NRMA Parks and Resort’s newest nature-based accommodation Turtle Sands has opened at Mon Repos Beach near Bundaberg on Queensland’s Southern Great Barrier Reef. Combining an incredible close-up encounter with the region’s population of nesting turtles with leading sustainable design, operations and First Nations-guided tours, Turtle Sands is set to deliver a new breed of nature-based experiential holidays for guests.

A favourite year-round holiday destination for generations, NRMA’s brand-new Turtle Sands nature resort is slated as a benchmark-setting industry leader in wildlife-friendly design, environmental sustainability and guest accessibility.

Turtle Sands is set behind the sand dunes at Mon Repos, home to the Australian mainland’s largest population of nesting marine turtles and offering easy access to the Southern Great Barrier Reef region with its vibrant marine life, rainforest walks and coastal hikes and front row seats to the ‘humpback highway’ as the magnificent whales migrate along the coast. 

The significant $28million ecotourism project is the result of almost three years in the planning in consultation with National Parks and Wildlife Service, Bundaberg Regional Council and the Port Curtis Coral Coast group, and with the investment and support of the Queensland State Government.

Guests can expect an exciting new style of experiential accommodation at Turtle Sands, where the focus is on preserving and enhancing the resident population of endangered loggerhead sea turtles, while industry-leading sustainability initiatives have played key importance in the resort’s build, design and operations.

Guest accommodation includes camping and caravanning sites, plus new state-of-the-art villas, a premium beach house and glamping tents which have been constructed using light- and sound-proof, sustainable materials, while power is largely generated via a solar array. Around the park, clever sustainable design, energy-saving materials and resourcing means the entire operation is designed to run off the grid.  The custom designed turtle-shaped pool is also set to become a popular feature at the resort. 

Guests staying at the new-look Turtle Sands can look forward to making a positive contribution to the environment via NRMA’s best-practice environmental initiatives, including committing to the Turtle Protection Promise during turtle nesting season (October-April). The Turtle Protection Promise includes minimising the use of lights after dark, staying off the beach at night and avoiding nesting sites.

Guests at Turtle Sands will be able to join dedicated Turtle Tours during turtle nesting and hatching season. The educational, interactive tours provide guests with an up-close and personal encounter with the region’s Loggerhead turtles. The evening turtle tours offer an unforgettable first-hand discovery of the endangered turtles as well as a chance to learn the most responsible way to visit their precious natural neighbourhood.   Outside of the nesting season, the stunning beach location at Mon Repos will make a stay at Turtle Sands a must-do year-round destination. 

Queensland’s Minister for Tourism and Sport Michael Healy MP said he was pleased to have worked with the NRMA and stakeholders in the region on the development of the Turtle Sands nature resort.

“We’re delighted to have played a helping role for the NRMA to develop what we believe will become an iconic new Queensland tourism experience.  Visitors from Queensland, interstate and overseas will experience a wonderful encounter with marine turtles thriving in their own natural environment, and year-round nature-based attractions in this very special part of the state,” Mr Healy said.

NRMA Parks and Resorts CEO Paul Davies said the team at Turtle Sands was looking forward to welcoming holidaymakers to a new style of eco-accommodation where nature encounters played centre stage.

“Turtle Sands is set to offer our guests and NRMA members an incredible experience celebrating and supporting the conservation of marine turtles in their natural environment and creating a beautiful year-round beachfront resort easily accessible to everything the Bundaberg and Southern Great Barrier Reef has to offer,” Mr Davies said.

“Our commitment in bringing the Turtle Sands project to life is to offer our guests carefully considered, environmentally sustainable access to one of nature’s most amazing moments: turtles nesting and thriving at Mon Repos,” he said.