Elliott Heads, Bundaberg, was just lately added as one in all our favorite locations in Queensland. Positioned 4.5 hours north of Brisbane and quarter-hour south of Bundaberg metropolis it has a complete lot to supply guests whereas being simply sufficient off the overwhelmed path that not everybody flocks to it each time the solar shines.
At excessive tide, the rock shelf is totally submerged
Elliott heads is cherished for swimming and browsing, enjoyable household days on the seaside, fishing or soaking within the rock swimming pools with a couple of tropical fish to maintain you firm. It’s equally an amazing spot for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.
Then there are the acres of sentimental white sand to discover whilst you discover your good spot to set your self up for the day.
Even when the climate is a bit off, the spring winds gust up and it’s a bit uneven off the coast this fabulous seaside has its followers with the kite and windsurfers making a beeline for the proper circumstances within the river mouth.
The rock swimming pools
Elliott Heads has a number of seashores on the ocean and river mouth with a distinctly completely different look between excessive and low tides. The rock swimming pools are one huge distinction, in case you visited on the highest of the tide you wouldn’t know they’re there however as soon as it begins to exit there may be a lot to see on the rock shelf that’s uncovered.
Youngsters will love discovering sea life inside the rock swimming pools, some closest to the seaside are shallow with a sandy base to play in whereas others additional out on the shelf are deeper and with a little bit of care getting out and in you possibly can have a soak whereas small tropical fish swim round you.
Dr Mays Island
One other tidal change to the panorama is the sand island, referred to as Dr Mays Island an vital nesting web site for Australian and migratory sea birds. At present, it doesn’t seem as an island because the sands and the course of the river have moved to depart it dry on two sides even when the tide is in. On a lot of the tide, you possibly can stroll proper round it with out getting your toes moist.
This may little doubt change once more sooner or later, seasons, king tides and storms all have an effect on the motion of the sand and the place the river channel runs.
Wildlife and birds at Elliott Heads
The island is closed in the course of the spring and summer season, from 1 September till 30 April, whereas floor breeding shore birds nest within the space. The birds don’t care that it’s now not an island, the sands there are the place they’ve nested for many years with a few of the migratory birds coming back from as far north as Siberia and Japan every year to breed right here.
Ruddy Turnstone and different migratory shorebirds nesting on Dr Could Island
Purple-capped plover
Two of the birds famous on indicators that you just’ll see within the space are the Seashore Stone Curlew and Pied Oystercatcher however for the birders, there are 146 species recorded on this small space. The tiny red-capped plovers are one in all our favourites, they’re so tiny and like many shorebirds, they actually lay their eggs on the sand and provides a little bit of a kick of sand excessive.
Elliott Heads can also be an amazing land-based spot for seeing the humpback whales passing up and down the coast in the course of the season, particularly throughout August and September you’ll typically see their spray, tails and big splashes as they go.
If you wish to get out amongst them the Bundaberg whale excursions go away from Burnett Heads or a 90-minute drive south the whale excursions from Hervey Bay supply a wider selection of operators. Whether or not you depart from Bundaberg or Hervey Bay you might be within the Vast Bay, a physique of water that sees whales typically interrupt their lengthy migration for a number of days, a behaviour that makes the area implausible for seeing variety of whales up shut on a half-day journey.
Southern Rock Groyne
The protected swimming choice at Elliott Heads is on the northern finish of the seaside between the rock groynes. These partitions cut back the impression of the robust tidal ridges and currents from the river mouth, the seaside is patrolled by surf lifesavers throughout weekends and college holidays from September till Could.
Swimming within the river, whereas it appears inviting, isn’t really helpful, the channel is deep and there are robust rips and currents by means of there.
Deliver a picnic
There are many spots to arrange your seaside blanket on the sand or grass for a picnic, There are additionally a number of coated picnic tables scattered round and BBQ’s present within the space on the high of the slope. There are additionally rest room and altering services up the highest past the kiosk.
The Coastal Walkway
In the end it’s deliberate that the Woongarra Coast (Turtle) walkway will run from right here at Elliott Heads all the way in which to Burnett Head, 20km to the north. For now the trail follows the highest of the hill with implausible coastal views, some shade bushes and seating for simply over 2 km (5.5 km return). You may repeatedly spot dolphins offshore and whales are frequent in the course of the winter migration season.
I’ll add a submit on the finished sections of the coastal path shortly which at the moment makes it potential to stroll or trip from Burnett Heads to Innes Park on a devoted path. We rode the turtle path from Bargara to the marina at Burnett Heads some years in the past now and plan to do this once more quickly, there have been loads of modifications.
A social 5km park run can also be held alongside right here every Saturday at 7am with a finishers espresso catchup at Driftwood Cafe after.
Keep a couple of days on the beachfront
There aren’t that many true beachfront caravan parks left round Australia however there may be one right here at Elliott Heads. You may ebook a powered or unpowered web site and there are a variety of cabins additionally accessible. Amenities are pretty primary and it may be packed at peak occasions however even when it’s the seaside itself doesn’t really feel crowded.
There are at the moment no lodges or vacation flats in Elliot Heads, there are non-public vacation leases accessible the place you possibly can ebook the usage of a home for your loved ones for a couple of days or even weeks at a time and a variety of extra typical vacation lodging a 15-minute drive away in Bargara.
Seashore eats and treats
One of many nice issues about Elliot Heads is that it isn’t constructed up but, you possibly can see that change is coming however for now, it’s a small and quiet beachside village. For probably the most half, it would be best to herald your provides with you, whether or not you might be staying on the campground or spending the day on the seaside.
The Driftwood cafe and kiosk sit simply above the seaside, they promote fish and chips, ice lotions and some provides. There may be additionally a common retailer a couple of hundred metres again up the street, additionally they promote fish and chips, some grocery gadgets, ice, bait, and emergency {hardware} gadgets.
Ice cream on the seaside is difficult to beat and the kiosk has vary however if you’re ready to drive 6 minutes you possibly can have one of many ice lotions we price as the most effective within the area at Tinaberries. They’re made onsite on the farm from their very own strawberries, passionfruit and different domestically grown produce. They’re effectively arrange for guests with seating areas within the backyard and a few below shelter plus there may be loads of parking, together with house to park and switch the caravan or motorhome.
And that’s simply the beginning of why we love Elliott Heads a lot and why you may contemplate including this Bundaberg seaside to your itinerary as you discover the Queensland coast.
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