Turtle Sands

We loved our 3 night stay at turtle sands. The park and the sites are very spacious. We were on a beachfront site and can highly recommend booking one of these. The bathrooms were beautiful, always spotlessly clean. The camp kitchen would have to be the best I’ve seen at a caravan park. Unfortunately weren’t able to book a spot on one of the nightly turtle tours but we went for early morning and late afternoon beach walks and could see where the turtles had hatched. We’ve stayed at many of the caravan parks in the Bundaberg region and this tops them all. We will definitely love to stay again when in the area.

Stayed in a 3 bedroom Villa. Advertised as air conditioned but fails to mention in Villa’s description that only the main bedroom and lounge has air conditioning. Middle of Summer and our kids sweated at night in 35 degree heat. We tried keeping their bedroom doors open so the air con would flow into their rooms but there is a stupid sensor light outside the bedrooms that lights up when some walks out to the bathroom at night. you can’t turn it off. part of the “Eco” design.How could a brand new villa be so poorly designed? Another mid description was “washer and dryer” it has only a washing machine that had a drying function on it, only if you put on a full wash.and even then clothes were only half dried. 7 day stay I spent more time washing and hanging out clothes on our veranda. Seems everyone was doing the same thing! Also pool towels was a mystery. when I rang up 2 days before my stay they told me pool towels were included. so i didn’t pack any. guest seem to have same coloured towels around the pool so I asked reception on first night but they told me no they weren’t included but gave me extra bath towel when i questioned it further. $800 a night I expected more. Park is basic. would be better off camping. also worth mentioning there really was no benefit of staying at Turtle Sands for turtles. beach access is closed 6am-6pm and most days we were pushed off the beach at 5:30pm anyway. we didn’t get to see any extra turtles by staying here. We walked up the beach daily and Mon repo Rangers don’t want you anywhere near the dunes to see what they are doing. hatchlings often were laying from 4pm but they were carefully guarded for the paid tours. they would move hatchlings to the water in buckets and wouldn’t bother interacting with people walking along the beach. only benefit was after the tour, you were only 5 mins from home. most guests drove because the walk to the turtle centre was too dark. I’d love to see more of a reason for people to stay at turtle sands rather than bargara. maybe a exclusive ranger experience one night of their stay? or free tour ticket. stayed during 30% off time but definitely wouldn’t return full price. Camping would be better value.

Bookings of more than six sites needed for park to open, and pre paid, this was not a problem, BUT.... On arrival you have to let your self in and find your spot yourself and basically park where you like, no arrival service at all. When talking to manager (supposed owner) he was very arrogant and his motto, my park, my rules, do as I say not as I do. Doesn't care if you don't come back (his words) Dogs not allowed but his ran free though park and sites at his will. Children not allowed to ride their bikes in the park and very over priced for what you get. Amenities very out dated. It was a lovely park otherwise, great surrounds, beautiful beach as well as bush walks, but my advice, stay at Bargara as not that far away, and do a morning trip to Mon Repos.