Tourists make tracks to Bundaberg for turtle season

Visitors from across the nation have been encouraged to join the bumper crowds already experiencing turtle nesting season, at the Mon Repos Conservation Park on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said more than 20,000 visitors have witnessed the awe-inspiring encounter so far, helping deliver on the Newman Government election promise to grow tourism as one of the four pillars of the economy.

“February and March are a terrific time for visitors to see the turtle hatchlings dash into the waters of the Coral Sea to begin their life journey on the Southern Great Barrier Reef,” Ms Stuckey said.

“There is no better place in Australia to experience this remarkable natural encounter than in Bundaberg, home to the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on Australia’s east coast occurring at Mon Repos.”

Minister Stuckey said the promotional efforts of the Queensland Government, Tourism and Events Queensland and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism played an important role in showcasing the nightly ranger-guided turtle encounters at Mon Repos.

“Promoting Queensland’s world-class ecotourism experiences formed part of the Queensland’s Government’s plan to double annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020,” she said.

“Tourism and Events Queensland and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism have also worked in close partnership to get the word out that the Bundaberg turtle season is back and it is booming, one year on from the impact of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.

“Bundaberg welcomed 586,000 domestic and international overnight visitors in the year to September 2013.”

Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism General Manager Rick Matkowski said the turtle season was back stronger than ever and was playing a vital role in the region’s recovery.

“Over the next six to eight weeks, thousands of turtle hatchlings will make their way from their Mon Repos nests to the ocean providing a memorable experience for our visitors, young and old,” Mr Matkowski said.National Parks Minister, Steve Dickson said the Mon Repos turtle rookery, run by the Queensland Park and Wildlife Service provided a world-class eco-tourism experience.

“Mon Repos allows visitors to see the most significant concentration of nesting marine turtles on Australia’s east coast,” Mr Dickson said.“The turtle experience is well-loved and the Newman Government is looking to further enhance this, with the recent release of a draft master plan to revitalise the turtle centre now out for community consultation”.

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said more than 20,000 visitors have witnessed the awe-inspiring encounter so far, helping deliver on the Newman Government election promise to grow tourism as one of the four pillars of the economy.

“February and March are a terrific time for visitors to see the turtle hatchlings dash into the waters of the Coral Sea to begin their life journey on the Southern Great Barrier Reef,” Ms Stuckey said.

“There is no better place in Australia to experience this remarkable natural encounter than in Bundaberg, home to the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on Australia’s east coast occurring at Mon Repos.”

Minister Stuckey said the promotional efforts of the Queensland Government, Tourism and Events Queensland and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism played an important role in showcasing the nightly ranger-guided turtle encounters at Mon Repos.

“Promoting Queensland’s world-class ecotourism experiences formed part of the Queensland’s Government’s plan to double annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020,” she said.

“Tourism and Events Queensland and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism have also worked in close partnership to get the word out that the Bundaberg turtle season is back and it is booming, one year on from the impact of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.

“Bundaberg welcomed 586,000 domestic and international overnight visitors in the year to September 2013.”

Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism General Manager Rick Matkowski said the turtle season was back stronger than ever and was playing a vital role in the region’s recovery.

“Over the next six to eight weeks, thousands of turtle hatchlings will make their way from their Mon Repos nests to the ocean providing a memorable experience for our visitors, young and old,” Mr Matkowski said.

National Parks Minister, Steve Dickson said the Mon Repos turtle rookery, run by the Queensland Park and Wildlife Service provided a world-class eco-tourism experience.

“Mon Repos allows visitors to see the most significant concentration of nesting marine turtles on Australia’s east coast,” Mr Dickson said.

“The turtle experience is well-loved and the Newman Government is looking to further enhance this, with the recent release of a draft master plan to revitalise the turtle centre now out for community consultation”.