Towns & localities in the area which you may like to visit include:

* Childers * Woodgate Beach * Burrum Heads * Cordalba * Bundaberg * Bargara * Mon Repos * Howard * Maryborough *

Hervey Bay * Gin Gin * Paradise Dam * Mt Perry * Biggenden *

Iron Ridge Park is central to many interesting places.

Within an hour or so, you can visit historical towns, go to different country markets each weekend, fish at secluded estuaries, laze around on great beaches, shop till you drop, visit numerous wineries, see wildlife shows, check out some whales or turtles or visit the Great Barrier Reef.

CHILDERS

Situated on the Bruce Highway, Childers has many historical buildings and museums including Childers Art Space, an art gallery with a moving memorial for the victims of the Palace Backpacker fire.

Our local wineries

Vintners Secret: wines & fortifieds, Whispers Cafe, art, sculptures, books and farm animals. Vintners hold various festival events such as Bastille Day celebrations - see their website for details.

Ohana Winery and Exotic Fruits: wines and liqueurs, orchard tours, jams & preserves light meals.

Brierley Wines: art gallery and music events- see their website for details.

Hill of Promise Estate: wines & liqueurs, gourmet foods.

Tourist Attractions

Close to town you will find Flying High Bird Sanctuary - a free flight bird aviary with native animals also on show, Snakes Downunder - a reptile park with crocodiles and koalas and Mammino Homemade Icecream - where you will find the best home made ice cream.

There are various places in town where you can get a good coffee - stop in and see Merissa at the old Paragon Theatre which is now fully restored to its original glory.

If you want a good yarn, go and see the folk at the Old Pharmacy Museum where poultices, potions and tinctures from as early as 1894 are still on the shelves just as they were when Thomas Gaydon died in 1935.

For more history, visit Bakers Military Memorabilia Museum - the biggest collection of military memorabilia outside Canberra - and The Historical Complex in Taylor St which has buildings and various items from around the area on display.

Each July Childers closes the main street to host the Childers Festival which is a major street festival over three days where around 40,000 people come to visit.

In October, nearby Cordalba holds their Oktoberfest complete with pumpkin rolling and children doing the chicken dance!

 WOODGATE BEACH

18 minutes away, Woodgate is our nearest beach and features 16 kilometres of beautiful white sandy beach which is safe for swimming (no crocs or stingers) and there are 6.5km of bike pathways.

Woodgate is surrounded by 5000 hectares of Burrum Coast National park. There are 4WD trails and great fishing spots where barramundi, whiting, bream, crabs and prawns can be caught off the beach or in the estuary.

On Easter Monday each year, Woodgate holds its annual fair which attracts visitors from all around the region.  

BUNDABERG

Bundaberg is about 38km North and is the home to Bundaberg Rum. There is also an increasing number of 'micro breweries' opening their doors offering beers, ciders and spirits.

Bundaberg is our major service centre and all the big retailers are there along with cinemas, the Botanic Gardens and the Hinkler Hall of Aviation. There are several caravan service agencies, trailer shops and various engineering businesses if you need any spare parts or repairs for your car or caravan.

Bundaberg is known as the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Nearby is Mon Repos which has the famous turtle rookery. Turtle season is from November to March.

 HERVEY BAY

Hervey Bay is famous for Whale Watching from late July to early November. The Hervey Bay Seafood Festival is also popular and held in August each year.

GIN GIN

North of Childers are Gin Gin and South Kolan. There are also many historic places of interest including a pioneer museum and the Boolboonda Tunnel near Mt Perry. Just north of Gin Gin is Lake Monduran which is a popular fishing destination.

BIGGENDEN & WEST

Biggenden is south west of Childers. Each year it hosts the Biggenden Annual Auto Spectacular which is definitely worth a visit. Not far away is Paradise Dam which is also good for fishing or just a day trip.