The Rollingstone Camping Ground named Vincent “Bushy” Parker Park after a local war hero, Flight Lieutenant Vincent “Bushy” Parker, is a great place to stay just north of Townsville in Queensland.

For a Free Camp, the Rollingstone Camping area has a lot on offer, loads of facilities with easy access and plenty of space to park.

It’s simple to find however some people do report that google sends them directions which takes you under a low bridge.

Read on and we will tell you how to get there safely.

Rollingstone Camping Ground Facilities

While the nearby Rollingstone Beach Front Resort offers all the amazing bells and whistles for an overnight stay the Rollingstone Camping area is a basic Free camp but very good.

There are a number of potable water taps available providing drinking water to use.

A toilet block is onsite and is regularly maintained and kept clean by Townsville Council. There is also a dump point at the Rollingstone Camping Grounds.

Picnic tables are also available along with a BBQ and bins are here too. Please ensure all rubbish is placed in the bins and the area is kept clean and tidy.

We had 3 bars of 4G Telstra coverage while we were at the Camping area.

There are steps down to the nice, shallow creek alongside the Rollingstone Camping area which is perfect to wade into and cool off on a warm day.

Other Facilities near the Rollingstone Camping Area

Rollingstone has it’s own small general store offering fuel, food, a post office and a few other supplies.

Are Pets allowed at this Rollingstone Camping Area?

It is pet friendly and therefore dogs are permitted to stay at the Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park Rollingstone Camping ground.

How to book your stay at this free Rollingstone Camping Ground

There is a Booking system for staying at any Townsville Camping Ground including Vincent “Bushy” Parker Park, Rollingstone Camping Ground.

On arrival, you can simply scan your smart phone on the sign at the entrance to the park or go to the website here – https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/parks-beaches-and-community-venues/parks-trails-and-camping/camping-caravan-and-rv-sites

The Campground does get busy and therefore it’s best to arrive and book in early to secure a spot.

Cost to stay is Free. You can stay for 48 hours maximum within a 7 day period.

We didn’t stay but we went for a look on 12th of August 2021.

Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park Rollingstone Camping Contact Details

Phone: 13 48 10
Address: Rollingstone Street, Rollingstone, Queensland
Website:

How to get to the Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park Rollingstone Camping Ground

From the Bruce Highway take the Whalley Cres exit over the rail line and go right into Rollingstone Street.

Follow Rollingstone Street through the township to the entrance to the Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park Rollingstone Camping Ground on your left.

Don’t take the first Rollingstone Street exit heading north as it takes you under a low 2.4m bridge.

What popular attractions are in and around the Rollingstone Camping Ground?

Big Crystal Creek

Big Crystal Creek otherwise known as Paradise Waterhole is just an hour north of Townsville and just under 21kms from the Rollingstone Camping Ground.

Located in the Paluma Range National Park this fabulous waterhole is an easy 2 minute walk from the Crystal Creek Campground and Recreational Day Use Area. The deep crystal clear pool is perfect for cooling off on a warm day.

Little Crystal Creek

Just  away is Little Crystal Creek which also has crystal clear waters making it another awesome spot for a refreshing swim on a hot day.

The water cascading under the heritage listed stone arch bridge built back in the 1930s makes a very picturesque setting.

Balgal Beach

Balgal Beach is just 4.7kms from the Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park Rollingstone Camping Ground. Only a 5 minute drive and you go from bush to the beach.

The Balgal Beach is a patrolled beach with a swimming enclosure making it a safe place for swimming during the stinger season. Stinger season in North Queensland extends from November through to April/May.

Toomulla Beach

Another nearby beach is Toomulla Beach which is just 12kms south of the Rollingstone Camping Ground.

Toomulla Beach is a popular spot for fishing and bird watching. It also provides a free camping area with a maximum 48hr stay.

Other great places to stay in the region:

Pin – Rollingstone Camping

Have you free camped at the Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park Rollingstone Camping Ground? Tell us about your Rollingstone Camping experience!

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps.

Samsung s21 Phone – https://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.

Canon 800d – https://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Nikon Coolpix p1000 – https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lens – https://ebay.us/br9MeO – This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lens – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

_______________________________________________________________________

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What a magnificent country this is that we get to call home.

Wow….!!

We feel so absolutely blessed that we were privileged to have been born an Aussie. Why would you want to live anywhere else?

