Lovely Queensland beach on the Coral Coast in Bundaberg Region
Table of Contents
Hello and welcome to my travel guide to Bargara Beach in the Bundaberg Region. If you are planning to visit this fantastic part of the Coral Coast I hope this post will be a useful resource for you. Here is how I set it up:
1. Introduction
2. Where is Bargara Beach?
3. Best Time To Visit Bargara Beach
4. What Facilities do they have at Bargara Beach?
5. How to get to Bargara Beach
6. Things to do at Bargara Beach
7. Bargara Beach Accommodation
8. Bargara Beach Restaurants
9. Final Thought
10. FAQs
Please read my Bargara Beach visitor guide until the end as it contains quite a bit of information. If you do, I hope you’ll be inspired enough to visit this superb Coral Coast beach!
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you interact with them).
Read Time: 10 Minutes
Introduction
If you are looking for a Queensland beach holiday destination that is relatively close to Brisbane but not based on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, then Bargara Beach is a terrific option.
Nestled on the Coral Coast, within the beautiful Bundaberg Region, this beach is the perfect destination for couples, families and solo travellers. It is blessed with a climate that is similar to Hawaii and has a laidback and relaxed ambience that will intoxicate you from the moment you arrive there.
Flanking the sand is a lovely, 3 km long waterfront esplanade, a handful of trendy cafes and eateries and a good range of holiday accommodation options, which combine to make this a great destination to spend a day, weekend or longer holiday.
Blessed with a climate that is similar to that of Hawaii, Bargara is a destination you can visit all year round.
Where is Bargara Beach?
Bargara Beach is located on the Coral coast of the Bundaberg Region. It is about 15 km immediately to the east of the Bundaberg CBD and is separated from it by sugarcane fields.
The beach and town reside on land traditionally owned by the Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda, Bailai, and Gurang Peoples, it is sandwiched in between Burnett Heads and Elliott Heads on the shoreline of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Originally it was called Sandhills, but it was eventually renamed as Bargara in 1913. The name was a portmanteau of its two neighbouring localies – Barolin and Woongarra.
Bargara Beach distance to other Queensland destinations
Best Time To Visit Bargara Beach
Blessed with a climate that is similar to that of Hawaii, Bargara is a destination you can visit all year round.
If you come here during the summer, particularly during the school holidays, you can expect the area to be busy with tourists, especially those on a 2- or 3- day getaway from Brisbane or Yeppoon. At this time, the weather is likely to be very warm as the mercury regularly tops 30+ degrees Celsius and humidity can often be 70% or above.
For this reason, you might want to come to Bargara Beach during the shoulder season months of October and November or February and March. There are fewer tourists and day-trip visitors around this time and the weather is usually very pleasant. Accommodation is also likely to be cheaper and more readily available.
While the water might be a bit cold for some visitors to swim in durng the winter months of July and August, it is worth coming to Bargara then for the whale watching opportunities on offer at nearby Hervey Bay.
What Facilities do they have at Bargara Beach?
One of the great things about going to Bargara Beach on a day trip or holiday is that it offers a good selection of amenities for the visitor to enjoy.
Along the entire 3 km length of the family-friendly waterfront esplanade you will find several barbecue and seating areas, many of which are shaded. There are also plenty of free car parking spaces, many of which are all-day, a couple of children’s playgrounds and a number of toilet and shower facilities.
Opposite the oceanfront are several cafes and eateries that serve up a good range of food options, while those with their own kayak or small boat can launch it off a dedicated ramp.
As it is located in the tropics, Wonga Beach is a destination you can visit all year round.
How to get to Bargara Beach
Bargara Beach is an easy destination to get to if you have access to a car. For those driving up from Brisbane or down from Mackay and beyond, your best bet is to take the M1/A1. You’ll need to eventually get on to Bargara Road, though how you will do this will depend on where you are coming from. Your best bet is to use Google Maps, or better still the Waze app, to direct you.
From Brisbane it is about a four hour drive north, while from Mackay it is closer to seven hours. If your starting point is the Bundaberg CBD it will take you around 15-minutes to drive there.
If you don’t have access to a car you can fly to Bundaberg airport from various destinations across Australia. The likes of Qantas, Virgin and Link Airways offer regional flights that span every day of the week.
From the airport you will be able to catch a taxi or Uber to Bargara Beach or hire a car. Alternatively you can hire a car with the likes of Europcar, Avis or Hertz all having offices there.
Another good way to get to Bundaberg is to take the train. Queensland Rail provides several services including a Tilt Train that comes twice a day from Brisbane. The travel time is between four to five hours and you can find out timetable information from their website.
