📍7 Best Must-Visit National Parks Near Bundaberg Within 3 Hours Travel. (2024.)

WANT TO KNOW WHICH NATIONAL PARKS NEAR BUNDABERG ARE WORTH VISITING?
The first thing that pops into people’s minds when they think of Bundaberg is rum. The gorgeous regional city is the rum capital of Australia, producing the delicious world-famous, globally distributed liquor with the iconic Bundy Bear mascot stamped on the front. It is also home to many beautiful beaches which aren’t just great for swimming but are also home to the largest turtle nesting site on the mainland, which makes visiting a must!
But for those seeking even more nature experience, the city doesn’t have much to offer, at least not close to the CBD. However, throughout my travels to the region and those neighbouring it, I found many outstanding national parks near Bundaberg filled with unforgettable landscapes and wildlife opportunities, catering to casual hikers, remote adventurers, off-road 4WDers and more who love exploring mountains, craters, cliffs, rivers, islands and even coral reefs for those willing to travel!
👉 My top 3 favourite National Parks Near Bundaberg:
- Lady Musgrave Island. (Capricorn Cays National Park.)
- K’gari.
- Auburn River National Park.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
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Flights: I recommend Aviasales.
Car Rental: I recommend economybookings.
Best Bundaberg National Parks Within 1 Hour Travel.
1. Burrum Coast National Park.
The closest national park to the city of Bundaberg also happens to be the only one on the region’s mainland: Burrum Coast National Park. Surrounding the lovely seaside town of Woodgate on the southern coastline 55km away, it is a great place for doing long walks along pristine beachfront or embarking on one of the several trails that meander through one of the largest and least disturbed natural coastal plains on Queensland’s southern coast which are particularly beautiful to stroll through come springtime when the blooming wildflowers add beautiful colourful and contrasting hues to the landscapes.
It is also home to the gorgeous Theolodilte Creek, one of the most incredible wild swimming holes in this part of the state thanks to its stunning tidal flats creating ideal conditions for frolicking around in the shallows or chilling on a fun, novelty floaty. Plus, it’s a dream to go boating, standup-paddleboarding, kayaking (I loved paddling across the other side to the end of Kinkuna Beach and seeing a large flock of pied oystercatchers hanging out on the sand.) and many different kinds of wind-powered sports when its breezy too, such as windsurfing and para surfing. And if the beach and creek don’t offer enough aqua terrain for all the water-based activities you had in mind, you can also access the suspiciously sounding Isis River to satisfy your need to be out there.
And then last, but not least, it is also one of the best places to go for rugged overnight adventures with the national park’s two rustic seaside campgrounds being only accessible by 4WD, or foot, accessible and the beach between them being available remote beach driving that do a great job making you feel like you’re a long way away from the rest of the world.
Note: The walks at Burrum Coast National Park are exposed, and when I went in November, it was searingly hot, so a hat, sunscreen and lots of water are a must.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central To Woodgate: 55km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 40 mins
- Length Of Visit: 1-3 Days.
- Where To Stay: Burrum Point Camping Area.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Macadamias Australia.
Best National Parks Within 2 Hours Travel.
2. K’gari. (Fraser Island.)
Just across the pond from Hervey Bay, Australia’s Whale Watching Capital and the next seaside city south of Bundaberg, lies the even more revered getaway destination of K’gari (Fraser Island.). Occupying a massive 1,840km2 of spectacular offshore real estate, this gorgeous place is famous for being the world’s largest sand island which resides entirely within the K’gari Recreation Area, one of three sections of the greater Great Sandy National Park, which also includes the mainland’s Inskip Peninsula and the Cooloola section, which both surround the stunning town of Rainbow Beach.
This magnificent pristine wilderness is one of the Land Down Under’s must-visit destinations thanks to its stunning long sandy beaches, breathtakingly rugged coastlines, gorgeous windswept sand blows and sparkling interior lakes, which can all only be traversed using high-clearance 4WD or on foot or bicycle if you’re truly hardcore!
And it’s this limited accessibility that just adds to the appeal as it’s not an adventure that not all can undertake because it makes everything feel even more remote and exclusive. It’s either rough it in your off-road vehicle or join an adventure tour, restricting how much traffic there is. But that just means that it gives you far better opportunities to see wildlife, especially the island’s world-famous dingos, as this place is home to the largest purebred population in the country! So keep your eyes peeled for these gorgeous endemic wild dogs!