Touring our country by road gives an all new appreciation of it too.

The rugged landscapes, the dry red dirt outbacks, the exquisite world renowned beaches, the magnificent rainforests and stunning Gorges with waterfalls and swimming holes so pristine they could all be the Garden of Eden.

Then there are the people.

The great Australian characters you meet, the kind warm and generous people who you befriend at Happy hour or they offer their assistance just when it’s needed the most.

It’s impossible not to be proud of being an Aussie.

Taking to the road and putting the rubber to the bitumen for so many years now has given us time to re-assess life. We keep asking ourselves the question, are we ready to go home yet!!

We think of all the positive reasons to say thank you to our tenants but we are coming home.

Most of all, we miss our families so much when we are away and of course our friends who we miss very much too.

Kev could possibly be playing rep cricket given over 50’s is now a thing since we left and his mates are playing.

The first thing we would do is buy another dog, we miss MACKS so much and would love another Golden Retriever.

We’d buy a boat and possibly a jet ski and spend a lot more time at Moreton and Fraser Island. Yes, we’ve thought about it, quite often actually.

But the answer keeps coming back, definitely Not!!

We sure weren’t unhappy in our life back home in Brisbane. The business was good, Adele had a great job she loved and therefore we had a reasonable income.

We were never wealthy, some failed business ventures saw to that, but we were doing ok.

Something was missing though, I didn’t know what that was but I knew I was searching for something in my life that had meaning, something that gave me purpose.

I felt there had to be a reason for living, I couldn’t just go through life and it was over one day and there was no substance.

Plenty of times I’ve heard the saying, He who owns the most toys wins!!

I always considered that one of the dumbest sayings ever.

The more toys you want to accumulate the longer and harder you commit to living a long life working your guts out to repay the debt.

I could never understand how you can be truly happy and fulfilled while each day your life is driven and owned by your employer, your clients and your customers.

These words were said to me once and I’ve never forgotten them – The Man who works the hardest will be fondly remembered by his widow’s new husband!!

Some mates we met while travelling lived on the Gold Coast. They weren’t on a canal block but they did live in a street nearby.

I remember Mick telling me he’d go up the canals in his little tinnie and look at the mega mansions, the big pools and huge boats.

What he noticed was no-one was swimming in the pools, the boats hadn’t moved since the last time he went past, nobody was home.

These owners were in so much debt they worked and worked and never had time to appreciate the toys they borrowed money to buy that just committed them to their jobs.

Why have we become this society where we think we have to have everything to be happy.

We don’t need so much stuff!!

Every time we pull out the credit card, every time we go to a counter and spend money at the till, we need to ask ourselves, do I need this?

Because every time we get out our wallets it means we stay in debt and we commit to more hours at work.

Growing up I remember hearing stories of Men who worked hard all their life. They retired at 65 and passed away just a short time later. I always found that so sad and was determined that wouldn’t be me.

I always knew even as a young boy at school, my life had to be more than that.

My brother retired at 31 years of age.

Yep, he never worked a job another day, EVER.

He was smart and careful with his money and avoided debt.

Les passed away in 2020 aged 74, the Vietnam War had finally got him. He hadn’t had a “job” in over 40 years.

I didn’t want to be him, we were very different, but he showed me what was possible.

If it was possible for him why couldn’t it be possible for me?

Some of the big lessons we have learned from travelling

There are so many lessons to be learnt driving around this magnificent country we call home.

The biggest lesson of all has been we don’t need a lot of those things we used to think we did.

We’d rather spend more time with our parents and children than be in the daily grind. We’d rather gather experiences and memories than a bulging bank account.

The day my Father died in 2008 sent me on this journey to find myself, to find what was really most important for me in my life.

I figured out that chasing the dollar was getting in the way of all the things I felt most important to me. For decades, in fact all my married life, I didn’t have the balance right.

I then set about changing my life.

Now after over 5 years travelling Australia it’s crazy to think that everything we yearn to own is in our little home on wheels therefore will we ever feel it is time to go home?

We’ve never been happier than we are now with the least amount of possessions we’ve ever had surrounding us.

The old me that still lives in my brain thinks it’s just bizarre.

We have so little yet we feel so rich!!

Our hearts and our souls are overflowing with joy. We find it really difficult to explain it most of the time.

