First Turtle Arrives on Bundaberg Beaches

It is an exciting time for residents of the coastal Queensland town of Bundaberg with the arrival of the first turtle of the season on Mon Repos beach this week.

The first turtle tracks were sighted on Sunday evening by rangers and trained volunteers and it wasn’t long before a clutch of 77 eggs were found on Tuesday evening – a strong sign for the season ahead.

Known as the largest loggerhead turtle rookery in the South Pacific, thousands of marine and nature lovers will flock to the area this summer when Australia’s only ranger-guided tours start at the Mon Repos Regional Park in late November through to March 2015.

Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism general manager Rick Matkowski said he hoped to see tourism numbers exceed the 28,000+ visitors the area had last year.

“There is no better place in Australia to experience this extraordinary natural encounter, so we expect this to be a huge drawing card for tourists, both locally and internationally,” he said.

“The opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures is once in a lifetime for most people, but witnessing them lay eggs, or even watching the first breathes of a hatchling is jaw dropping.”

For bookings call 4153 8888 or book online at www.bundabergregion.info