Matching a beachside holiday with a budget and kids can be difficult, but Queensland’s beautiful Bundaberg region offers a welcome respite.

With a range of flight options available and being only a four hour drive from Brisbane, the region is easily accessible for families trying to escape the winter chill.

Bundaberg’s most popular family beachside spot is Bargara, which is situated just 14km from the heart of town.

But don’t expect to find hordes of people crowding the sands; Bargara has managed to retain its charm as a sleepy beachside destination while still offering all of the essentials for a great family getaway.

A new streetscape with fantastic playgrounds for the kids, bikeways and barbeques line the esplanade, while restaurants in town range from fine dining to casual beachside cafés.

Check out Neilson Park Beach, Kelly’s Beach, the Oaks Beach and Elliott Heads Beach. They’re all excellent for rock walking on the beach fringes and looking for marine life in the rock pools.

Or, why not get the kids to try their hand at surfing in the safe, warm waves of Bargara’s many beaches with Surfschool Bargara. www.surfingaustralia.com

Educate the tribe with a trip to Bargara Berries, a strawberry farm where visitors can learn how these indulgent fruits go from paddock to plate.

Sit in the shade of their café and indulge in some strawberry-inspired dishes and a freshly-brewed coffee. www.coralcoast.biz/BargaraBerries

A great day trip from Bargara is Woodgate Beach, where the kids will be fascinated by the kangaroos hopping and lazing around the streets like they own the place. There are also a couple of short bush walks from Woodgate, which is located an hour’s drive south of Bargara.

If you’re looking for a four-wheel-drive accessible beach for your family holiday then head to Moore Park, 21km north of Bundaberg. Here you’ll discover 20km of golden beach, framed by she-oak casuarinas, pandanus and tea trees. There are a range of low-key activities including swimming, fishing, beach walking and a wetlands boardwalk.

And if all the relaxing becomes too much, take the family to the Coral Isles Kart Track in Bundaberg where you can hire a kart from $25 for 30 minutes (including a dual kart where the littlies can ride with mum or dad and still have their own steering wheel). www.coralisleskarttrack.com

Or head to the Bundy Bowl and Leisure Complex where the kids will be entertained for hours with 10 pin bumper bowling, mini putt putt, arcade games and laser tag! www.bundybowl.com.au

Of course there are also family-friendly tours of the Bundaberg Bondstore, cruises of the Burnett River on the Bundy Belle, fantastic botanic gardens and the ever-so baffling mystery craters which were formed over 25 million years ago but no one knows how!

Accommodation options around Bargara range from caravan parks to motels, fully self-contained five-star resorts and self-contained holiday homes.

Try Bargara Beach Caravan Park right on the beach offering unpowered sites from $20 ($6 for each extra person) or cabins from $80 ($7 for each extra person). www.bargarabeach.com.au

Alternatively you could try Bargara Beach Motor Inn with a two-bedroom spa suite that sleeps six people starting at $99 ($12 for each extra bed used). www.bargarainn.com.au

Getting there:
Qantaslink flies direct to Bundaberg from Brisbane daily. Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar can connect from any major Australian city. Take the Tilt Train to Bundaberg enjoying the five-hour journey in complete comfort, or catch a comfortable Greyhound-Australia coach. Bargara is located 14 km east of Bundaberg City and four and a half hours’ drive north of Brisbane.

Visit:
www.qantas.com.au
www.jetstar.com.au
www.virginblue.com.au
www.traveltrain.com.au
www.greyhound.com.au

Staying and playing there
www.bundabergregion.info
www.bookbundabergregion.com.au