We keep being told we’re living the dream and we don’t know how to respond or add to that. All we can do is just say yes, and we’re still loving it.

It’s true, we really are living a dream and long may it continue.

We can’t fathom why more people aren’t doing it

I want to scream to my mates and friends back home, you guys are mad. I want to tell them to buy a Caravan or Motorhome, or even a Yacht and go find adventure and fill your boots with happiness.

Discover why you don’t need all that stuff overflowing out of your garage, in the back shed and piled floor to ceiling in rooms and cupboards.

And you don’t need Foxtel or Netflix, a bigger boat you rarely use, a new BMW, the latest technology, a new home because you want a theatre room and more space to collect more stuff and dust.

Get out and create your own life full of excitement and adventures. Reality TV is rubbish, go make your own reality.

OK, it’s not our place to tell you how to live your life but given how often we get told, we wish we had your life, the truth is we were just like everyone else before we left on our 2 year adventure.

We aren’t special….

We just made the decision and did it and now all these years later we still love it just like that first day when we drove away, completely unaware of the impact our decision was going to have and what life was going to be like on this epic journey.

Never for one moment did we ever expect to question ourselves if it is time to go home. We had always planned an end date before embarking on our adventure but over the years those plans have changed. It is becoming more and more difficult to contemplate going home!

My points are:

If you’re not completely excited about life each day then make a change.

Consider the impact on what you buy against if you need it and if all those hours you worked hard this week were best spent by purchasing it.

Live your best life, we only get one of them.

Here are a few more words for what they’re worth:

• Do more things you love to do and less that makes you unhappy
• Contact your family and closest friends often
• Don’t bother telling them you love them, they know that and your actions speak louder than words. Hug them, wrap your arms around your parents, your children and your friends as much as you can
• Don’t live life by default, choose the life you want to live
• Take control of your destiny
• I may not have as much money now, but I own my time
• We don’t fear dying, we fear having not lived a full life
• Dare to Dream!

Pin – Is it Time to go Home?

Are you currently travelling like us and loving it but wondering how will you know when it is time to go home?

Let us know your thoughts and whether you are having to consider if it is time to go home and face the prospect of settling down again permanently!

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps.

Samsung s21 Phone – https://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.

Canon 800d – https://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Nikon Coolpix p1000 – https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lens – https://ebay.us/br9MeO – This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lens – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

_______________________________________________________________________

Follow us, Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment on our website and social media here:-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

___________________________________________________________

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on this page we may receive a small commission. It will not cost you any more, in fact we’ve sourced out some great deals for you. Thank you for supporting us.

There are so many great things to see and do in and around Bundaberg which is why Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting.

Bundaberg doesn’t just evolve around Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer, it is also the landmark of the southern most part of the Great Barrier Reef and is notable for its sugar industry.

It is also famous for its close locality to Mon Repos. Mon Repos has the largest concentration of marine nesting turtles on the eastern mainland of Australia,

Plus, it’s fast becoming the ‘Drinks Capital of Australia’ with the introduction of a microbrewery, cider house and gin distillery in recent years.

Bundaberg is worth visiting for its Drink Places

Bundaberg Rum Factory

The Bundaberg Rum Factory is one of the main reasons why Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting for a lot of people.

If you are a keen Bundaberg Rum Drinker like Kev, or even if you are not a non-rum drinker at all like Adele, you will enjoy doing a tour of the Bundaberg Rum Factory.

Tours of Australia’s most famous rum distillery, which was established in 1888, run Monday to Friday from 10am – 3pm and from 10am – 2pm on Weekends and Public Holidays.

The tour goes for approx. 1 hour.

Book your Bundaberg Rum Factory Distillery Experience here>

Bundaberg Rum Distillery Museum

It is recommended you arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the commencement of your tour. This enables you have time to check out the museum beforehand.

Both the museum and the tour are really interesting.

Kev thought he would score Adele’s 2 free tastings at the end of each of our tours and both times he dipped out!

Adele is definitely not a rum drinker but she discovered she likes the Bundy Tropics especially the Mango & Passionfruit which she sampled on our first visit in 2016 and now the Banana & Toffee Royal Liqueur on our most recent visit.

You can always just drop into the Retail Store and purchase a drink from the bar and make any purchases from the extensive range of Bundaberg Rum, Liqueurs and merchandise.

