Milbi Festival
Milbi Festival
When: Oct 28 - Nov 6
The Bundaberg Region comes alive for an immersive 10 day program of events celebrating local arts, culture, environment and Milbi.
From cultural experiences to free family fun, Milbi Festival provides unique and meaningful opportunities to connect community and culture and celebrate this incredible place we call home.
Bundaberg Regional Council acknowledges the traditional Country of the Taribeang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng and Balai Peoples and recognises that this Country Has always been and continues to be cultural, spiritual, aocial and economic significance.
We recognise the thousands of generations of continuous culture that have shaped this Country and the people on it.
Galleries Exhibition: Emergence
Emergence is a celebration of emerging arts practice by young First Nations people from the Bundaberg Region.
Curated by Taribelang artist Dylan Sarra in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Galleries, this pop-up exhibition is a showcase of work created over a four-week immersive period in two key secondary schools – Kepnock State High School and North State High School.
Image: Sierra Hughes, Year 7, Collagraph on Fabriano paper.
Date: 21 October - 20 November
Time: Mon – Fri 9.30am – 5pm and Sat - Sun 10am – 2pm
Location: Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, 1 Barolin Street
Cost: Free
Milbi Festival Sunset Launch
Join the community for the launch of Milbi Festival 2022 as the sun sets over the Nielson Park Beach complete with a Welcome To Country, food vans and performance by ARIA nominated artist Emily Wurramara.
Having played across the globe and with the likes of John Farnham, Busby Marou, Missy Higgins, Jessica Mauboy, Cat Empire and John Butler, this rare, intimate acoustic set with Emily will be one not to be missed!
Date: Friday 28 October
Time: 4.30 - 6.30pm
Location: Nielson Park Beach, Bargara
Cost: Free
Breakfast at the Zoo
Join us for a unique breakfast experience and community yarn up and shared with some of the animals that call Alexandra Park Zoo home.
Enjoy free entertainment and a BBQ breakfast while listening to our passionate zookeepers host discussions about our animals including Elsey the endangered white throated snapping turtle, found only in the Burnett, Mary, Fitzroy and Raglan rivers.
Date: Saturday 29 October
Time: 7.30 - 9.30am
Location: Alexandra Park Zoo, Quay Street
Cost: Free - Bookings not necessary
Keen to learn more? Visitors will also have the opportunity embark on a guided tour. Running every 30 minutes, experience an exclusive walkthrough with a Zookeeper who will be all to happy to answer your questions and shed light on range of animals on site. Tours are free, however any donations will go to snapping turtle conservation projects.
Ocean Sounds: A Lady Musgrave Experience
Enjoy luxury catered transfers to Lady Musgrave HQ located in the pristine lagoon of Lady Musgrave Island.
In this truly unique experience we will bring you a cultural and culinary immersion of all things Lady Musgrave while floating on the magical lagoon located in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Your journey starts with a drink on arrival, entertainment, grazing table and luxury transfer on Reef Express, a 35ft catamaran followed by a brief cultural lagoon tour.
The main event will see you enjoy a 2.5 hour canape and beverage package while listening to coastal tunes of Australian artist Jack Botts supported by Brown Suga.
On the return transfer you will be treated to a dessert grazing table.
Date: Saturday 29 October
Time: 10.30am - 6pm
Location: Lady Musgrave HQ on the Lady Musgrave Lagoon
Cost: $250
Milbi Tucker + Tunes
Tucker + Tunes will revisit the native flavours and earthy beats that made last year’s event a crowd favourite of Milbi Festival.
Straight off the back of his European Summer tour, this year’s headline artist Kim Churchill will bring his dynamic stage presence to the lawns of Fairymead House as guests dine on a delicious canapes style menu by the Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation and enjoy an afternoon dancing into the sunset.
Date: Sunday 30 October
Time: 2 - 6pm
Location: Fairymead House, 30 Thornhill Street Bundaberg
Cost: $89 (includes canapes. Drinks available for purchase.)
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
A beautifully observed, humorous and poignant play, experience Ray Lawler’s much-loved stage performance of two Queensland cane cutters who for 16 years worked up north in the brutal sugar cane fields and travelled back to Melbourne for five months of partying and romance with their barmaid girlfriends.
A triumph at its 1955 Melbourne premiere, followed by a national tour and hugely successful season in London’s West End, this new production of the iconic Australian classic Summer of the Seventeenth Doll will be directed by award winning Denny Lawrence and a must see when it graces the Moncrieff stage.
