Sea Turtle Research & Snorkel Experience
Join a sea turtle research program at Mon Repos, the largest loggerhead turtle nesting site in the South Pacific, then snorkel the Bundaberg reef for underwater turtle encounters.
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Mon Repos Conservation Park
Mon Repos near Bundaberg hosts Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service turtle tours from November to March — loggerhead turtles nest here in significant numbers, with nightly ranger-guided viewing sessions.
- 2
Loggerhead Nest Site
Female loggerheads return to the beach where they were born to nest — the oldest tracked turtle at Mon Repos is estimated at over 100 years old, and her offspring have been tracked across the Pacific Ocean.
- 3
Turtle Hatchery Research Area
The turtle research centre processes data from the longest-running marine turtle monitoring program in the Southern Hemisphere — hatchling success rates and long-term population trends are tracked and presented to visitors.
- 4
Coral Cays Snorkel Zone
Day trips from Bundaberg reach the Coral Cays — a cluster of reef formations offshore where green turtles feeding on the seagrass beds can be observed snorkelling in shallow, clear water.
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Turtle Release Beach
In the morning after the nesting research nights, hatchlings released at the waterline make their first ocean swim — the run of dozens of tiny turtles to the surf is one of the most emotionally affecting wildlife experiences in Australia.
- 6
Reef HQ Aquarium Cairns
Reef HQ Aquarium in Cairns is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium — the facility serves as a sea turtle hospital and rehabilitation centre, and visitors can see recovering turtles before their release back to the reef.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