Bundaberg Barrel

Take a tour of The Bundaberg Barrel. It is one of Bundaberg’s drink places not to be missed.

It’s perfect for all ages and is interesting and educational. It is a self-guided hands-on tour with lots of interactive displays.

Learn all about the history of the classic Bundaberg Brewed Drinks which date back for generations to 1960.

At the end of the tour, you are offered tastings of their entire range. 19 delicious flavoured soft drinks, including the famous Bundaberg Ginger Beer!

They have a huge selection of the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and selected merchandise available for purchase and you also have the option to create customised labels.

Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery

We love popping into Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery! Josh & Zoe, the founders and owners of Ohana Cider House & Winery are very welcoming and we always enjoy a chat over the bar.

Be sure to get a tasting paddle along with one of their cheese and bikkies platters. We can highly recommend their tropical wine, fortified wines and ciders.

Adele loves the Mango Moscato and Kev liked the fortified wines so much, he bought two of each to take with us after polishing off a tasting paddle all on his own!

The Ohana Cheeky Tiki Ciders are widely available at different outlets throughout Queensland and at every Queensland Dan Murphy’s store.

Plus, they will soon be launching into New South Wales.

Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing

Founded in 2017, the Kalki Moon is one of the most recent additions to Bundaberg which is fast becoming the ‘Drinks Capital of Australia’.

This family owned and operated distillery is the first ever gin distillery in Bundaberg.

Not only do they offer gin which comes from the cane fields of Bundaberg, they also produce vodka, liqueurs and soon they will be launching their own rum creation.

Kalki Moon’s Gift Shop and Cellar Door are open 7 days a week. Just check with their experienced staff regarding distillery tours and tastings.

Bargara Brewing Company & The Brewhouse

Although the Bargara Brewing Company was founded in Bargara it is actually located at The Brewhouse in central Bundaberg.

The Brewhouse is where all of the brewing of the Bargara Brewing Company’s beer takes place. Inside this micro-brewery is a busy restaurant, bottle shop and a retail outlet.

There’s 8 different taps of freshly brewed beers. They also have an on-line shop.

Update 2021: The Ballistic Beer Co has purchased Bargara Brewing therefore the Bargara brewery in Bundaberg is now one of the 5 Ballistic Beer Co breweries.

The range of beers is even bigger than before.

Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting for its awesome Attractions

Mon Repos Turtle Centre

The Mon Repos Turtle Centre is definitely worth visiting. 

As well as being one of Bundaberg’s most awesome attractions, it is the best place to learn about turtles.

The Turtle Centre is open from 9am – 12pm – 7 days per week with the exception of Christmas Day (25 December) and Anzac Day (25 April). During turtle season, it is also open 7 days per week from 7pm until 12am.

Turtle Season

Turtle season at Mon Repos is from November through to March. The best viewing times for the nesting turtles are from November through to January.

For the turtle hatchlings the months from January to March are best.

You can experience either the turtles laying or witness the hatchlings digging their way free and scampering down the beach to the water.

Entry is free into the Hatchling Hall and Gift Shop. Tickets must be purchased online for any one of the three daytime sessions of Turtle Tales.

Sessions are at 9am, 10am and 11am and go for 45 minutes.

Nightly Turtle Encounter ticketholders are entitled to free access into Hatchling Hall, Gift Shop and Turtles Tales on the night while they are waiting for the turtle event.

The Turtle Discovery Centre is very interesting and educational. Learn all about the different types of turtles, their migration paths, what they eat and so much more.

Turtle Facts

Here are just a few ‘turtley awesome’ facts:

• Turtles come ashore several times to lay hundreds of eggs in a nesting season.
• They come back to the same location to lay their eggs but not necessarily each year.
• After epic migrations at sea, turtles return to the exact spot where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs.
• Only around 1 in every 1,000 hatchlings survives to adulthood
• The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperature of the nest

Turtle Encounter Tours

A Turtle Encounter Tour is one of the reasons why it is definitely worth visiting Bundaberg.

It’s one of the most awesome attractions that the Bundaberg region has to offer.

It is absolutely an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience and one we can personally highly recommend!

The most fabulous experience for us was witnessing the baby hatchlings up close.

