One of the top spots for watching marine turtles in Australia is at the Mon Repos Conservation Park, not far from Bundaberg. The Mon Repos rookery has the most nesting marine turtles on the east Australian mainland.
If you visit between November and January, you will see the female turtles dig their nests in the sand and lay their eggs, and from January to March you may see the turtle hatchlings emerge from the sand and scuttle down to the water.
The action all happens after dark, and there are guided tours every night during the breeding season from November to late March more info. The information center at Mon Repos opens at 7pm each night. Plan to arrive at the Information Centre around 6.45pm - but don't forget to book ahead of time. The Rangers check out the beach for turtles and will call your group when there is turtle activity to see. If it is a quiet night, you could have to wait a couple of hours to be called - patience is indeed a virtue here.
Once you are down on the beach, make sure you follow the ranger's instructions and remain with the group. Turtles are easily disturbed by lights and movement when leaving the water, moving over the beach and digging their nests. Once they start laying their eggs you will get a good view and get some photo opportunities.
Mon Repos Conservation Park is about 15 minutes drive east of Bundaberg, and about a four and a half hour drive north of Brisbane.
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