Turtles
Mon Repos Beach - French for "My Rest" is located just 15kms east of Bundaberg City central. Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the Eastern Australian mainland and is one of the two largest Loggerhead turtle rookeries in the South Pacific Ocean.
Successful breeding here is critical for the survival of this endangered species. Research at Mon Repos ensures this, but the centre is also used to guide other major Queensland rookeries and is an important training centre for research program volunteers and wildlife managers from the Indo-Pacific region. Dr Col Limpus spearheaded a major research project in the 70s, tagging over 100,000 hatchlings. The 30-year research program examines reproductive and migration studies, animal surveys of nesting turtles, behavioural studies and incubation and genetic studies.
More people visit Mon Repos every year to watch nesting turtles and emerging turtle hatchlings. Although turtles nest along the entire "Turtle Coast" between Woodgate and the Town of 1770, long, isolated beaches and darkness ensure few are actually seen. Turtles are also easily disturbed which makes Mon Repos an ideal place for a chance to see these 'ancient mariners'.
More people visit Mon Repos every year to watch nesting turtles and emerging turtle hatchlings. Although turtles nest along the entire "Turtle Coast" between Woodgate and the Town of 1770, long, isolated beaches and darkness ensure few are actually seen. Turtles are also easily disturbed which makes Mon Repos an ideal place for a chance to see these 'ancient mariners'.
Turtle Watching
To manage turtle watching at Mon Repos, the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service has implemented ticketed beach access and constructed a Visitor Centre. Here visitors can see slide shows, films and static displays and talk with the rangers and turtle volunteers. Then, if a mother turtle makes her way up the beach and starts to lay her eggs, the rangers will take groups of up to 60 visitors onto the beach to see this natural marvel.
Nesting turtles are best viewed after dark one hour before to two hours after high tide from mid November to February. Turtle hatchlings are best viewed from January until the end of March between 7pm and midnight. As turtles can nest and hatch at any time Mon Repos ranger staff cannot always guarantee a sighting. Remember - you are viewing wild animals in their natural environment! Tidal variance may mean you are walking in soft sand and in the dunes - visitors with mobility problems should speak to Rangers so that they are not "left behind' the group whilst walking on the beach.