We were also very fortunate to be all chosen to be part of a human runway as the hatchlings scampered over the sand following the light between our our legs and at times over our feet to reach the water.

Although, we are yet to see a turtle laying her eggs, we have seen turtle tracks on the beach at Mon Repos made the previous night by laying turtles.

Note – Bookings for the Turtle Encounter Tours are essential! Tours are hugely popular and often very booked out.

So be sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Bookings can be made through the Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre

Tinaberries

Tinaberries is a strawberry farm located in Woongarra and is just under 15kms from the heart of Bundaberg.

They warmly welcome guests to their farm to enjoy icecream and strawberries.

OMG, the ice cream at Tinaberries is devine! It was only on our 4^th visit to Bundaberg that we discovered Tinaberrries.

We are so pleased we have found this delicious ice cream!

It has just skyrocketed to the top of the charts as one of our favourite ice creams that we have had in nearly 5 years travelling around Australia.

Flavours vary on the day depending on the fruits in season.

Strawberry and Passion Fruit were the flavours of the day of our visit. We bought one of each so we could sample both.

Others flavours include – Dragon Fruit and Lime, Mango and Passion Fruit, Strawberry and Mint, Passion Fruit and Ginger and Blueberries just to name a few.

Lady Musgrave Island

Although we did our day trip to Lady Musgrave Island from 1770, you can also make your way out to the Southern Great Barrier Reef from Bundaberg.

Lady Musgrave Island is the second most southern island in the Great Barrier Reef and is great spot for snorkelling around acres of coral.

Book your Lady Musgrave Island Day Trip from Bundaberg here>

Hinkler Hall of Aviation Museum

The Hinkler Hall of Aviation is definitely worth visiting even if you are not an aviation enthusiast. It is a must visit for all ages.

Located in the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens, this amazing museum celebrates Australias’s pioneer Aviator Bert Hinkler.

Everyone will enjoy the interactive displays and unique exhibits while learning the history of flight in Australia and the incredible life of Bert Hinkler.

The flight simulator is great fun and you can recreate Bert’s first flight hovering over Mon Repos.

The Hinkler Hall of Aviation is open 7 days Monday to Sunday from 9am – 3pm. 

Don’t miss seeing the Bert Hinkler House, a recreated from his home in England by the Museum here in Bundaberg.

Bundaberg Botanical Gardens

The Bundaberg Botanical Gardens in North Bundaberg has over 10,000 trees and shrubs within its 27 hectares as well as a wedding chapel.

There are magnificent lakes that attract up to 114 different species of birds, shaded picnic areas and a nature themed playground.

The best way to explore these fabulous botanical gardens is to take a ride on the steam train. Australian Sugar Cane Railway conducts train rides every Sunday.

They also operate Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays during school holidays and on most public holidays.

Contact the Australian Sugar Cane Railway for ticket prices and further information.

Bundaberg Botanical Gardens is also home to the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, The Fairymead House Sugar Museum, Cafe 1928, the Australian Sugar Cane Railway Museum  and the Bundaberg and District Historical Museum.

Fairymead House Sugar Museum

The Fairymead House, built in 1890, was originally the Manager’s residence at the nearby Fairymead Sugar Plantation.

In 1988, Bundaberg Sugar Ltd who were the owners of the Fairymead Sugar Plantation, gave it to the city of Bundaberg as a Bi-Centenial gift.

It was carefully transported in six pieces and relocated to its new site in the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens.

This grand old plantation house which is heritage-listed, has been restored and repurposed as a museum dedicated to the history of the sugar industry of Bundaberg and its pioneering families.

Opening hours are from 10.30am to 12pm Mondays to Fridays.

The Hummock Lookout

The remnants of a low-lying volanco is what is commonly known by Bundaberg locals as ‘The Hummock”.

Although it is only 96 metres above sea-level, the Hummock is a great spot to take in the views over the whole of Bundaberg.

To the east, the ocean is visible. Sugar cane fields can be viewed to the west.

Nearby Beaches are another reason Why Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting

It is definitely worth visiting Bundaberg for the number of great beaches nearby.

Being in close proximity from the city centre to the beach is awesome as you only have to drive 15 minutes from Bundaberg and you are at the beach!

Bargara Beach

The Bargara Beach is the closest of the beaches to Bundaberg. Bargara offers an ideal beachside lifestyle with oceanfront dining.