You can also increase your chances of seeing them by spending the nights at one of the many beautiful campgrounds, both quintessential K’gari experiences. However, as cute as the dingos are, they do bite! Mainly babies and small children, so it’s highly recommended to stay at one of the fenced ones if small kids are with you and to keep an eye on them at all times.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central: To the ferry – 131km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 31min.
- Where To Stay:
- Length Of Visit:
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Hervey Bay.
3. Mt Walsh National Park.
Back on the mainland, if you love hiking in rugged mountain ranges, Mt Walsh National Park is an exceptional place to visit. Located in the beautiful neighbouring North Burnett region, it is home to a solitary cluster of towering peaks that rise dramatically up from the surrounding landscape to form a spectacular backdrop for the quaint countryside town of Biggenden.
Over on its eastern side lies the easy 3km return walking track to Utopia Falls, a gorgeous cascade featuring several stunning deep-coloured rock pools that are perfect for enjoying an incredibly refreshing wild swimming experience on a hot summer day. Seriously! The water is freaking cold!
Meanwhile, from the northern entrance where the day-use area is lies a strenuous informal walking trail that’ll take the most direct route to the summit of the national park’s namesake mountain, therefore if you love difficult hikes in steep and challenging terrain, this is a fantastic opportunity you don’t want to miss. Plus, the spectacular clear panoramic views from its rocky peak overlooking Biggenden and the stunning countryside surrounding it make an excellent incentive to tackle this breathtaking formidable mountain.
While that’s all for the walking trails, over on the western side lies a rugged 4WD scenic route that takes you directly to another spectacular peak that offers even more magnificent views overlooking the incredible inland terrain, so if you have one of these capable offroad vehicles, don’t miss it.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central To The Day-Use Area: 100km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 15min.
- Length Of Visit: 2 days.
- Where To Stay:
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Childers, Paradise Dam, Biggenden.
4. Coalstoun Lakes National Park.
Not far from Biggenden and Mt Walsh en route to Queensland’s oldest town Gayndah, lies Coalstoun Lakes National Park. While it occupies only a minute speck of landscape in the North Burnett region, this place’s unique geology being Australia’s youngest and most recently extinct volcanos and having two immaculate crater lakes makes it well worth dropping by.
The start of the single in-and-out hiking trail is incredibly scenic with spectacular 180 degrees views of the northern countryside, which includes the aforementioned isolated peaks of Mt Walsh NP directly east, as you steeply ascend to the top of the first of Mt Lebrun’s twin peaks, where you can then peer down into a perfectly preserved caldera that once spewed basalt lava.
Then it goes down to the edges of the lakes, where a bird hide will have you looking inconspicuous, so you can spot some of the beautiful avian creatures that call this incredible place home. They are especially present if you come after lots of rain when there’s water in the lakes. But I still recommend taking binoculars or a long photographic lens even if it’s not as I saw some adorable wallabies hopping around and fighting each other in late Autumn, making a delightful addition to an already unique and picturesque trail.
Note: Just a forewarning for the arachnophobes out there, this trail had tonnes of spiders! But most were high and out of the way so there’s little chance you’ll run into them. There are also plenty of cobweb nests on the trees beside the trails too, but they’re more a source of fascination.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central: 114km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 15min.
- Length Of Visit: 2-3 hours.
- Where To Stay:
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Childers, Paradise Dam, Biggenden & Mt Walsh National Park.
5. Wongi State Forest.
Although it’s not a national park, I can’t leave the Wongi State Forest, in the neighbouring Fraser Coast region, off this list as it has some fantastic attractions, perfect for getting back in touch with nature.
Lenthalls Dam is first on the list and is a gorgeous lake with a picturesque day-use area that is excellent for enjoying picnics and BBQs while taking a break exploring the furthest extents of the impounded waterway in motorised boats or peaceful paddle craft.
The other attraction in this beautiful working forest is the Wongi Waterholes. Located near Lake Lenthalls southernmost extending arm, this place seems unassuming at first glance, but that’s what makes it one of the region’s best-hidden gems because it wasn’t until I was right up upon its banks that I realized it was a phenomenal wild swimming hole.
It’s so quaint, isolated and picturesque, it looks like the kind of place you see in movies that only the locals know about. It’s fantastic. And what’s even better is the easily accessible rope swing inviting you to splash down into the surprisingly warm water, making it the perfect summertime escape. Better yet, both have a campground, so you can spend even longer immersed in the serenity that both these places offer.
Note: The end part of the road to Lenthalls Dam is very corrugated. Conventional vehicles can still access it with caution.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central: Lenthall Dam – 102km/ Wongi Waterholes – 106km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 15min/ 1hr 20min.
- Length Of Visit: 1 Day.
