Bundaberg Craft Beer, Rum and Local Drinks Guide

Bundaberg's drinks culture is anchored by two globally recognised brands — Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer — produced in the city from local agricultural raw materials. Beyond these flagship products, the Bundaberg region has developed a small but growing craft drinks scene that includes craft beer operations, artisan spirits, and the wider Bundaberg Brewed Drinks range whose non-alcoholic product family has found international distribution. For the drinks-interested visitor, Bundaberg provides experiences from the world-scale Rum Distillery to the intimate craft producers whose output reflects the region's agricultural diversity.

Bundaberg Rum Distillery

The Bundaberg Rum Distillery on Avenue Street is the non-negotiable first stop for any drinks visitor. The Bundaberg Rum Distillery tour covers the complete production journey — fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending — with a guided tasting of the Rum range from the benchmark OP (Overproof) through to the premium Master Distillers' Collection expressions aged 15–21 years. The distillery's retail store stocks distillery-exclusive releases and the full commercial range; the café provides rum-based cocktails in the working distillery environment.

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks

The Bundaberg Brewed Drinks facility — adjacent to the Rum Distillery on Avenue Street — produces the iconic Bundaberg Ginger Beer, alongside lemon, lime and bitters, sarsaparilla, and the broader premium soft drinks range. The Bundaberg Brewed Drinks tasting bar at the Barrel visitor centre provides the full range for non-alcoholic visitors and families — the ginger beer on tap, fresh and cold, is one of the regional Queensland food experiences that is genuinely difficult to replicate outside the source.

Craft Beer

Bundaberg's craft beer scene is emerging — small taprooms and brewpubs have opened in the CBD and inner suburbs as the national craft beer movement has reached regional Queensland. The Bundaberg CBD's dining precincts include venues with craft tap selections. The Wide Bay-Burnett region's agricultural product base — the tropical fruit, macadamias, and ginger that provide craft brewing adjuncts — provides creative raw materials for local brewers working with the region's flavour identity.

Drinking Responsibly — Designated Driver Planning

The Rum Distillery tour includes a multi-rum tasting; Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave day trips are alcohol-free experiences given the marine navigation requirements. Plan the itinerary to put the Distillery tour on an afternoon where driving is not required post-tasting — Burnett Riverside's CBD location, 2km from the Distillery, enables walking return from a tasting session.

Burnett Riverside — Drinks Tourism Base

Burnett Riverside's walking distance from the Rum Distillery makes the tasting experience responsible and convenient. Book directly at burnettriverside.com.au.