The kids will love playing on the beachfront playground which is in the shape of a turtle.

Can you swim at Bargara Beach?

During normal conditions, both Bargara Beach and Kellys Beach are considered to be relatively safe for swimming but it is safest and best to swim within the flags in the two patrolled areas.

Bargara & Kellys Beach are popular spots for local surfers as well.

How far is it from Bundaberg to Bargara?

By road it is just over 13kms from Bundaberg to Bargara.

Elliott Heads

Elliott Heads is one of the best beaches near Bundaberg. It’s actually our favourite beach in Bundaberg.

It offers both a surf beach and calmer waters at the mouth of the Elliott River where the river meets the sea.

With Elliott Heads right on the door step of Bundaberg, it is a great place to visit for the day for a swim or a picnic or to stay for a number of days while you explore all the best things to do in and around Bundaberg.

Can you swim at Elliott Heads?

Both the beach and the river are great for swimming.

The surf beach at Elliott Heads is patrolled from September to May but is considered relatively safe other times of the year. You just need to be cautious of the current in the river.

It is also a very popular spot for kite surfers and jet skiers.

How far is Elliott Heads from Bundaberg?

As it’s only 20mins out of Bundaberg, Elliott Heads has the best of both worlds. Not only is it a great spot to stay right on the beach, you are so close to town as well.

Dr Mays Island

Just across the mouth of Elliott Head River is Dr Mays Island. From 1 September to 30 April each year, it is closed to the public.

Very rare birds visit this area for breeding and other birds rest and feed there after flying thousands of kilometres from places as far away as Siberia and the Arctic Circle.

Burnett Heads

Burnett Heads is where river meets the sea and it is home to the Port of Bundaberg.

It is also easily identified by two historic lighthouses.

The original lighthouse was built back in 1873 and now stands next to the Burnett Head Lighthouse Holiday Park. In 1971, the old wooden lighthouse was replaced with the new octagonal concrete structure.

Burnett Heads is also very close to the Mon Repos Conservation Park.

Can you swim at Burnett Heads?

Oaks Beach, a 200metre long beach and South Head just 100metres of sand and rocks are the two beach areas just south of Burnett Heads with only 500metres between the two.

These two beaches are not patrolled by Life Savers.

Conditions in these areas are often choppy and prone to rips especially when the surf is up. Therefore people are advised to swim at patrolled beaches.

How far is Burnett Heads from Bundaberg?

The distance by road from Burnett Heads to Bundaberg is 16.2kms.

Woodgate Beach

Woodgate Beach is a long white sandy beach approximately 45 mins out from Bundy.

The southern 6 to 7 kilometres of the beach which is part of the Burrum Coast National Park provides 4WD access for beach driving.

Locals warn the sand is muddy and much softer near the Isis river mouth and is a common area for vehicles to become bogged.

Do you need a permit to drive on Woodgate Beach?

You do not require a permit to drive on Woodgate Beach.

There are two access points onto Woodgate Beach.

One south of the Woodgate township and the northern entry off Walkers Point Road takes you down a broken, wooden board track where you need to take care if towing a trailer.

How far is Woodgate Beach from Bundaberg?

Woodgate Beach is just over 57kms from Bundaberg.

We drove out from Bundaberg and enjoyed lunch overlooking the beach and the boat ramp and continued south through Childers stopping at Mammino Gourmet Ice cream, for one of our favourite ice creams in all of OZ.

Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting for RV Travellers

RV Travellers will definitely find Bundaberg worth visiting as it offers a Free Camping area.

Bundaberg has also repurposed the old Showgrounds into a low cost RV Park managed by CMCA.

Hinkler Lions Park

The Hinkler Lions Park in Bundaberg, aptly named after the aviation icon Bert Hinkler, is a great place to stay for free as it is only a few minutes from the main city centre.

There’s plenty of space and easy parking for self-contained vehicles.

For caravans the suggestion is to go anti clockwise to make it easier to reverse park. It even took us a few turns in our Motorhome.

There are toilets, a drinking water tap, a dump point, bins and even a kids playground.

We did find it a little bit noisy with the airport across the road and with it being on one of the main roads into Bundaberg.

How long can you stay at the Hinkler Lions Park in Bundaberg?

It is a 24 hour stay at the Hinkler Lions Park. 

