The Very Best Bundaberg Tours To Book Now

Famed for its stretches of crystal-clear coast, award-winning distilleries and abundant produce, Bundaberg serves as an excellent base to discover what subtropical Queensland has to offer, and there are a number of amazing tours to help you do so.

From exquisite rum to sparkling reefs, sometimes there’s no better souvenir to bring home than a new skillset, or some new-found knowledge. Luckily, Bundaberg offers lots to learn.

Whether you’re interested in the distillation process, local wildlife, or the process behind farm-to-table produce, there are plenty of tours that will keep you entertained and teach you a thing or two in the process. These are the best Bundaberg tours to show you what the region has to offer.

1. Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour

A tour of the Bundaberg Rum Distillery is all but compulsory when you’re in town. The distillery is denoted by a mammoth-sized bottle of Bundy Rum at the entrance, perfect for a quick photo op before heading in.

Once inside, you can join a tour where you’ll take a peek behind the curtain and learn how vats of sweet, sticky molasses get transformed into bottles of liquid gold.

a woman blending her own glass of rum at Bundaberg Rum Distillery — Get a chance to blend your own rum. (Image: Bundaberg Rum)

After you’ve meandered through the museum and received a rundown of the factory’s inner workings, finish your tour with a trip to the distillery bar. Here, you can sample a range of Bundaberg’s famous rum products (the Salted Caramel liqueur is a must-try). Pick up your favourites from the gift shop, where you can also browse a range of limited edition and exclusive rums.

If you fancy yourself a bit of a rum aficionado, opt for the Blend Your Own Rum experience. You’ll spend an hour with your Rum Guides, learning how to create your own personalised blend, and receive two bottles of your concoction to take home with you. Cheers to that.

Bundaberg Rum Distillery — The Big Rum Bottle at the entrance of the Bundaberg distillery. (Image: Andrew S/Flickr)

2. Bundaberg Barrel Tasting and Tour

If the Bundaberg sun has got you feeling parched, there’s no better place to head than the Bundaberg Barrel. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks are famous for its thirst-quenching craft sodas, especially its Ginger Beer (that pairs great with a shot of Bundaberg Rum).

view outside The Bundaberg Barrel — Have a look inside The Bundaberg Barrel.

Take a peek behind the scenes and experience the fabulous array of refreshing flavours with a tasting and a tour. There’s also a smellography wall (that seems like something out of Willy Wonka’s factory) where guests can play ‘guess the flavour’. Once you’re done sampling the delicious soft drinks, you’ll select six of your favourites to take away.

welcome signage inside The Bundaberg Barrel — Wander around its expansive interior.

3. Kalki Moon Distillery Tour

Bundaberg is the place to be if you’re in the mood to grab a drink. Kalki Moon is an artisan brewery and distillery producing rum, gin and other liquors. It makes the most of the region’s abundant produce, crafting gins that are rich with Aussie botanical flavours like lemon and cinnamon myrtle.

guests talking while drinking booze at Kalki Moon Distillery, Bundaberg — Stop by for a drink at Kalki Moon Distillery.

You’ll find the distillery nestled among the sugarcane, five kilometres from Bundaberg’s town centre. On a tour, you’ll be guided through the stages of the distillation process and be able to sample a drink of your choice.

If you’re thirsty for more, stop by the cellar door to sip on a cocktail, or hit up the gift shop to shop your favourites.

a well-curated display of gins and liquours at Kalki Moon Distillery, Bundaberg — Kalki Moon Distillery has a great selection of gins, cocktails, and crafted beers.

4. Macadamia Orchard Tour

With its green fields lined with picturesque macadamia trees – it’s no surprise that Bundaberg’s Macadamia Orchard is a popular spot for weddings. However, you don’t have to tie the knot to soak up the romance of the luscious surroundings.

Take a self-guided stroll through the trees, where you can pick your own nuts during the harvest months (February to August) and crack them at the orchard’s cracking station. Investigate the rich history of Bundaberg’s agriculture at the visitor experience centre, and meander through the gift shop that sells everything from macadamia hand cream to bowls made from macadamia shells.

