About Mon Repos
Park features
Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland. This is the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific Ocean region. Successful breeding here is critical for the survival of this endangered species.
At this globally-significant site you can learn all about these extraordinary animals and the conservation and research programs that are protecting them—visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre (the centre does not display captive, live turtles); discover the Turtle Tales Immersive Experience (including interactive displays and theatre) and have a Turtle Encounter tour for a chance to see living turtles on the beach—a tour like very few others in the world. During the day you can explore on a Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided walk and learn about turtle conservation and research, turtle tracks and nesting sites.
The park is culturally significant for the four identified First Nations groups—Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Byellee peoples.
Still standing today, is a heritage-listed basalt stone wall built around 1884 by South Sea Islanders as they cleared rocks to prepare the land for sugarcane crops.
The park's natural features include dune plant communities, Woongarra rainforest scrub remnants, mangroves, a tidal lagoon and rock pools.
The beach and dunes were the launch site for Bert Hinkler's first glider flights in 1912.
Nearby, the basalt slabs and reefs that form much of this coastline provide an ideal canvas for colourful displays of corals, sponges, barnacles and shellfish. This stunning diversity of sea life so close to shore has made the Woongarra Coast area of Great Sandy Marine Park, one of the most popular shore-diving areas in Australia.
Looking after the park
- Help protect fragile sand dunes from erosion and protect turtle eggs during the marine turtle breeding season (15 October to 31 May) by staying off the sand dunes.
- Follow seasonal closures for night access during turtle nesting and hatching season. These closures are in place to protect marine turtles:
- From November to late March, between 6pm and 6am—beach access is restricted to visitors participating in a Ranger-guided Turtle Encounter tour.
- The Mon Repos beach, Mon Repos Coastal walking track and Turtle trail are closed between 6pm and 6am from 15 October to 31 May.
- Smoking is not permitted at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and surrounds or on the beach.
- Please take your rubbish with you.
- Leave your pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted in Mon Repos Conservation Park. This includes pets in your vehicle or bicycle basket.
- Nesting and hatchling marine turtles are disoriented by bright lights. Artificial lights interfere with their natural habits and instincts, resulting in negative impact on their population. Hatchlings that are attracted to town lights, exhaust themselves and become stranded before they even make it to the ocean. The sky glow from townships interferes with nesting turtles as they prefer dark beaches to lay their eggs. Marine turtles are in trouble—they need our help to survive. For light reducing tips visit the Cut the Glow to Help Turtles Go campaign page.
See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.
Report sick, injured or orphaned wildlife
If you encounter sick, injured or orphaned wildlife immediately call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) to give the animal the best chance of survival.
To report marine animal strandings (of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphin, dugongs or whales) call 1300 130 372 (Press option 1).
Park management
Mon Repos Conservation Park is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, to preserve and present its remarkable natural and cultural values in perpetuity.
Mon Repos Conservation Park was first declared an Environmental Park under the Land Act in 1990. In 1994 it was re-gazetted as a Conservation Park under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, including 45ha of beach and coastal vegetation that is vital for marine turtle conservation.
In 2021 land was added to the west of Mon Repos Conservation Park, doubling the park’s size. This important parcel of land will be revegetated, with wetlands restored in a bid to help protect the nesting habitat for marine turtles.
Park Rangers, Researchers, volunteers and First Nations people make significant contributions to park management.
A long-term marine turtle research program that has international significance has been running at Mon Repos since 1968. At Mon Repos Conservation Park, staff protect turtle nests during the nesting season, carry out research and monitoring, and raise public awareness through guided tours where visitors can have the unique experience of watching turtles lay their eggs or hatchlings emerging from their sandy nests.
For over 50 years Mon Repos has been supported by many community volunteers—they actively fought to have the area protected and since that time have been an integral part of the programs focused on turtle conservation, ecotourism and revegetation.
Future planning for Mon Repos Conservation Park will be developed under the Values Based Management Framework.
Tourism information links
Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre
36 Avenue Street, Bundaberg
PO Box 930
Bundaberg Qld 4670
Ph (07) 4153 8888
Fax (07) 4151 2527
- visit bundabergregion.info
- phone (07) 4153 8888
- book Turtle Encounters online
- book Turtle encounters over-the-counter at 36 Avenue Street, Bundaberg East, QLD 4670
- visit facebook.com/VisitBundaberg
- email info@bundabergregion.org
For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.
Further information
- Contact us
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram @QldParks and tag#QldParks to share with us
- Find us on YouTube
Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Open 7 days-a-week 9am–2pm (closed 25 December and 25 April).
From November to late March the centre is open at night for Turtle Encounter tour ticket holders only (closed 24, 25 and 31 December)—QPWS Ranger-led Turtle Encounter program runs from 6.30pm till late, Milbi Café is open 6pm to 9pm and the gift shop is open 6pm to 10pm.
- Book your Mon Repos Turtle Encounters tour through Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre.
- Book your day ticket for Turtle Tales Immersive Experience (includes interactive displays and theatre areas within the Turtle Centre) through Eventbrite
- Book your Turtle Tracks and Tales Ranger-guided walk through Eventbrite
- For school group and people with mobility disability access enquiries contact monrepos@des.qld.gov.au
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The majority of both nesting and hatching turtle activity occurs at night; disturbances and danger from predators, both on land and at sea, is lowest under the cover of darkness. This makes turtles vulnerable to disturbance and disorientation from artificial lights.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.