Date: Tuesday 1 November
Time: 7.30 - 10pm
Location: Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Cost: Adult $49 | Concession $45 | Under 25y $20 | Group 6+ $40
Sunset Eats + Beats
Join the Ballistic Bargara team at The Brewhouse for a family friendly event which will turn up the beats with Raw Ordio and their electronic vibe entertaining guests as you enjoy samples of Milbi Festival inspired pizzas and Ballistic’s exclusive Milbi beer.
Date: Friday 4 November
Time: 5 - 9pm
Location: The Brewhouse, 10 Tantitha Street
Cost: $25 (food included. Kids U6 free. Drinks available for purchase.)
Milbi Gala Ball
Ball gowns and bow ties meld with the creatures of the deep as you step inside this extravagant underwater oasis.
A Milbi Festival favourite, dine and dance the night away as you are entertained by a dance performance and six piece Gold Coast band The Accidents.
Participate in the fundraising raffle and auction held in support of the important work taking place to protect our ocean and Milbi.
Ticket includes canapes, mains and dessert and drinks package.
Date: Saturday 5 November
Time: Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start
Location: Bundaberg Multiplex, 1 Civic Ave
Cost: $150 (includes welcome cocktail, canapes, two course meal and drinks package. Premium drinks available for purchase.)
Milbi @ Mon Repos
Join us for the official launch of the turtle season!
Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and is home to the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region.
Drawing inspiration from the local landscape and cultural heritage of the Bundaberg region, onlookers will also be treated to Fashions by the Sea. Presented by the Marnock Sisters, this fashion show features exclusive Indigenous textile designs that reflect the connections to land, sea and culture.
Celebrate the beginning of our turtle season with First Nations performances, entertainment and light refreshments as we showcase the importance of the Milbi to our First Nations People and how the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and local community are integral to the conservation of the incredible marine species.
Looking to make a day of it? The Mon Repos Turtle Centre will be open from 9am to 5pm with activities and tours throughout the day. More details below.
Image: River Nations Indigenous Corporation
Date: Sunday 6 November
Time: 2 - 5pm
Location: Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Mon Repos Road
Cost: Free
TOURS + EXPERIENCES
Milbi Dreaming Stone Painting
In this children’s event, join local First Nations artist Lili Jacobsen from Wattle Woman for a storytelling session where we will paint the journey of the Milbi (turtle) on dreaming stones. This is a great opportunity to teach children of our community the significance of visual storytelling in our First Nations Peoples culture. By telling the story of our sacred milbi who journey to our local Mon Repos beach we build a greater understanding and connection to our beautiful country and nature.
Date: Saturday 29 October and Saturday 5 November
Time: 10 – 11.30am and 12 – 1.30pm both days
Location: Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery Park, 1 Barolin Street
Cost: $10 (5-18yrs)
Stand Up Paddle Board Class
Try your hand at stand up paddle boarding with a fully trained instructor at Kelly’s Beach Lagoon. In a small group setting, learn the skills and techniques to confidently stand up, balance, turn and paddle around while enjoying the lovely Bargara esplanade.
Dates: Saturday 29 October and Sunday 6 November
Times: 9 - 10am and 10.15 - 11.15am both days
Location: Kelly’s Beach Lagoon
Cost: $25
Bundy Belle Experience
Sit back and relax onboard the iconic river ferry the Bundy Belle. As you wind your way down the Burnett River enjoy historic commentary including the local indigenous stories as told by the Taribelang Bunda peoples regarding the river’s colourful history.
Dates: Sunday 30 October and Wednesday 2 November
Times: 9.30 – 11am
Location: Riverside Parklands Pontoon, 3 Quay Street
Cost: $32.50 (includes an Indigenous inspired morning)
Learn to Surf Class
Whether you’re determined to get up on that first wave, a group of friends or family wanting your own personal surfing experience, or an experienced surfer wanting feedback on your technique, this hour-long surfing lesson with a dedicated coach will have you catching waves in no time.
Dates: Sunday 30 October and Saturday 5 November
Times: 9 - 10am and 10.15 - 11.15am both days
Location: Neilsons Beach, Fred Courtice Avenue, Bargara
Cost: $25
Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tour
The Taribelang Bunda people have been in the Bundaberg Region for over 60,000 years, with stories passed down from Elders of sacred sites across the region. Join Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours to immerse yourself in the richness of our country and culture. Your tour hosts, guided by our Elders past and present, will share with you places of cultural significance, traditional skills and language, in a half day interpretive tour of the Bundaberg Region.
