The community is invited to celebrate the official launch of the turtle season and the close of the Milbi Festival with a day of free events and entertainment at Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
The family-friendly Milbi @ Mon Repos program, on Sunday 5 November, will highlight First Nations culture and the environmental importance of this significant loggerhead turtle nesting site.
Festival goers can dive into the world of turtles and get to know the area’s fauna and flora on one of the special guided tours on offer.
Visitors can also enjoy First Nations performances and entertainment, hands-on art activities, and the official ceremony along with light refreshments to mark the final day of the 10-day Milbi Festival.
Councils’ Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Councillor John Learmonth said the close of the Milbi Festival was a day for the community to come together in celebration.
“As we celebrate the return of the loggerhead turtles, what better place to gather together than Mon Repos,” Cr Learmonth said.
“The natural beauty of the area and its significance to our First Nations people will be highlighted by this engaging program of activities, tours and cultural performances.”
Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and the Mon Repos Turtle Centre is integral to the conservation of the species.
The close of the Milbi Festival marks the official start of the turtle season, when nesting loggerhead turtles arrive to lay their eggs and turtle hatchlings emerge to take their first steps toward the sea.
Milbi @ Mon Repos program:
Milbi Sand Art
9 am to midday
Meet at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre amphitheatre to listen to the Milbi story, participants will then head down to the beach to create the Milbi inspired sand art.
Bunyas to Beach: Milbi Festival Message-Stick Premiere
10 am
Learn the story behind the message stick journey by the Bunya Mountains Murri Rangers and the important handover to Gidarjil Land and Sea Rangers at the Milbi Festival.
Weaving Workshop
12.30 pm to 2 pm
Try your hand at creating your own woven art in a weaving workshop in the Gidji tent.
HATCH Art Trail
All day
Walk the trail and find the Milbi inspired turtle eggs around the Mon Repos Conservation Park and vote for your favourite design for the chance to win a prize.
Wattle Woman Interactive Community Painting
9.30 am to 1.30 pm
Participants can paint their own turtle hatchling in all the colours of the rainbow using patterns and techniques including dot painting and traditional line work, taught during the session by local artist Lili Jacobsen.
Wide Bay Kids Turtle Art
10 am to midday
Create your own turtle artwork with the Wide Bay Kids team.
Official Ceremony
2pm
Tours
Bookings for these free tours are filling up fast, so act quickly to secure a ticket.
Stories from the Beach and Tales of Dark Skies Tour
Join the Sea Turtle Alliance to delve into the world of turtles and learn how you can help save the species.
9.30 am to 10 am and 1.15 pm to 1.45 pm
Free | Bookings required.
Discover Mon Repos Tour
Join the Rangers from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and journey through bush trails and beach as you learn about the unique flora and fauna of the area, the marvels of inventor Bert Hinkler and turtle conservation efforts led by Dr Col Limpus.
10.15 am to 10.45 am
Free | Bookings required.
Turtle Encounter Tour
Hear tales from the beach and discover what occurs under the stars during nesting season in this guided discussion by a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger.
11 am to 11.30 am and 12 pm to 12.30 pm
Free | Bookings required.
Traditional Knowledge Tour (SOLD OUT)
Join Gidarjil’s Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers and take a walk through the Mon Repos Conservation Park to explore the native flora and fauna and learn about the cultural significance of Milbi and Mon Repos.
11 am to 11.30 am, 12 noon to 12.30 pm and 1 pm to 1.30 pm
Free | This event is sold out, to join the waitlist, check here.
Visitors can also enjoy the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Turtle Tales Immersive Experience and Theatrette, and Milbi Café and Gift Shop.
Milbi Festival is Bundaberg Regional Council’s newest major destination event that celebrates arts, culture and the environment, and marks the opening of the turtle nesting season.
During turtle nesting season, which runs from November to March, Mon Repos Turtle Centre offers turtle encounter tours which give the community a unique opportunity to witness these magnificent marine creatures during this sensitive and ancient life cycle.
For more information visit the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter Tours website, or book through the Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre.
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