Bargara is a picturesque seaside town which is a short drive from the city of Bundaberg. The town is blessed with one of the best climates in the world and has a great selection of safe family friendly beaches. So come along with us as we show you the best things to do in Bargara and you will soon discover why Bargara should be on everyone’s list of places to visit in Queensland.
When we visit we always stay in this fabulous resort right near the waterfront.
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Where is Bargara
Bargara is the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and 384 km north of Brisbane the state capital of Queensland. The drive time from Brisbane to Bargara takes approximately 4.5 hours which makes it an attractive option for a Queensland holiday.
There are daily flights from Brisbane to Bundaberg with a flight duration of around 50 minutes. Bundaberg to Bargara is a 13 km drive and the airport has car rental options, an airport shuttle and taxis to take you there.
As you drive from Bundaberg to Bargara you will pass a flat landscape covered with lush green sugarcane fields and small crops. Rising above the cane fields is “The Hummock” which is the place to see sweeping views of Bundaberg, the rich checkerboard of farmland and the coastline of Bargara.
Weather in Bargara
If you are looking for a holiday location with near perfect year round weather Bargara is the place to come. Bargara has a subtropical climate with average temperatures fluctuating between 30 to 21 degrees Celsius during summer (December to February) and 20 to 10 degrees Celsius during winter (June to August).
Not only is Bargara popular during the hot summer months but the mild climate is a sunny haven for those wanting to escape the cold southern winters.
What to do in Bargara QLD
Bargara has everything you want in a family holiday, whether you are coming with the kids or as a couple you will find a laid back village vibe that is ideal for relaxation. Just add pristine stinger free beaches, one of nature’s wonders, a good selection of restaurants and you have the recipe for the perfect holiday.
Local Beaches
There are a few things to do in Bargara and the best place to start is with its beaches. Bargara has a choice of golden beaches which include Bargara Beach, Kelly’s Beach and nearby Neilson Park Beach.
Bargara Beach
Bargara Beach is a small beach that fronts Bargara’s main restaurant and shopping hub. Here you will find an attractive section of scenic walkways, with an ANZAC Memorial, picnic areas and children’s playground.
One of the top things to do in Bargara is to greet a brand new day with coffee and breakfast at Ricks at Bargara or Kacy’s Bargara Beach restaurant.
Kelly’s Beach
Kelly’s Beach stretches six hundred metres from north to south and is Bargara’s main swimming beach. The beach is flanked by the Bargara Golf Club and Christsen Park in the north and Money’s Creek and Crawford Park in the south.
The Basin Bargara is also located on the northern end of Kelly’s Beach. The Basin is a manmade rockpool which is ideal for adults and children wanting a sheltered area to swim. The Basin is also a fun place to snorkel as you often find small fish swimming within the pool.
Nielson Park Beach
Nielson Park Beach is Bargara’s most northerly beach and where you will find the Bundaberg Surf Life Saving Club and the Big 4 Bargara Beach Caravan Park.
From Nielson Park Beach you can join the “Turtle Trail” which passes the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and turtle rookery on the way to Burnett Heads. This sealed pathway is a shared walking and bike zone which takes you through a variety of environments including bushland and scenic coastal cliffs.
Mon Repos Turtle Centre
On top of the list of things to do in Bargara is a visit to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre. Between November and March Mon Repos Beach becomes a nightly sanctuary for the largest population of nesting marine turtles on the east Australian coastline.
To learn more about the turtles and turtle conservation a visit to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre is a must. The Mon Repos Turtle Centre is located at Mon Repos Beach which is a short 5 minute drive north of Bargara or a 20 minute walk along the Turtle Trail from Nielson Park Beach.
During turtle season Bargara becomes a hive of activity as it is a good base for taking one of the nightly Turtle Encounter Tours where you can watch the turtles nesting or hatching on Mon Repos Beach.
Bargara Golf Club
The golf club Bargara is a scenic eighteen hole golf course with immaculate fairways and greens which are a short walk from the Bargara and Kelly’s Beach forefront.
Here you can have a leisurely game of golf or join in the fun with the men’s, ladies, junior or veterans golf competitions. After a round of golf head over to the bistro which serves a delicious range of meals 7 days a week from 11.30am to 8pm
Local Shopping
Bargara has two shopping precincts, the boutiques and specialty shops of the Bargara Beach foreshore and the supermarkets of Bargara Central Shopping Centre.
Bargara Central is situated further back from the foreshore and has everything you need for a self-catering holiday including Woolworths, an Aldi supermarket, a butcher, bakery, chemist and bottle shop.