- Where To Stay: Lenthalls Dam/ Wongi Waterholes Camping Area.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Childers, Maryborough.
Best Bundaberg National Parks 3 Hours Away.
6. Capricornia Cays National Park.
When it comes to wildlife, there is no national park near Bundaberg that comes even close to the superiority that is the Capricornia Cays. Consisting of 11 breathtaking idyllic islands scattered across the southern Great Barrier Reef, including the pristine wilderness Lady Musgrave Island, the only one commercially accessible from the Rum Capital, each of these spectacular coral cays harbours such a rich biosphere of living things like you wouldn’t believe. I always say they’re like being in a National Geographic documentary.
That’s because they all come equipped with a gorgeous azure blue lagoon framed by a steep, established reef drop-off that harbours an inconceivable number of individual corals, which are home and migrating grounds for thousands of fish species and several different kinds of sea turtles, sharks, rays and whales, just to name a few, making these places exceptional for snorkelling and diving.
However, it’s not just the water that is ridiculously abundant with marine life, which is what you expect from the world’s largest and most revered underwater ecosystem, but they all also have a prolific bird life population which you can see right as you arrive as many of them are already out there flying around the island!
The black noddies are most present, with huge numbers of them populating the trees, while plenty of adorably haunting-sounding shearwaters spring up at night from the burrows to accompany any guests staying overnight. (I HIGHLY recommend camping, especially on North West Island!)
There are also plenty of gorgeous bridled terns, a few silver gulls (which I wonder if the ones here have ever seen or tasted a hot chip), striking brown boobies, majestic sea eagles and the occasional sweet button quail.
Plus, if you come during nesting season, there are baby birds everywhere while at the beach female green and loggerhead turtles become a welcome part of the landscape as they come ashore to lay their eggs in the dunes between October and December, then when January – March comes around, it’s the turn of the hatchings to emerge and make their way to the sea, all of which are unbelievely magical experiences to see first-hand.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central: 17km to the Bundaberg Port Marina, 95.2km from there to Lady Musgrave
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 2.5 hours with the Lady Musgrave Experience.
- Length Of Visit: A day tour or at least 3 days camping on the island.
- Where To Stay: Bundaberg has heaps of accommodation options/ Lady Musgrave Island Campground. Mast Head Island Campground. North West Island Campground.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Bargara & Burnett Heads.
7. Cania Gorge National Park.
If it’s cliffs and caves that you crave, Cania Gorge National Park is the place to be. Located at the top of the North Burnett region, it is well worth the 220km drive inland, especially as this is the closest place to the coast where you can see the iconic cliffs of Central Queensland’s famous Sandstone Wilderness.
And at this natural habitat, these striking landmarks are on full epic display right from the Three Moon Day Use Area and even more strikingly from the length of Cania Dam Road and the lookouts at the nearby lake of the same name, not to mention from the water when you’re out boating or kayaking. It’s an unforgettable sight!
It gets even better with the hiking trails it has on offer, as several are right up close to the cliffs, where there are the caves I mentioned earlier to explore. There are three of them, but my favourite was, by far, the 1.3km Two Story Cave loop, which looks remarkably unimpressive at first and makes you wonder how it got its name. But looking deeper into the one on ground level, I saw the hidden entrance to the second cave which was not only cool to discover, but the natural window and the giant rock slabs were jaw-droppingly cool! Plus, the trail also goes right along the cliff face and includes a mini detour to Kings Orchid Crevice.
Also well worth the walk is the 3.2km return Dripping Rock & Overhang trail, where continuing around the latter landmark reveals even more of the extraordinary escarpment. Meanwhile, fantastic gorge top walks include the long but easy 22km return hike to Castle Mountain Lookout, where fantastic views overlooking Cania Dam await and the easy, if done anti-clockwise, 5.6km Fern Tree Pool & Giant’s Chair Lookout Circuit.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central: 200km. – Dirt road between the Bruce Highway & Kalpowar.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 3 hrs.
- Length Of Visit: 3-4 days.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Lake Monduran, Kalpowar State Forest and Cania Dam.
8. Auburn River National Park.
- Distance From Bundaberg Central: 220km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 2hr 45min.
- Length Of Visit: 1 full day.
- Where To Stay: Auburn River Camping Area.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Childers, Biggenden, Mt Walsh National Park, Coalstoun Lakes National Park, Gayndah & Mundubbera.
Conclusion: Best Bundaberg National Parks.
For those willing to travel, there are some phenomenal national parks near Bundaberg showcasing some of nature’s incredible beauty such as mountains, craters, cliffs, islands, lakes and even coral reefs.