Birthplace of the iconic brewed drink brand Bundaberg, the eponymous Australian city is a beautiful holiday spot for Aussies and overseas visitors alike. Only five hours from Brisbane, Bundaberg is renowned for its vibrant and friendly atmosphere. Situated right next to the Great Barrier Reef, Bundaberg is the ideal location for those looking to getaway from the stresses of daily life and bask in the sun and surf. 

In early January, Mon Repos saw its first lot of sea turtles hatch.

In addition to all this, there’s something very special happening in Bundaberg right now, something that is guaranteed to have you dying to hire a car from Brisbane airport and head straight over. In early January, Mon Repos, a picturesque beach right next to the city, saw its first lot of sea turtles hatch and start their voyage to cross the Pacific Ocean. 

What’s happening at Mon Repos?

Mon Repos beach provides the site to a large nesting ground of loggerhead sea turtles, the biggest hard-backed marine turtle according to National Geographic. Sea turtles of all kinds lay their eggs in small holes on warm beaches, relying on the sand to keep the growing fetuses warm. Loggerheads are no exception, with Mon Repos being an immensely popular site for turtles to give birth. 

When the turtles hatch, they must make their own way across the beach to the water, where they will depart on a long journey across the ocean, sometimes only returning after several decades have passed. Beaches such as Mon Repos are extremely important to the survival of loggerhead sea turtles, as they return to the beach where they themselves were born to raise their own eggs. 

A photo posted by Australia (@australia) on

Jan 17, 2016 at 5:05pm PST

How can you get involved?

Sadly, with the threat of pollution and habitat destruction looming overhead, there’s no guarantee that these little guys will survive. But all is not lost! The wonderful folk over at the Mon Repos Conservation Park work hard to ensure that as many baby loggerheads as possible get the best start in life. 

Those of you who haven’t managed to stop squealing from the cuteness of these little guys can visit them for yourselves. According to the Bundaberg region site, it’s $11.60 plus a $3 administration fee to visit the nesting sites and meet some baby loggerheads for yourself. You get to see adorable little sea turtles and support a wonderful cause all at once! 

A photo posted by Amy Morgan (@aamymorgan) on

Jan 13, 2016 at 5:06pm PST