Nuts about Bundaberg
Famous for its rum, the regional city is fast becoming a foodie destination
It’s the rum town that is fast making a name for itself as a foodie destination in its own right. From macadamias to strawberries, restaurants that punch above their weight, gin distilleries and, yes, that rum factory, Bundaberg has so much to offer for the culinary tourist, you’ll be hard pressed to pack it into a couple of days.
And the accommodation on offer – from country glamping to seaside apartments – is setting up this often forgotten destination as an up-andcoming haven for every type of tourist.
What becomes clear when scoping out Bundaberg’s burgeoning food and drink scene is the operators, including farms, cellar doors, bars and restaurants, work closely together to give tourists the best experience on offer.
They genuinely like each other – and refer tourists on to each other – which makes the experience all the better.
A short car ride through Bundaberg’s iconic cane fields will take you to Macadamias Australia, which has pivoted to offer tours out of its new and impressive visitor centre.
It’s a family-run operation – from front of house at the centre to the farm work required behind the scenes.
Macadamias Australia also happens to be one of the many little known Bundaberg success stories, exporting its Happy Nuts – the “crunchiest of the crunchiest nut” – internationally.
They’re a delicious, vanilla-infused treat that will leave you wanting more.
The visitor centre has a cafe showcasing macadamia cuisine and some of Bundaberg’s best local produce, including custom-made ice creams from local company, Nana’s Pantry.
For those wanting a behind-the-scenes look at a working macadamia farm, there are plans to offer group tours.
Bundaberg is also home to Kalki Moon, an up-and-coming boutique gin distillery.
Master distiller Rick Prosser and his wife Kylie started the business after he spent 13 years with Bundaberg Rum.
He admits he wasn’t sure “how gin would be received in a rum town”.
But Prosser says to never underestimate the power of the female consumer who flocked to the product.
“The ladies finally had a spirit brand of their own,” he says.
Prosser uses the famous ginger beer from Bundaberg Brewed Drinks for one of his most popular products, the Gin Gin Mule.
“Without that cocktail, I don’t know where we would have been,” he says of the drink, available at select bottle shops.
Kalki Moon offers two complimentary tastings, then you can purchase cocktails or take part in a tour.
Then, of course, there is the Bundaberg Rum factory in the city centre.
It’s the biggest player in the region and for good reason – it offers a range of experiences, and still manages to support other operators in the region as well as the community.
Even for non-rum drinkers, a tour is worth your while. It now also offers the blend your own rum experience.
Visitors are taught the art of tasting rum out of the barrel and blending it, and they leave with two bottles of their very own rum – complete with their own labels.
The experience has already been taken up by a slew of loyal Bundaberg Rum drinkers.
Restaurants in the Bundaberg region are also punching above their weight. Berts, Water St Kitchen, Indulge Cafe and Windmill Cafe are all worth a mention.
And if you’re looking for accommodation with a difference on your Bundaberg experience, Splitters Farm offers stunning glamping-style accommodation or regular camping if you prefer on the banks of Splitters Creek, which flows into the Burnett River.
It’s a working cattle farm, which the Clark family purchased in August 2017 to give their five children the rural upbringing they experienced.
You’ll get fresh bread brought to your door in the morning along with farm eggs, just to round out your Bundaberg culinary experience.
And the best thing is, it’s right on our doorstep.
The writer was a guest of Bundaberg Tourism