Queensland’s little-known beachside getaway.
Hidden away along the Bundaberg coast, Woodgate is the gateway to Burrum Coast National Park and a great spot for a beach getaway. Head to Woodgate Beach to swim, fish, and spot wildlife such as kangaroos, turtles, and whales, depending on the season. Drive your 4WD down the beach to Burrum Heads, go kayaking or canoeing along the Burrum River, then check out the shops and restaurants along The Esplanade. Pitch a tent at the Kinkuna and Burrum Point camping areas within the national park, or check your motorhome or campervan into a holiday park or caravan park.
Hemmed in by tropical fruit orchards and sugar cane plantations, the Bundaberg region is most famous for its Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Once you’ve explored the countryside, head to the beach town of Bargara to spot sea turtles along the coast or cruise out to the islands and coral reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef. You can even camp on Lady Musgrave Island.
Across the Isis River, lively beach towns and sandy bays pepper the Fraser Coast, which stretches all the way down to Rainbow Beach. Swing by the heritage town of Maryborough, fish along the creek in Burrum Heads, and set sail on a whale-watching cruise from Hervey Bay. There’s plenty of choice for camping and glamping, including tent and caravan sites at the Cooloola camping area in Great Sandy National Park.
Just south of Woodgate, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and the star of the Great Sandy National Park. A natural paradise for outdoor adventurers, you can drive a 4WD along the beach, cool off with a swim in the Champagne Pools, and paddle around freshwater lakes in the heart of the rainforest. For the ultimate camping experience, escape the crowds at a remote bush camp in the dunes or pitch a tent right on the beach.
The beaches and wetlands of Woodgate and the Burrum Coast National Park are most popular through the summer months, and this is the best time for swimming, water sports, and turtle-watching along the coast. Don’t write off a winter visit, though. The Queensland sun shines year-round, and with average temperatures of 15–20°C, it’s the ideal time for hiking and fishing. August through October is also whale-watching season.