The boutiques of the Bargara Beach foreshore offer an interesting array of clothing and merchandise that tie in with Bargara’s laid back beach vibe.
Sanshells Boutique
Start your holiday with a fresh new look from the vibrant selection of clothing from Sanshells. The boutique sells a fantastic range of resort wear, swimwear, accessories, hats, shoes and homewares.
Homeleigh House
Homeleigh House has been around since 1992 and is a local favourite. The boutique has a pretty assortment of clothing, jewellery, gifts, artworks and homewares that will make you feel like every day is a holiday.
Paradise Markets
Everyone loves a market, and these small Bargara markets are no exception. Paradise Market has a good range of fresh produce, country crafts, delicious homemade preserves, clothing and much more. The Paradise Markets are held every Sunday from 8am to 1pm on 100 Hughes Road Bargara.
Bali and Asian Imports
Do you want to feel like you are in Bali? For a taste of Bali and Asia look no further than Bali Imports. Here you will find a colourful range of clothing, curios, artworks and homewares.
Where to eat in Bargara
When looking for places to eat Bargara has a great selection of restaurants, cafes and takeaway food options. If you are craving international cuisine, you will find a good mix of Thai, Indian and Asian restaurants in Bargara.
Here are just some of our favourites, you will find more dining venues and takeaway choices around the town.
Ricks at Bargara
Ricks is well known as the most popular breakfast scene in Bargara. Rick’s is the place to sit back and enjoy a morning coffee and breakfast while watching the world go by on the Bargara foreshore. Catch up with friends over a relaxing lunch or enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Kacy’s Bargara Restaurant
With a cosy atmosphere and beautiful beachfront views, it is little wonder that Kacy’s is the best restaurant. Kacys restaurant incorporates the freshest local ingredients to produce a delicious range of steak, seafood, vegetarian and Australian dishes.
The Windmill Bargara
One of Bargara’s most endearing landmarks is the Windmill at Bargara. This is a real treat as one of the last things you would expect to see is a Dutch windmill in a Queensland coastal town.
The café is vegetarian and vegan friendly and dazzles with its selection of mouth-watering cakes and award winning gelato. Enjoy a hearty breakfast or lunch with dishes that highlight the fresh produce of the region. The Windmill is open from Monday to Sunday from 7am to 2pm.
Bargara Asian Cuisine
This Chinese restaurant Bargara has a huge assortment of Asian style dishes which range from Mongolian Beef to Malaysian Laksa. The restaurant is located one street back from the foreshore on See Street.
Bargara Golf Club
The Bargara Golf Club bistro serves a good variety of dishes which include tapas, steaks and seafood and is open 7 days a week from 11.30am to 8pm
Best Accommodation Bargara
If you are wondering where to stay in Bargara, you will find that there is a good choice of motels, holiday apartments and caravan parks. Our top choices for accommodation Bargara QLD are the Point Resort and the Big 4 Caravan Park.
The Point Resort
The Point Resort sits in one of the best locations in Bargara, a short walk to Kelly’s Beach, the restaurants and cafés of the foreshore and the Golf Club.
The Point Resort has sweeping views of the Coral Sea and has some of the top self-catering apartment style accommodation in Bargara. There is something for every holidaymaker with a choice of one, two or three bedroom apartments.
The fun doesn’t end there as the resort boasts a pool & spa, six hole mini putt putt golf range and barbecue area.
The Big 4 Bargara Caravan Park
If you are caravanning or camping Bargara QLD is a much loved destination and one of the finest caravan parks in Bargara is the Big 4 Caravan Park at Nielson Park Beach.
With such a mild climate Bargara is perfect for a caravan or camping holiday and you will find that people flock to the Caravan Park and return year after year.
The caravan park has a choice of accommodation at Bargara QLD which include one and two bedroom cabins, powered and unpowered caravan and motorhome sites and tent campsites. Make sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Manta Bargara Resort
The Manta Bargara is located between Bargara Beach and Nielson Park Beach and has views overlooking the Coral Sea.
The resort has an assortment of apartment configurations from two and three bedroom penthouses to one to three bedroom apartments. Facilities include a pool & jacuzzi, fully equipped gym and tennis court.
Last Words on things to do in Bargara Queensland
I hope you enjoyed our article on the things to do in Bargara Queensland. As I said in the beginning, if you are looking for a place to relax and recharge Bargara is the ideal holiday destination for you.
Bargara is packed with unspoilt beauty and with a near perfect climate is a place that can be enjoyed year round.
Have you visited Bargara? What are your favourite things to do in Bargara? We would love to hear from you so feel free to leave a comment.