Dates: Saturday 29 October, Tuesday 1 November and Saturday 5 November
Time: 9.30am – 1.30pm
Location: TAC Office, 53-55 Perry St, North Bundaberg
Cost: $69 (includes an Indigenous-inspired morning tea)
Turtle Hour
Residents and businesses are called on to flick the switch during Turtle Hour in support of the turtles for which the Bundaberg Region is world-renowned. Anyone interested in being part of the annual event can easily get involved. Simply turn off your lights from 7 – 8pm on 31 October. This event is hosted in support of Bundaberg Regional Council’s Reducing Urban Glow initiative.
To find out more about the ecological significance of turtles nesting in our region and how you can track light glow in our region, visit knowyourglow.com.au.
Date: Monday 31 October
Time: 7 -8pm
Location: Your house or business
Cost: Free
Turtle-y Interactive
How much do you know about turtles? Do you know how special Mon Repos is?
Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and has the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting populations in the South Pacific Region.
Learn from Dr Col Limpus, Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Environment and Science. Hear about the unique journey marine turtles embark on from nesting to hatchling and the battle to survive in the big blue.
Date: Monday 31 October
Time: 11am - 12.30pm
Location: Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Cost: Free (registration required)
Emergence: Private Gallery Tour
Two special guided tours of Emergence will be hosted by Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, as part of Milbi Festival.
Tour participants will enjoy a glass of wine and light refreshments as they enjoy intimate after-hours access to the Gallery space. As well as hearing the background to the exhibition and the process behind its development, guests will have the opportunity to meet and speak with some of the young artists involved.
Dates: Tuesday 1 and Thursday 3 November
Time: 6.30 – 8p
Location: Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, 1 Barolin Street
Cost: $10 (includes beverage on arrival)
All Things Coral with Monsoon Aquatics
Explore the wonder and beauty of the coral reef with Monsoon Aquatics as they take you on a tour of their coral farm.
In this rare opportunity, see how they pioneer ground-breaking research on coral propagation and spawning and experience an up-close look at the magic that lies beneath the surface of our oceans right here in the Bundaberg Region. Monsoon Aquatics are a world leading supplier of premium hand-picked Australian coral and marine life.
Date: Tuesday 1 November 2022 and Thursday 3 November 2022
Time: Tues 10 – 10.45am, Thurs 10 – 10.45am and 3.45 – 4.30pm
Location: Monsoon Aquatics, 145 Buss Street, Burnett Heads
Cost: $15 Adult | $10 Student (10 yrs+)
Screening of Regenerating Australia
Join us for a free screening of Regenerating Australia - a short documentary raising awareness about our community and actions that can benefit both the region and the world followed by a guest panel discussion.
The film is based on a four month interview process with a group of Australians who look back on the past decade and share their hopes and dreams for the country’s future.
Date: Wednesday 2 November
Time: 11am - Noon
Location: Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Cost: Free (registration required)
Stories from the Beach, Tales of Dark Skies Tour
Join the Sea Turtle Alliance and delve into the world of turtles and how you can help save the species.
Date: Sunday 6 November
Times: 9.30 - 10am and 1.30 - 2pm
Location: Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Mon Repos
Cost: Free (registration required)
Discover Mon Repos Tour
From the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, you will journey South along the trails and back via the beach.
Along the way you will learn about the unique flora and fauna, the marvels of inventor Bert Hinkler and turtle conservation efforts led by Dr Col Limpus.
Date: Sunday 6 November
Time: 10 - 10.30am
Location: Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Mon Repos
Cost: Free (registration required)
Turtle Encounter Tour
Join a ranger or volunteer guide in the Turtle Tales Theatre and hear stories from the beach and discover the magic that occurs under the stars during nesting season.
Date: Sunday 6 November
Times: 11 - 11.30am and 1 - 1.30pm
Location: Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Mon Repos
Cost: Free (registration required)
Traditional Knowledge Tour
Join Des Purcell, a proud Taribelang man and Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger and take a walk through the Mon Repos Conservation Park to explore the native flora and fauna, understand the cultural significance of the Milbi and learn what Mon Repos means to Aboriginal Peoples.
Date: Sunday 6 November
Times: 11 - 11.30am, 12 - 12.30pm and 1 - 1.30pm
Location: Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Mon Repos
Cost: Free (registration required)
