I'm a total summer chaser when it comes to family holidays.
Give me warm nights, wildlife, family-friendly adventures and an ocean to explore, and I'm in… well, paradise.
To me, nothing quite compares to summer in Queensland. As the days grow longer, the ocean practically beckons you out of your sweaty clothes and into its crystal-clear embrace.
It's true that with 300 days of blissful sunshine every year, Queensland is the perfect holiday spot in any season. But it's during the warmest months when the Sunshine State really comes into its own.
The only thing is, I'm not the first person to realise this, and if you're anything like me when it comes to kicking back over the break, you'll be looking to do it somewhere that you can walk a few feet without tripping over someone else's beach towel.
So, if you're after a less packed-out paradise, allow me to introduce you to your ultimate holiday destination — Bundaberg.
Just four hours north of Brisbane, the state's capital, you'll find a lesser-known holiday haven — the home of great rum, farm-fresh produce and perhaps most exciting of all, the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Bundaberg is the perfect destination for a family holiday with ultimate freedom. It's far less crowded than the usual Queensland hotspots; the food is world-class yet affordable, the beaches are second to none and the reef is right at your feet — literally.
You can jump out of bed, slap on your mask and swimsuit and dive straight into a big blue utopia.
Depending on where you stay, you might not even have to jump in the car to find yourself swimming among nature's most beautiful sea creatures on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. The incredible coral cays are just off the Bundaberg coastline, and trust me when I say they need to be seen to be believed.
One of the southernmost coral cays of the Southern Great Barrier Reef is a place unlike any other — Lady Musgrave Island. My memories of this place are a stunning turquoise dream, and they've stayed with me since I was 12 years old.
This gorgeous heart-shaped haven sits amongst 3000 acres of living reef, accommodating thousands of seabirds and surrounded by gentle underwater giants like sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins and whales. The isle can be yours to explore for the day or, if you've got time, you can sleep on the reef at Lady Musgrave HQ.
Of course, the other lady you absolutely can't miss is the home of the manta ray, Lady Elliot Island. Famous for its abundance of gentle giants too, this unique coral cay offers world-class snorkelling and diving sites, plus access to unmissable, family-friendly wildlife wonders.
Being just a 25-minute flight from Bundaberg Airport, you can day-trip it or, for the full Lady Elliot experience, you can't go past the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.
That's right! Bundaberg is an ECO-certified holiday spot, and if you're wondering what "ECO-certified" means, don't worry — I was too.
It refers to nature-focused destinations where activities and offerings are centred around the natural offerings of the location. Essentially, it's a mark of places committed to sustainability and preserving the natural world.
Bundaberg is surrounded by national parks, so you'll never be short of walking trails leading to the breathtaking wonders of the natural Queensland landscape.
If you're obsessed with turtles like the rest of us, the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter runs from November to March and is the only ranger-guided turtle encounter on the east coast of Australia.
Home to the largest concentration of nesting loggerheads in the South Pacific, the turtle mamas lay their eggs from November to January, with hatchlings emerging from January to March.
The Bundaberg locals are brimming with wisdom about their stunning environment to share with visitors. Take some time to find out more about the history and culture of Bundaberg on a Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tour.
Take the family on a self-guided foodie trail with downloadable maps to explore the full range of culinary delights Bundaberg has to offer. Make the perfect beach picnic or explore the region's working farms, which supply more than a quarter of the nation's fresh food.
And if you're partial to a tipple, don't miss a tour of the iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery, a visit to Kalki Moon Distillery or a stop at the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Barrel.
The true magic of Bundaberg lies within its natural offerings, and if you're on a budget, you won't be short of experiences that will stay with you long after you've unpacked your suitcase at home.
Take the kids to the Alexandra Park playground and zoo, visit the beautiful Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, ride bikes along the Turtle Trail or spend your day at the stunning beaches all for the low, low price of… wait, they're totally free!
And if it's a bit of culture you're after, check out the amazing street art throughout the CBD, or pop into the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery for an afternoon (they even have activities for the kiddos).
Whatever your taste, whatever your budget, on a holiday to Bundaberg, you won't run out of fun and enriching activities that are kind to the planet and great for the whole family.
Need a summer holiday? Visit Bundaberg.
Feature Image: Instagram/@visitbundaberg.