From Bundaberg Train station or the airport you will be able to catch a bus to Bargara if you don’t fancy taking a taxi or Uber. You can find out the relevant bus timetable information from the Translink Journey Planner.
Bargara Beach distance to other Queensland Destinations
Things to do at Bargara Beach
Obviously the beach is the main attraction in Bargara so you will want to spend a good bit of time swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing and walking along the waterfront esplanade that flanks it. However, when you are not on the sand there are several other things you can see and do there.
Both Get Your Guide and Viator offer a terrific selection of tours and excursions which you should consider. Some of the most popular of them include:
However, if you would prefer to remain in and around Bargara you can choose to have surfing lessons, visit the beautiful Utopia Falls or 4WD or walk the fascinating Boolboonda Tunnel.
It is also worth heading over to Amandine Lavender for the chance to see beautiful lavender fields and buy a range of lavender related products.
If you want to check out other beaches near to Bargara, the likes of Woodgate and Elliott Heads are great places to go to.
Bargara Beach Accommodation
Those wondering where to stay in Bargara will be pleased to read there are plenty of options for the visitor. Although there is the odd hotel, most of these options comprise resorts or holiday accommodation rental units.
One of the best places to make a reservation is Don Pancho. It has a gorgeous terrace that looks out to and offers direct access to Kellys Beach. It also provides comfortable units that come with kitchen facilities, private bathrooms and their own balcony or terrace.
Another good option is the Kelly’s Beach Resort, an eco-certified, 3.5 star resort that boasts a licensed restaurant, outdoor swimming pool and tennis court. The resort is next to a nature reserve and offers spacious, self-contained eco-villas that come with full kitchens and separate toilets and bathrooms. They also feature split system air- conditioning, covered parking and private verandahs.
If you want to be close to the beach Kacy’s Bargara Beach Motel places you just 20 metres from the sand. Its air-conditioned rooms are stylish and comfortable and the property features a lovely swimming pool when guests don’t fancy having a dip in the Coral Sea. It also has laundry facilities and a tour desk on-site.
You can make a reservation at all of these resorts here. Below are some other places you might wish to stay at:
All of these Bargara resorts and holiday accommodation have received numerous positive reviews from people who have already stayed there on Google My Business, TripAdvisor and various other hotel booking sites.
As an alternative to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, Bargara is an excellent destination for a Queensland beach getaway.
Bargara Beach Restaurants
When it comes to food options Bargara Beach has a decent selection of venues that offer up a range of cuisines. Here are a selection of some of the best places to eat when you are there.
One of the most popular places to eat is Rick’s at Bargara which is located directly opposite the waterfront esplanade. Showcasing tremendous views of the Coral Sea there is no better place to enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch during your visit.
Most of the seating is outside, but you are protected by roller blinds and roofing should the weather ever turn. The venue is renowned for its friendly and efficient service and offers up a superb food menu that includes signature dishes such as zucchini and corner fritters and a brekkie burger.
Another good venue is Gillz Indian Cuisine which serves up a delicious menu of Indian dishes, including the likes of chicken tikka, lamb korma and goat curry, which always sell well. (If you do plan to come here, just be mindful they are closed on Sundays).
Other cool options include Café On Bauer, which is a few doors down from Rick’s and The Windmill Café which is notable for having a windmill! You should also consider the Bargara Asian Cuisine restaurant and the Bargara Beach Hotel for lunch and dinner.
Bargara Beach distance to other Queensland Destinations
Final Thought
As an alternative to the Bundaberg RegionGold Coast and Sunshine Coast, Bargara is an excellent destination for a Queensland beach getaway. Not only does it have a fantastic beach and a fabulous climate but it also has all the trimmings of cafes, amenities and accommodation options that should appeal to any visitor.
The next time you fancy a bit of sun, sea and sand, I highly recommend going there.
FAQs
Can you swim at Bargara beach?
Bargara Beach is a lovely beach for swimming. As it is patrolled by surf lifesavers you will be able to do this safely, so long as you stay between the flags. That said, you should always be careful of the potential of rips when you enter the water.
Is Bargara a good place to holiday?
Bargara is a lovely destination for a Queensland holiday. Not only does it have several superb beaches, including Bargara Beach, but it also has a lovely waterfront esplanade, a number of trendy cafes and restaurants and a good selection of holiday accommodation options to choose from. Therefore it ticks many of the boxes tourists look for in a coastal destination.
Are dogs allowed at Bargara beach?
Whilst in Bargara, you can walk your dog along the main waterfront esplanade, which extends for 3 km along the coastline. You can also let your furry friend stretch their legs at nearby Rifle Range and Archies Beach.