Are Pets allowed at the Hinkler Lions Park?

Hinkler Lions Park is pet friendly.

Read all about our stay at: Hinkler Lions Park

Bundaberg CMCA RV Park

The Bundaberg CMCA RV Park is a great spot to stay.

Its central location is why it is definitely worth staying here enabling easy access for exploring Bundaberg.

For CMCA Members it’s just $3 per person per night and $15 per vehicle per night for non-members.

It is located at the old Showgrounds behind the Bundaberg Multiplex Sports & Convention Centre.

How long can you stay at the Bundaberg CMCA RV Park?

Maximum Stay is 5 nights in any 21day period.

All vehicles must be self-contained as there are no toilets and no showers. You must also contain your grey water.

Sites are all unpowered but drinking water and a dump point is available.

Are Pets Allowed at the Bundaberg CMCA RV Park?

Yes, it is pet friendly.

There’s heaps of space and it is quiet.

Best of all, it is very central and is handy to most places in Bundaberg.

Read about our stay at the: Bundaberg CMCA RV Park

Why Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting for the beachside Caravan Parks

Big 4 Bargara Caravan Park

On our first visit to Bundaberg we stayed at the Bargara Caravan Park.

Bargara Beach is just a 15minute drive into town which is why its definitely worth visiting Bundaberg.

We enjoyed the best of both worlds being close to town and we were also able to enjoy camping by the beach.

It was an easy drive into Bundaberg to hit up all of the popular tourist attractions including the famous Bundaberg Rum Factory and The Barrel.

Bargara Caravan Park is ideally located right across from the beach and the Bundaberg Surf Life Savers Club making it perfect for a swim after a hot day exploring Bundaberg.

The Park is suitable for all sized caravans and RVs, allows tent camping and 1 and 2 bedroom cabins are also available.

Powered and non-powered sites are available. You can choose from grassed or concrete slab sites as well as sun or shaded sites.

Are Pets Allowed at the Big 4 Bargara Caravan Park?

Yes, the Big 4 Caravan Park is dog friendly however it is seasonal so best to check regarding dog access prior to arrival.

Elliott Heads Holiday Park

The Elliott Heads Holiday Park was the perfect location to stay when we were visiting Bundaberg the second time around.

Located right on the doorstep of Bundaberg’s most beautiful local beach and just 20 minutes from town, makes it an ideal base to explore Bundaberg as well as a great spot to just relax and unwind by the beach.

The Amenities are in great condition and the park has all the expected features -Water, Power and a Dump Point.

The sites are all powered and are a good size with a choice of slab or grassed sites.

Just across the road from the Elliott Heads Holiday Park is a great café and a sheltered picnic area.

Are Pets Allowed at the Elliott Heads Tourist Park?

The Elliott Heads Tourist Park do not allow dogs.

It was not possible for us to stay at the
Elliott Heads Tourist Park on our first visit to Bundaberg as we were travelling with our dog MACKS.

Read about our stay at: Elliott Heads Holiday Park

Burnett Heads Lighthouse Holiday Park

On another of our visits to Bundaberg, we stayed at the Burnett Heads Lighthouse Holiday Park in Bundaberg.

The park is very handy to Mon Repos to see the turtle hatching and is only 15 minutes from the centre of town.

Sites are a good size, it’s close to the ocean and like all of the other Caravan Parks around Bundaberg, there is no pool.

Although the amenities and facilities at the Burnett Heads Lighthouse Holiday Park at the time of our stay were tired, they are clean.

The camp kitchen is good with BBQ’s, Microwave, frying pan and other features ideal for cooking.

A tennis court is available onsite also.

Are Pets Allowed at the Burnett Heads Holiday Park?

Yes, dogs are allowed as it is pet friendly.

Read about our stay at: Burnett Heads Lighthouse Holiday Park

Pin – Why Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting

Have you been to Bundaberg? We have found first hand why Bundaberg is definitely worth visiting as each time we visit we find new and exciting things to see and do.

Check out these other great blogs:

Safe travels   

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

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Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps. We have sourced this one which is approx $500 less than we paid for ours.

Canon 800d – https://ebay.to/2XQYnsk – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/2yQwPed  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lens – https://ebay.us/br9MeO This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/2XlOZ0I – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lens – http://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.to/38wMc7V  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

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