Mon Repos Turtle Centre

Mon Repos beach holds the largest concentration of nesting loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific and one of the most significant rookeries in the world, monitored continuously since the 1960s in a research programme that has produced much of what is known about the species in Australia. From November to January, females haul up the beach at night to dig and lay; from January to March, hatchlings emerge and run for the water. Access during the season is only on ranger-guided night tours, booked in advance, working in small groups with red light only. The turtle centre explains the research and the threats, including plastic ingestion and light pollution.

What you actually see

• The nesting females - loggerheads digging and laying from November to January.
• The hatchling emergences - young turtles running to the sea from January to March.
• The research work - tagging and monitoring explained by rangers.
• The turtle centre - interpretation of the rookery and its threats.

When to go

November to March; nesting dominates the first half, hatchlings the second. Tours run nightly through the season and book out weeks ahead. Outside the season the beach is closed to night access and there is nothing to see.

Honest expectations

Tours run late into the night and involve waiting, sometimes for hours, until a turtle appears; nothing is guaranteed. White light and flash photography are prohibited. Groups are assigned numbers and later groups can wait until after midnight.

Nearby

Bundaberg and its rum distillery lie inland; Bargara is the nearest beach town.