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Destination focus: Bundaberg

<p>History, turtles, the Great Barrier Reef and, of course, rum – there’s plenty to love about Bundaberg.</p> <p><strong>See</strong></p> <p>The Mon Repos Regional Park, just east of Bundaberg, is one of the most important turtle hatching sites in the country. Between November and March you can join a nightly tour to look for green, flatback and endangered loggerhead turtles nesting and hatching on a small beach. In January you can be lucky and see the tiny baby turtles making their way from the nest to the ocean.</p> <p>In the town of Bundaberg itself, the Hinkler Hall of Aviation in the Botanic Gardens brings the achievements of Australian pioneer solo aviator Bert Hinkler to life. Then visit the heritage listed Fairymead House &amp; Sugar History Museum to learn about the sugar industry that the town is built on.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36714/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (289)"/></p> <p><strong>Explore</strong></p> <p>Bundaberg is the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot islands are just a short hop away. Head out on a luxurious catamaran for a day of scenic cruising, swimming, snorkelling and diving. Or you can take a short scenic flight to the island and spend the full day relaxing in paradise. These islands are in one of the most pristine parts of the reef and you won’t find any of the crowds that you will see further north.</p> <p><strong>Drink</strong></p> <p>You can’t go to Bundaberg without sampling the local drop – Bundaberg Rum. It’s been brewed here since 1888, making use of the sugar cane crops grown in the region. You can visit the Bundaberg rum distillery for a behind the scenes tour to see how it is produced and aged, before stopping in at the tasting bar to sample the full range of top shelf spirits. You can also blend your own rum with the help of the on-site experts, using different types of rum to create one that’s perfect for you.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36715/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (290)"/></p> <p><strong>Stay</strong></p> <p>You won't find much luxury accommodation around Bundaberg, but there are plenty of stylish and comfortable options. Self contained apartments, motels, motor inns and camping grounds cover all budgets, or there are a few backpacker hostels if you like to mix with younger travellers. In the coastal town of Bargara, just east of the city, there are a number of stylish resorts with facilities like swimming pools, tennis courts and bikes for hire.</p> <p>Have you ever been to Bundaberg? </p>

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60-year-old turtles returns to beach to lay eggs for 37th year

<p>A 60-year-old loggerhead turtle has returned for her 37th year to lay eggs on Bundaberg’s Mon Repos beach.</p><p>The four-month hatchling season is coming to an end at the rookery and more than 410 individual endangered loggerhead turtles have nested this season.&nbsp;</p><p>Mon Repos Turtle Centre ranger in charge Cathy Gately said the older turtles, including one 60-year-old, were still producing large numbers of hatchlings.</p><p>“These are turtles that we have been seeing for many years,” she said.</p><p>“I know we had one that was first here nesting back in 1978 so we had a couple of turtles of that age... well in their 60s now and still coming ashore to nest and laying great numbers.”&nbsp;</p><p>“Some of these old-time nesters were laying good clutches of around 160 eggs so they are certainly doing their part to help the endangered species,” she said.</p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/03/elephant-gets-prosthetic-leg/" target="_blank">Watch the moment when this elephant gets a prosthetic leg</a>&nbsp;</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/02/dogs-motivating-kids-to-read/" target="_blank">Meet the therapy dogs helping children learn to read</a></strong></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/03/crocodile-steals-fish/" target="_blank">Watch this mammoth crocodile steal a fish right off a fisherman’s line</a></strong></em></span></p>

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