Brilliant Coastal Areas To Visit in Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton
Are you looking to visit the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef?
Well, you are in luck!
Here are 12 absolute beauties you should check out when you are next in the area.
Introduction
Stretching for over 2300 km along the coast of Queensland, there is a lot of the Great Barrier Reef to take in.
Whether you choose to do this through snorkelling, sailing, diving, or flying, you’ll no doubt be blown away by the sheer majesty of the largest coral reef system in the world – which contains over 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs within a 344,400 square kilometres area.
While its true that the area around Cairns and much of Tropical North Queensland possesses many of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites blockbuster attractions, its southern section has plenty of highlights of its own.
Specifically, the region that starts from Bundaberg and incorporates Gladstone and Rockhampton, which has plenty of exceptional coastal areas you can visit.
As Bundaberg is only 400 km from Brisbane and Rockhampton 630 km, these destinations are somewhere you can easily visit for a long weekend.
So, if you do decide to check out the Discovery Coast and Capricorn Coast, here are twelve of the best Beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef you should make a point of visiting.
Bundaberg Region
The Bundaberg region is best known for being the home of Bundaberg Rum and the Bundaberg Distillery is a fantastic place to go for tastings and tours. Additionally, the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, is worth visiting as it tells the compelling story of the solo long-distance pilot Bert Hinkler.
It is located in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, which, in itself, is a popular attraction.
However, in terms of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, here are the ones to check out in this region.
Woodgate Beach
If you are looking for a beach that is a little off the tourist radar then Woodgate Beach is an excellent option.
This laid-back, residential beach is about 45 minutes to the south of Bundaberg, and as it stretches for over 16 km, you are guaranteed to find your own little patch of golden sand and clear water to enjoy without disruption.
One of the best things to do here is walk along its soft sand, which you can pretty much do until your heart is content. However, if you fancy a bit more of an adventure, you can tackle 4WD tracks and bushwalks.
There are also several barbecue areas and public toilets lining the foreshore, and if you want to stay the night a popular caravan park and handful of beach shacks provide good accommodation options.
Bargara Beach
Probably the most popular beach near Bundaberg is Bargara Beach.
This is one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef for families as it comprises lovely, flat sand, a patrolled swimming area and a nice mix of playgrounds and barbecues.
On occasion it can also be a decent spot for surfing and there are several cafes, hotels and holiday rentals in the area.
Mon Repos
Extending for approximately 6 km, Mons Repos is well known for being a good place to observe turtle hatchings, which happens between October and April, usually at night.
But for the rest of the years it is also regarded as one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef for those who enjoy swimming and sailing.
Gladstone Region
Gladstone Region is well known for being a popular hub for nature walks, boating and fishing. However, it can easily lay claim to possessing some of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
The following coastal destinations enjoy top billing in the area, so you should check them out if you have the chance.
Lilley’s Beach
If you are into four wheel driving, you’ll want to acquaint yourself with Lilley’s Beach, if you are not already familiar with it.
Situated on Boyne Island, this glistening stretch of sand sit on the southern side of Gladstone’s CBD and can only be accessed via a beach highway.
While many people are unaware of its presence, many locals view it as one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef for zipping your 4WD along the 1.7 km strip.
Should you decide to visit it, just be aware that you will need a permit and can only get to it at low tide.
Tannum Sands Beach
For many years, Tannum Sands has been a popular destination for city folk from Brisbane to visit for a long weekend.
Its consistently pleasant temperatures and long, shimmering expanse of sand makes it one of the best beaches in the Southern Great Barrier Reef for swimming all year round.
The beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers to ensure you can do this safely, and is also a noted destination for paragliding, windsurfing and jet skiing.
Just off the sand, the Turtleway Bikeway links you to Boyne Island via a 20 km course that accommodates plenty of playgrounds, barbecues and public toilet amenities.
Agnes Water Beach & Seventeen Seventy
Residing roughly halfway between Gladstone and Bundaberg are probably the two best known beaches on this list: Agnes Waters and Seventeen Seventy.
Both enjoy picturesque locations and offer convenient access to the reef through a host of tour operators. However, beyond this, they also have the reputation of being among the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef for surfing and fishing.
Agnes Water is known for being the most northern, safe and reliable surf beach in Queensland, while 1770 is a haven for fishing, accommodating 77 fish species and 10 crustacean species, including the likes of Whiting, Grunter, Flathead, Cod, Salmon, Jewfish and bream.
Turkey Beach
Despite being just 50 km to the south of Gladstone,Turkey Beach is another coastal area many tourists miss en route to the more prominent names on this list.
Although you can swim him, predominantly by the boat ramp at the inlet, people tend to come here for its excellent fishing potential.
You can choose to cast a line at several waterways in the locality, such as estuaries, inlets and creeks, with Flathead, Mangrove Jack and crabs being in plentiful supply.
Capricorn Coast
As you might have guessed, this region is named after the Tropic of Capricorn, which lies under it.
Due to several islands that are sprinkled around this part of the Coral Sea, it contains some of the best beaches in the Southern Great Barrier Reef to take in magnificent coastal views.
They include the following:
Lammermoor Beach
Nestled just off the aptly named Scenic Highway, that links Emu Park and Yeppoon is the beautiful Lammermoor Beach.
Due to its location, it is one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef to take in the stunning views of Great Keppel Island. It also has the distinction of being one of the few coastal areas in the region where you are virtually guaranteed to get a parking spot (at Lioness Park, virtually overlooking the sand).
Best of all, this beach isn’t usually that crowded. So, you can walk between the two headlands that flank it in relative seclusion. That said, as it is not patrolled, I wouldn’t recommend swimming here.
Great Keppel Island
If you are the kind of person who likes to let it all hang out when you are by the sea, then Long Beach on Great Keppel Island is where you should head to.
This stunning 2 km extension of brilliant white sand is utterly intoxicating in terms of landscape. But it is also one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef to do some nude sunbathing because it is an unofficial clothing-optional area.
There actually aren’t usually that many people here, and those who do make their way to this spot tend to spend much of their time in the water, snorkelling.
So, if you are a bit embarrassed or self-conscious about your modesty, you should be able to find a secluded section to strip off, away from others, given its length.
Fisherman’s Beach
Overall, there are 17 different beaches on Great Keppel Island and one of the first you’ll encounter is Fisherman’s Beach, because it is where the ferry will drop you off. (It is also the last you will be on before taking the ferry back to the mainland).
Despite its name, fishing isn’t an overly popular pastime here. However, its protected and calm waters make it one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef for families to enjoy some quality time together on its pristine sands.
Kinka Beach
Another excellent beach for families is Kinka Beach which is just a 15 minute drive to the south of Yeppoon.
It sits within the coastal township of Emu Park and considering it has plenty of cafes, shops and amenities it accommodates one of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier for a holiday.
This is a lovely spot to build sandcastles and just relax under an umbrella or cabana. Having said that, you might want to bring your fishing gear and kayaks with you because the northern end of the beach provides good conditions for doing these activities.