A tour includes a guide to show you through the orchard, during which they’ll impart a wealth of knowledge about how macadamias make it from seed to table. Lastly, you’ll enjoy a guided tasting of a macadamia-inspired chef-curated platter.

Be sure to stop by The Orchard Table, an on-site restaurant where the chefs are showcasing the magic of macadamias through their nut-inspired menu. You’ll definitely want to leave room for the macadamia gelato.

orchard table's seasonal menu made from the freshest local ingredients — Indulge in the seasonal menu specially curated for you at the Orchard Table.

5. Tastings at Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery

Sample a taste of Tropicana at Ohana Cider House & Winery . Here, the distillery makes the most of Bundaberg’s abundant produce, sourcing local fruits to create ‘cheeky tiki’ cider flavours such as pineapple and passionfruit.

a person holding a bottle of Cherry Tiki Dry Apple Cider behind the apple orchard at Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery — Cherry Tiki Dry Apple Cider is a classic favourite at Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery.

If you’re more of a wine drinker, try some sweet Moscato wines made with strawberries and mangos. Tasting paddles are available, with Kenilworth cheddar cheese platters also on offer, should you find yourself feeling peckish.

two people tasting some wines at Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery — Head to the Cider House & Tropical Winery for some wine tasting. (Image: Paul Beutel/Bundaberg Tourism)

6. Mon Repos Turtle Encounter

If you’re visiting Bundaberg between November and March, you’re in luck. Turtle season comes into full swing during the summer months, and spotting one of these fascinating creatures in the wild is one of the best things to do in Bundaberg.

Not only is Bundaberg in proximity to some of the region’s best beaches, but the nearby shores of Mon Repos are home to the largest concentration of turtles on the East Coast.

Witness turtles nesting in the sand. Come hatching season, you can spot baby turtles crawling down to the ocean. (Image: Getty/vkp-australia)

The laying season is in November – when you can join a ranger-guided turtle encounter to watch the female turtles lay their eggs on the beach. Come January, the tours will take you to see the baby turtles hatching and scuttling toward the ocean in the evening. Simply magical.

the entrance path at Mon Repos Turtle Centre — Take a stroll along Mon Repos Turtle Centre. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

7. Lady Musgrave Island

Bundaberg is known as the Southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. If you want to spend a day surrounded by crystal blue waters and magical coral reefs, consider a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island.

lady musgrave island

Tours depart via boat from Bundaberg port marina (a 15-minute drive from the town centre). The tour includes snorkelling, scuba diving and glass-bottomed boat excursions, so you can witness the beautiful and vibrant underwater world of the reef.

You’ll more than likely spot some turtles, as well as reef sharks and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish. Here, you can discover why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world – all a stone’s throw from Bundaberg.

couple snorkelling on the reef off Lady Musgrave Island, while taking a photo of a turtle — Have an up-close encounter with turtles on Lady Musgrave Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Headed to Bundaberg? We’ve also created a guide to accommodation in Bundaberg and the best restaurants and cafes in town.

Explore some of Australia’s most stunning coastlines on this epic route.

This scenic, 1800-kilometre Brisbane to Port Douglas road trip takes in some of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes, from the wildlife on Bribie Island to the rainforests of Far North Queensland. Our advice? Slow it down, take your time and really get to know this part of Australia.

Day 1: Brisbane to Noosa

Wake up in the luxurious Sofitel Brisbane Central , enjoy a hot buffet breakfast and a swim in the outdoor pool before hitting the road to travel north. Take the exit to Bribie Island to view the abundant wildlife.

aerial view of bribie island — Enjoy the beauty and animals of Bribie Island. (Image: TEQ)

In the afternoon, check into Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas hidden near Noosa National Park and spend the afternoon relaxing at the luxury Aqua Day Spa. Daredevils can book a seat on an Ocean View Helicopters tour and experience the adrenaline of exploring the Glasshouse Mountains from the air.

Before dinner, head to the Original Eumundi Markets just 25 minutes away or explore the nearby trails in the national park. For dinner, book a table at Park & Cove located just near your hotel and feast on a locally-sourced menu that changes with the seasons.

table spread at Park & Cove Novotel Sunshine Coast — Refuel at Park & Cove.

