Mon Repos Beach is not only a beautiful long secluded beach hiding away in the Mon Repos Conservation Park for all to enjoy April - October, but it is home to the largest loggerhead turtle rookery in the South Pacific.
The Loggerhead Turtles are an endangered species, so understandably the beach is closed to human visitors November to March, unless you are observing these special marine visitors under the guidance of the National Parks team. Due to the conservation efforts of this team there has been a steady increase in turtle numbers over the years.
Loggerhead, Flatback and Green turtles come ashore from November to February. While we aren't here at nesting time at the moment we visited some years ago with our children during the Christmas holidays and we experienced one of nature's amazing rituals - a fascinating experience I've always remembered. I wanted to go back every evening to watch this amazing sight. This and watching the Fairy Penguins come ashore at Phillip Island, Victoria, have made quite an impact on me - amazing Mother nature!
These huge creatures heave their way up the beach to find a safe spot to dig a nest and lay their eggs. Some six to eight weeks later the tiny hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests and head to the sea - this happens early January until late March. These are the best months to visit the lovely Coral Coast if you want to see the turtles in action.
The National Parks rangers provide interesting and informative information about the turtles. During the nesting session November to March turtle watching tours run from 7pm nightly. If you aren't here at turtle nesting time there is a great Information Centre to enjoy and the NP's rangers are always keen to talk about the turtles and their nesting habits and answer your questions. The centre has static displays, audio visual programs, and an outdoor amphitheatre and is open weekdays between 8am - 3.30pm. There is also a walking track in the Conservation Park that lets you explore the park behind the dunes on a leafy path to view the mangroves, the Woongarra Scrub remnants, the site of Bert hinkler's first glider flights, a tidal lagoon, rock pools and the historic kanaka wall built by South Sea Islanders brought here from the 1880's to work in the sugar industry.
The sex of the baby turtle is determined by the temperature of their nests. The golden sands of Mon Repos are just a bit warmer and produces mostly females, whilst the white sands of the islands such as Lady Elliot produce mostly males. As the ranger said "the girls are hot while the boys are cool" :)
Only one in one thousand turtles survive to maturity and the females born at Mon Repos return some 30 years after birth to breed and lay eggs to start the cycle again. Wow!
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| The walkway to the beach is built up to reduce environmental impact |
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| Beautiful Mon Repos Beach - the stage for one of Mother Nature's truly amazing shows..... |
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| The Visitors centre helps us understand and appreciate turtle biology |
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| The centre tastefully blends with the environment |
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| A taste of this amazing journey...................... |
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| What do I do and where do I go.................. This is just amazing!!!!!!!! |
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| I'm a Loggerhead Turtle |
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| I'm a Flatback Turtle |
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| I'm a Green Turtle |
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| Enjoying a wander through the Conservation Park |
So Mon Repos Conservation Park and Beach are interesting and fascinating for quite a few reasons!
Certainly worth a visit! Might go for a bike ride back there today!!!! Has a certain magnetism! :)
