This laid-back beach town is a great spot to escape the crowds along Queensland’s coast.
Just minutes from the tourist crowds of Fraser Island, the fishing village of Burrum Heads offers a tranquil retreat. Sandy shores and natural waterholes provide plenty of spots for swimming and water sports, or you can enjoy fishing along the coast and paddling along the Isis and Burrum rivers. Check into a holiday park or caravan park in town, park your campervan at a peaceful countryside Hipcamp, or snag a spot by the beachside. North of town, go hiking, canoeing, and bird-watching at Burrum Coast National Park, where the Kinkuna and Burrum Point camping areas have space for tents and camper trailers.
North of Burrum Heads, Bundaberg is best known as the home of iconic Aussie beverages—Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Factory and distillery tours are a must-do for visitors, after which you can head to coastal Bargara to camp by the beach, spot turtles at Mon Repos Conservation Park, or cruise out to snorkel and scuba dive along the southern Great Barrier Reef. For the ultimate adventure, how about bush camping on Lady Musgrave Island?
Burrum Heads sits on the northern edge of the Fraser Coast, where highlights include whale-watching in Hervey Bay, the heritage town of Maryborough, and the Urangan Pier near Torquay. Further south, Fraser Island is the headline act of the Great Sandy National Park, but the mainland Cooloola area has tent and caravan campsites, and is the starting point of the Great Beach Drive from Rainbow Beach to Noosa Heads.
Blanketed with sandy beaches, sweeping dunes, and dense rainforest, the natural beauty of Fraser Island has put it firmly on the map for adventurers. Explore scenic 4WD trails, admire natural wonders such as the Champagne Pools and the Pinnacles, or swim and kayak at Lake McKenzie. Campers can take their pick of unpowered sites along 75 Mile Beach—you can even pitch a tent right on the sand.
Year-round sunshine and great fishing make Burrum Heads a four-season destination, but the summer months are the most popular. It’s worth timing your trip to fit with seasonal activities and wildlife-watching opportunities. November through March is the time for turtle-watching and bird-watching, while August through October is whale-watching season and has cooler weather ideal for hiking.