Milbi Festival

Milbi Festival 2023 features 10 days filled with vibrant Indigenous experiences, foodie events, arts, culture, and all things turtles in Bundaberg from October 27 to November 5, 2023.

Just 4 hours drive north of Brisbane, the town the turtles call home is shining a light on its connection to country and great care for the Southern Great Barrier Reef at the annual festival, which honours the Indigenous history of the region and the importance of the Milbi (local Taribelang language for ‘turtle’).

The 10-day Festival marks the beginning of turtle season on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, when Bundaberg’s world-renowned coastline and islands come alive with nesting and hatchling turtles.

The Festival kicks off on Friday 27 October with ARIA Award-nominated artist Christine Anu headlining the free ocean-front Milbi Festival launch event, overlooking the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Closing out the Festival is Pete Murray, who 'll bring the serene banks of the Burnett River to life with the acoustic beats of one of Australia’s most loved singer-songwriters, as he takes to the stage for Sunset Sounds.

In between, the program will be filled with a fantastic variety of events across the region to delight the entire family, including breakfasts with the animals, cultural immersion tours, rockpool rambles, reef days out and more, that will showcase the talent and natural beauty to be found in the Eco Certified Bundaberg Region.

On Saturday 28 October indulge in the tastes of rich native flavours during an elegant Twilight Table dining experience set amongst the lush surrounds of the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.

An arts takeover of the Bundaberg CBD, visitors will see a range of immersive activities from weaving in the park and artist talks in the gallery, to taking in a diverse range of talents from five of the region’s young artists.

Join multi-platinum selling Australian musicians and local indigenous groups in a celebration of the arts, environment, and cultural experiences of the Bundaberg Region at Milbi Festival 2023. With free and ticketed events on offer, there's something for everyone to enjoy. 

Running alongside the program’s public activities is the Welcome Home Elders program, an initiative curated by Bundaberg Regional Council in partnership with the Port Curtis Coral Coast Trust, Bunya Mountains Murri Rangers and Gidarjil Development Corporation Land and Sea Rangers, acknowledging the impact of the Aboriginal Protection Act (1897). Earlier this year, the program was recognised as Highly Commended at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards 2023.

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