a 15 minute drive from Bundaberg, Mon Repos has the highest concentration of turtles on the East Coast of Australia. Visitors often flock here to take a tour and witness baby turtles hatching on the beach. Turtle Sands offers the chance for visitors to stay in the heart of the action, with one of nature’s most beautiful miracles taking place just a few steps from your lodgings.

Bird's Eye View of NRMA Turtle Sands
Watch turtles hatch just a few metres from your doorstep.

The resort offers contemporary cabins and a caravan/campsite nestled in a peaceful spot between the dunes. Lodgings are contemporary and stylish, but the real wow-factor takes place only a few metres from your door.

a tiny baby turtle walking at Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Mon Repos Turtle Centre facilitates annual turtle nesting & hatching tours. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Burnett Riverside Hotel

Bed down at the Burnett Riverside Hotel , where you’ll get classic hotel comfort coupled with gorgeous riverside views. Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, there’s a range of rooms from the comfortable Queen room to the generously sized and luxurious suite.

You’ll be located near the buzz of downtown Bundaberg, with plenty of cafes and restaurants in close proximity. You won’t have to venture far to enjoy a great meal— the hotel’s onsite H20 restaurant and bar is serving up expertly-crafted dishes made from Bundy’s locally grown and caught produce, as well as locally brewed drinks.

Country style bedroom at Burnett Riverside Hotel
This laid-back bedroom has curtains opening up to scenic nature views. (Image: Burnett Riverside Hotel)

Manta Bargara Hotel

The Manta Hotel  offers modern, stylish beachfront apartments nestled among lush tropical landscaping. Combining luxury with warmth and cosiness, Manta Hotel retains a slice of home while offering the best of a beachside escape.

There’s a spacious wooden balcony that’s perfect for soaking up the sunshine or enjoying a family meal, and there are plenty of amenities that will ensure you’re well-rested.

Luxurious pool at Manta Bargara Hotel
Plunge into the lush tropical pool at the Manta Bargara Hotel. (Image: Manta Bargara Hotel)

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Bundaberg caravan parks and camping

Caravan parks are where the fun is at. Often overlooked, caravan parks are not just for grey-haired nomads parking up in gargantuan RVs. There’s plenty of comfortable accommodation on offer, set in spacious surroundings loaded with amenities. Whether you’re travelling as a family, with friends, or solo— caravan parks can be a great option. Check out some of our favourites below.

Splitters Farm

Relax at Splitters Farm , an animal sanctuary and campground based in blissful bushland surroundings a stone’s throw from Bundaberg. Here, you can park up or pitch up on powered/unpowered sites surrounded by total serenity. If you’re not travelling with a campervan or tent, Splitters has a decked-out vintage ‘glamper’ van and eight decadent two-bedroom safari tent so you can still enjoy the glamping experience.

The cherry on top is the opportunity to interact with over 400 adorable rescue farm animals as part of a self-guided tour of the farm where you’ll get to feed the animals. There’s also a coffee cart on-site so you can get your caffeine fix, as well as wood-fired pizzas most weekends and lessons in damper-making for the kids.

Glamping Van in Splitters Farm, Bundaberg
Sleep in a glamper van and wake up to the sound of nature. (Image: Splitters Farm)

Big 4 Cane Village

At Big 4 Cane Village , you’ll be located in downtown Bundaberg among beautiful gardens. If you’re not camping, there’s a range of comfortable self-contained villas and cabins on offer and plenty of amenities so you can make yourself at home.

There’s a large outdoor cooking area so you can enjoy a BBQ with friends, and swap travel tips with fellow campers. If you need some downtime, there’s a saltwater pool where you can relax and soak up some beautiful Bundaberg sun.

Bundy Bear Cabin at Big4 Cane Village Holiday Park
This modern cabin is a perfect spot to spend a weekend away. (Image: Big4 Cane Village Holiday Park)

Big 4 Breeze Holiday Park

If it sounds appealing to base yourself on the beach, park up in Bargara, a coastal town just 15 minutes drive from Bundaberg. The Big 4 Breeze Holiday Park  has plenty of comfortable cabins on offer, so you can unwind just footsteps away from the beach.

There’s a children’s playground, an expansive camp kitchen as well as go-karts and a tennis court on-site, so kids will have plenty to do. For holiday-makers travelling with a dog, rest assured that your pooch will be welcome here.

One-bedroom cabin at BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks
The chic and minimalist interior of a one-bedroom cabin at BIG4 Breeze. (Image: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Park)

Bundaberg motels

There’s nothing like a regional motel to channel a bit of Australiana into your stay. Motels are a great option if you’re looking for good-value, down-to-earth accommodation that’s clean, comfortable and centrally located. Here, we’ve rounded up our top choices for motel accommodation in Bundaberg for a simple escape.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Pacific Sun Bargara Motel

Nothing shouts ‘Aussie holiday’ quite like a beach-side motel. At the Pacific Sun Bargara,  you’ll be just footsteps from the beach, restaurants and shops and a short 15-minute drive from Bundaberg CBD. The Pacific Sun offers comfortable, well-appointed rooms decorated with blue and white accents to evoke the gorgeous ocean surroundings.

You’ll have access to a fully-equipped kitchen so you can settle in and make yourself at home. There’s plenty to explore close by, but if you feel like a night in, there’s room service and plenty of puzzles/board games on offer.

Well-appointed dining and living room inside Pacific Sun Bargara
Experience contemporary comfort inside this charming home. (Image: Pacific Sun Bargara)

Villa Mirasol Motel

At Villa Mirasol , you’ll find spacious rooms with Mexican-inspired decor. There’s a salt-water swimming pool where guests can soak up some of the abundant Bundaberg sun, as well as plenty of amenities like free wi-fi, tea and coffee. If you’re looking for a motel with a personable vibe, then Villa Mirasol is the place to be.

The atmosphere is laid-back but welcoming, and the attentive staff are more than happy to help you with anything from local recommendations to organising your tours and activities at their booking desk.

You’ll be centrally located, right next to the river, with plenty of cafes to explore in close proximity. Villa Mirasol also has an access-friendly room, with a level shower and wheelchair access.

Mexican-inspired inn at Villa Mirasol, Bundaberg
Spend a rejuvenating weekend at Villa Mirasol Motel. (Image: Villa Mirasol Motor Inn)

Kalua Motel

If you’re after a great-value stay, then Kalua Motel  is an unpretentious option located a brief 10-minute walk from Bundaberg town centre. Here, spacious ensuite rooms and comfortable beds await you. The rooms are simple, but partial self-catering is possible with a fridge and microwave in each room if you’re looking to save on dining out.

Heading to Bundaberg? We’ve also rounded up some of the best tours and things to do while you’re there.
Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
View profile and articles
NRMA Turtle Sands in Mon Repos
Bundaberg

This new beachside resort comes with a front-row turtle show

One night encountering nesting turtles at Mon Repos Beach is all it takes to transform holidaymakers into awestruck witnesses of marine conservation in action. 

Read more
hero media

What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    Continue
    Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

    The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort  with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

    But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

    Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

    Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

    Exploring K’gari

    ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island
    Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

    This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

    If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

    The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

    kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island
    Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

    If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

    While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

    The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

    Unwind at sunset

    two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort
    Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

    As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

    The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

    When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

    Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

    Indulge and disconnect

    woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa
    Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

    The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

    Getting there

    kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island
    The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.