Day 2: Noosa to Bundaberg

Wake up to sounds of the rainforest outside your window and take the opportunity for a quick swim before you dive into a freshly cooked buffet breakfast at Park & Cove. After breakfast and an expertly brewed coffee, stroll down the hill and spend the morning shopping along Hastings Street in the various boutiques, or hire a kayak or surfboard and conquer the waves.

After lunch, head north for the three-hour drive to historic Bundaberg . If you feel like feeding a kangaroo or wallaby, visit the Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary . Once in Bundy, head to Spitter’s Farm just outside of town. This 160-acre property offers a unique experience in their deluxe glamping safari tents, where you can listen to the cows mooing as the sun sets.

baby kangaroo at australian wildlife Sanctuary — Say hello to the adorable creatures of Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary. (Image: Jewels Lynch)

Day 3: Bundaberg to Rockhampton

Before getting back on the road, take time to visit the many museums, and, of course, the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery for a tour. Then head to the Beef Capital of Australia, Rockhampton.

Although, ‘Rocky’ is surrounded by beef cattle farms, your first stop should be to the impressive Rockhampton Museum of Art , which features an art collection valued at over $16 million. Rest your head at the centrally-located Mercure Rockhampton overlooking the mighty Fitzroy River. Grab a quick swim in their outdoor pool before enjoying a steak at their in-house restaurant.

Day 4: Rockhampton to Mackay

Grab a strong coffee at your hotel and drive the short distance to the nearby Capricorn Caves for a morning tour of these natural limestone beauties. Then hit the road for the four-hour drive to Mackay.

Reward yourself with a swim in the large, resort-style pool at the Mantra Mackay . Overlooking the marina, it’s the perfect location from which to explore the city, before enjoying a sundowner and dinner at the popular Latitude 21 on the hotel terrace.

woman exploring the Capricorn Caves in queensland — Explore the Capricorn Caves. (Image: TEQ)

Day 6: Mackay to Townsville

Grab your breakfast to go, then head just out of town to Finch Hatton Gorge. Here, spend the morning ziplining 25 metres above the rainforest floor with Forest Flying . Head to Airlie Beach for lunch and a swim in the famous Airlie Beach Lagoon , before heading north to Townsville.

Hop on a 20-minute ferry – they leave regularly – and check into the stunning Peppers Blue on Blue Resort . Spend the evening swimming in their two pools with views across the private marina to Mount Cook National Park, before feasting on fresh seafood at their on-site restaurant, Boardwalk Restaurant and Bar.

aerial view of beach at Airlie Beach queensland — Dive into the crystal clear waters around Airlie Beach. (Image: TEQ)

Day 7: Townsville to Cairns

After a morning swim on one of Magnetic Island’s beautiful beaches, hop back on the ferry and travel north to the sleepy Mission Beach for lunch. You’ll be sandwiched by rainforest on one side, and the beach on the other.

Continue on to Cairns and check in at the centrally-located Novotel Cairns Oasis, where the lagoon-style pool and swim-up bar alone is worth the visit. Or continue north for 25 minutes to the coastal village of Palm Cove.

Once there it’s a tough choice between the luxurious, five-star Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple, or the beautifully designed Peppers Beach Club and Spa Palm Cove , where the pool has its very own beach.

two people in deck chairs by Novotel Cairns Oasis' lagoon-style pool — Relax by Novotel Cairns Oasis’ lagoon-style pool.

Day 8: To Port Douglas

No matter where you spent the night, your journey to Port Douglas will be one of the most scenic road trips you’ll ever experience. Following the coastline, travel past champagne-coloured beaches, offshore islands and submerged reefs, before rolling into town at Port Douglas.

Although you’ll be spoilt for choice with hotels, two of the best are Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas, which is closer to town (think stunning pool and walking distance to Macrossan Street) and the famous, five-star Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa , located a little further down the beach. If the 3000-metre-squared lagoon-style pool isn’t enough at this hotel, you’ll also find the exclusive Vie Spa and popular restaurant, Aluco Restaurant & Bar , widely known as being one of the finest restaurants in Port Douglas.

aerial view of pool at Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple — Revive from road-tripping in one of the best pools in Port Douglas.

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7 top tours to try in Bundaberg