Bundaberg, bears and Bargara Beach - what a beauty with a capital 'B'!

So, you've jumped in your Brisbane hire car after lobbing in Queensland and don't know where to head next? Head north, hug the coastline and you won't be disappointed.

Bundaberg is a city with plenty of "big" appeal. Start with the mighty Bundaberg Rum Distillery and Bondstore, a place where you get to meet a world famous big "drop bear" called Bundy R. Bear and explore the distillery in one of its daily tours taking place at the Queensland landmark. Bundaberg is also the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, is also home to the world’s finest ginger beer (Bundaberg Barrel), and there's also a beaut interactive museum in town that pays homage to one of our country’s great aviators at Hinkler Hall Of Aviation.

Reaching "Bundy", as it's affectionately known, is easy from Brisbane. Hit the Bruce Highway (or M1) and the signs will do the rest for the four hour journey.

While Bundy has plenty by way of things to see and do, and places to stay, it's worth venturing out a little further to check out the "small" delights. Head 15 minutes east towards the coastline and you will stumble upon an absolute pearler of a little beachside town called Bargara, the gateway to the Coral Coast, and a place where the world's biggest population of nesting Loggerhead turtles come home to hatch an army of babies.

For accommodation, I chose Bargara Beach Caravan Park, a tropical holiday park across the road from the palm-lined beach. This park offers an excellent range of cabins, caravan and camping sites plenty of facilities and services to suit all walks of life: WiFi internet, playground, tennis court, basketball court, skate rink and park, walking and bike tracks, camp kitchen, bbq and picnic areas, and a convenience store on site.

As the owners say, "it's the seaside haven without the traffic jams", plenty of great restaurants and shopping for a small destination, and the world famous Mon Repos beach and turtle rookery offering night tours with rangers. It's also worth throwing the golf clubs in the back of the campervan or car hire as there's a popular scenic golf course in the heart of town.

SCOTT PODMORE

Scott Podmore

Award-winning writer, editor, photographer, videographer and owner of October Grey Media. Specialising in travel and lifestyle content and a full member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. Has contributed regular content for the NewsCorp stable of newspapers and magazines, TravelTalk mag, The Departure Lounge and many more publications in Australia and internationally. Follow on Twitter & instragram #scottpodmore

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