What's on in Bundaberg?
Taste Bundaberg Festival
Taste Bundaberg is a delicious festival held over June. The prospect of attending this festival and feasting on the local Queensland flavours on show is an unmissable invitation for foodies to buy cheap flights to Bundaberg and head north. Some of the things to do and experience at the Taste Bundaberg Festival include sampling tipples of the legendary Bundaberg Rum, watch demonstrations by local chefs, and meet some of the growers responsible for the region’s acclaimed produce.
Childers Festival
The Childers Festival is such an event that it closes down the Bruce Highway. If your airfare to Bundaberg falls over July, you’ll be in town to see this stretch of road transform into a massive food market and entertainment hub. The event location is a 40-minute drive outside of town, so interstate visitors may think about renting a car upon arrival at Bundaberg Airport (BDB). Entry into the festival is free however, and the various events usually run from 9am to 3.30pm. With so much to see and do, attending the festival is a great day out for families holidaying in Queensland with return flights to Bundaberg.
Bundaberg Cup
Time your flights to Bundaberg for the first week of February each year to catch the games in the knockout-style tournament of the Bundaberg Cup. The sport on display is touch football, and men's, women's and mixed divisions all compete for a piece of the $20,000 prize money. Games are free to attend.
What are the best things to do in Bundaberg?
See turtles at Mon Repos Conservation Park
Time your flights to Bundaberg right and you’ll be in the city to perhaps witness endangered loggerhead turtles laying their eggs on the region’s beaches. The best time to see this occurrence is usually between November to February, and visitors should join a guided night tour to increase their chances of seeing females nesting in the sand. Those travelling on return flights to Bundaberg in January might be lucky enough to see the newly-hatched babies make the mad dash across the sand from the nests to the ocean.
Go island hopping
Use your airfare to Bundaberg as a springboard to visit the nearby Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands. Both make up the southernmost coral isles of the Great Barrier Reef and are teeming with marine life. Book a dive trip to any of the islands’ sites (there are 19 alone around Lady Elliot), or opt for a snorkelling trip where you might be able to paddle alongside sea turtles and schools of tropical fish. Some of the other activities on the islands include hiking, bird-watching and guided reef walks.
Go on a rum tour
Bundaberg is famous for its sugar cane production and its namesake rum factory. Many travellers on return flights to Bundaberg have visiting the aforementioned factory on their sightseeing wishlist, and visitors wanting to learn more about the history of Bundaberg rum can sign up for a distillery tour. These experiences include samples and a behind-the-scenes look at the production process.
Explore the streets
There is a lot to see in Bundaberg's city centre. Set aside some time in your itinerary to walk past the heritage buildings and visit the many museums. If you're travelling as a family on tickets to Bundaberg, a good activity for those with kids is to the subtropical Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. It's a beautiful place to picnic and let the kids burn off some steam. Younger visitors will love clambering aboard the Cane Train for a scenic ride through the gardens, and those wanting to combine their visit with some learning can also duck into the Hinkler Hall of Aviation.
Relax on the beach
Spend the day catching some rays on one of Bundaberg's beautiful beaches. These gorgeous stretches of sand are a major lure for travellers booking tickets to Bundaberg, and the prime spots tend to go fast during the peak summer season. Pack up your towels, buckets and umbrellas and get to the beach early if you’re planning on logging a beach day while away in Queensland. Some of the best beaches near the city are Bargara Beach or Elliot Heads. If you've hired a car from Bundaberg Airport (BDB), you can also drive out to Woodgate Beach.
What is the history of Bundaberg?
Bundaberg was founded in the 1850s by John and Gavin Stewart. The town was named after the Indigenous Aboriginal Australians, the Bunda people, and it officially became a city in 1913. While the town's farms initially focused on producing maize, that all changed when demand fell, and prices dropped. From the mid-1870s, Bundaberg developed into a hub of sugar cane plantations and it wasn't long before the town had established a number of rum distilleries, including arguably its most famous - Bundaberg Rum. In 1931, the city opened Bundaberg Airport (BDB). Currently only QantasLink and Virgin Australia operate flights to Bundaberg from Brisbane, and some of the main draws for people to book tickets to Bundaberg is sample the city's iconic tipple, as well as the fantastic produce of the North Burnett region.
When is The Best Time to Visit Bundaberg?
Bundaberg is located on the subtropical coast of Queensland, giving the city a favourable climate all year around.
During the summer months (December to February) the temperatures reach highs of 29°C with balmy tropical evenings. Thunderstorms are common during this season, bringing in a welcomed cool down after a sultry day.
The only downside to visiting in summer is the crowds. Due to school holidays, Bundaberg is full of local and international tourists. If you want to lock in lower prices and get your first choice hotel, make sure you book your room and flights well in advance.
In winter (June to August) the days are mild and dry with fewer than 18 days of rain. It's the ideal time to go on outdoor activities like hiking and camping, but you will need a few warm layers for the colder nights.
If you're travelling on a budget, the best time to visit Bundaberg would be in the winter or autumn months. These are it's shoulder seasons, and you're more likely to find deals on accommodation and cheap flights. You'll also have the city's attractions to yourself and won't have to deal with crowds of other tourists.
Airports in Bundaberg
Bundaberg Airport
Bundaberg is a small regional airport in the state of Queensland. It runs domestic flights to Brisbane with Sunstate Airlines, Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines. Seair Pacific also operates a route from the airport to Lady Elliot Island.
Getting To and From Bundaberg Airport
There are no public transport options that run to and from Bundaberg Airport.
The best way to get to your accommodation would be to take a taxi or a shuttle bus. A cab ride with Bundaberg Cab Company costs AUD 20 to AUD 25 to reach the city centre.
If you want to hire your own set of wheels while in town, you'll find the car rental desks in the arrivals area. Avis, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty and Hertz all operate from the airport and in town.
