Five things to see and do BINDAL & JURU country

The Burdekin district is nestled in the delta of the mighty Burdekin River, with its two main townships – Ayr and Home Hill – linked by the iconically historic Burdekin Bridge. Well-known as the sugar cane capital of Australia, the Burdekin offers fantastic fishing, wetlands rich in biodiversity and birdlife and miles of unspoilt beaches to explore, including Australia’s longest sand spit - Lynch’s Beach at Alva.

Passing fields of cane could have you thinking of greener pastures but you don’t have to go far in the Burdekin to truly immerse in natural history. Departing daily from the beachside community of Alva, boats, often launched by tractor take you to dive one of the world’s best dive sitesthe SS Yongala shipwreck.

Over 100 years ago (one year before the Titanic) the Steam Ship Yongala sank in a cyclone in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. One of the most tragic maritime disasters in Australia, the Yongala is now covered in coral and home to hundreds of species, living on in harmony with the surrounding marine environment.

The SS Yongala is the largest, most intact historic shipwreck in Australian waters – 109 metres long and home to mega marine life.

DRIVE-IN THEATRE

One of few remaining drive-in theatres in Queensland, Stardust Drive In offers latest release movies on the big silver screen in a romantic setting under the stars. A double feature plays every Friday and Saturday evening from 6:30pm.

Cane Fires

The Burdekin is one of the last regions in Australia to still predominantly burn sugar cane prior to harvest. There is nothing quite like witnessing the raw power of a sugar cane paddock going up in flames. Cane fires ignite from June to November as farmers prepare their crops before harvesting. The first fire of the season is held in late May as part of the Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festiva l (held bi-annually).

Ss Yongala Shipwreck

Rated one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, the SS Yongala is an experience for those with an avid sense of adventure and a passion to learn and explore the depths of marine magic (Advanced dive certification required*)

Shop Local

The Burdekin offers great boutique shopping with an abundance of specialty stores. Pop into one of the quaint or funky cafes and grab a delicious coffee while you shop ‘til you drop. Whilst wondering the streets make sure you check out the impressive street art which makes up the Burdekin Art Trail.

Drop A Line

Drop a line in one of the Burdekin’s many creeks or estuaries for some of the best fishing around! There are 10 public boat ramps in the region and a range of land based fishing locations where you could reel in a barramundi, mangrove jack, fingermark, flathead, whiting or even a mud crab.