From Bundaberg you can reach a beach town, a heritage country town, a quiet coastal camp, a whale-watching bay and a surf and reef gateway, all within about two hours. The best first trips are Bargara (minutes away), Childers, Woodgate Beach, Hervey Bay and Agnes Water and Town of 1770. Here is how we’d plan each one, whether you’re in a caravan or a motorhome.

Not every trip needs to be a three-month lap of Australia. Some of the best are long weekends within easy reach of home, perfect for a first outing in a new caravan or motorhome, or for testing a new setup before the big trip. Drive times below are approximate and depend on your route and traffic, so check before you leave.

At a glance: five getaways from Bundaberg

1. Bargara and Mon Repos: the easy win

Bargara is the classic beach escape on Bundaberg’s doorstep, with a long beachfront, cafes and a relaxed, small-town pace. It’s close enough that if something needs adjusting on your caravan or motorhome, you’re not far from home, which makes it an ideal shakedown trip for a new caravan or motorhome.

Nearby, Mon Repos is one of the best-known marine turtle rookeries in the country. Nesting and hatching typically run from roughly November through March, and turtle encounters are managed tours that need to be booked ahead. Check the current season dates and booking details with the Bundaberg Region visitor information before you plan around them.

2. Childers: heritage, history and a famous pub challenge

Childers sits on the Bruce Highway, around 45 minutes from Bundaberg, and is one of the best-preserved heritage towns in the region. Much of the main street was rebuilt after a fire in 1902, and a walk along it takes in the old pharmacy, the post office, the Grand Hotel and the Paragon Theatre, which dates back to 1927 and still hosts movie screenings and events. It makes an easy day trip, or a relaxed overnight if you’re heading north or south.

What to see and do in Childers

• Palace Memorial building. The Palace was rebuilt in its original early 1900s style after the 2000 fire. The Childers Visitor Information Centre is on the ground floor, and upstairs is a memorial to the 15 backpackers who lost their lives. It is a quiet, respectful stop and well worth a visit. Bundaberg Regional Council: Palace Backpackers Memorial
• Childers Pharmaceutical Museum. A look inside a handsome old pharmacy at how medicine was made and sold in Australia.
• Military and Memorabilia Museum. A large collection of military memorabilia, with more than 30,000 artefacts from around the world.
• Local produce. Childers is known for its local produce, so it is a good place to pick up something fresh for the van fridge.
• Childers Festival. An annual community event that brings the town to life. Check the dates before you go, as the town fills up.

Take on the Grand Hotel’s Mongrel Menu

The Grand Hotel is a heritage-listed pub dating back to 1892, with bistro meals, cold beer and a leafy beer garden out the back. It has also become well known for its Mongrel Menu, an open eating challenge: finish the meal within an hour and you earn a commemorative stubby holder and your name on the hotel’s honour board. Not up for it? The meals can be ordered and shared like any other menu item. It is popular, so check current details with the hotel and whether to book, especially on weekends.

For more on the town, see Queensland’s visitor’s guide to Childers.

3. Woodgate Beach: quiet coastal camping

Woodgate is the sort of beach town where the pace slows down. It’s a favourite for fishing, walking and low-key camping. Because coastal camping can book out in school holidays and long weekends, reserve early and check the access conditions for your caravan or motorhome size before you commit.

4. Hervey Bay: whales, esplanade and the gateway to K’gari

Hervey Bay is a major base for visitors heading to K’gari (Fraser Island) and is famous for whale watching during the migration season, which generally falls in the second half of the year. Plenty of caravan parks line the bay, so there are options to suit most styles of travel.

• Planning a K’gari trip? Vehicle barges leave from River Heads near Hervey Bay and from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach. You will need a suitable 4WD and a vehicle access permit for every vehicle, so sort permits and barge details before you go. Many travellers base their caravan or motorhome at a Hervey Bay park and cross for a day or a short camp. Camping rules differ across the island, including for caravans and camper trailers, so check with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service first.
• Book ahead during school holidays and whale season.

5. Agnes Water and Town of 1770: surf, reef and history

Agnes Water is the laid-back surf town of this stretch of coast. Agnes Beach is a long, patrolled stretch of sand (around 5 km), and the point can serve up good waves when the swell is running. New to surfing? Lessons are available in town. Just up the road, the Town of 1770 sits on calmer, protected water that suits kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing, and it is a favourite spot for watching the sun go down.

• Great Barrier Reef day trips. Boats leave from 1770 for Lady Musgrave Island, one of the southernmost islands on the reef, for snorkelling, diving and swimming. The trip takes around 90 minutes each way.
• Captain Cook history. The town is named after 1770, the year Cook landed here on his first landing in Queensland. Look for the Captain Cook Monument.
• Deepwater National Park. Dunes and walking tracks just down the coast. Parts of the park are 4WD access only, so check conditions and access first.

It is a bit further out than the other destinations, so it suits a long weekend or a week rather than an overnighter. Book your accommodation and any tours early, especially in school holidays. More ideas at Gladstone Region: Agnes Water and Town of 1770.

How to plan a great short trip with a van

Which caravan or motorhome suits regional Queensland touring?

For park-to-park touring and coastal getaways like these, a well-equipped caravan or a motorhome is all most trips need. Choose the size and layout that suits where you like to stay and who is travelling with you. Browse the Willow RV range, our Jurgens caravans and current stock, or ask the team what suits the way you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Distances, seasons and booking requirements change. Always confirm current details with local visitor information, park operators and relevant authorities before you travel.