+61 (7) 4155 8777 bookings@burnettriverside.com.au
7 Quay Street, Bundaberg QLD
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Bundaberg Rum cocktail at H2O Restaurant & Bar, Burnett Riverside Hotel
Why stay with us · Food and drink trail

The Bundaberg food
and drink trail.

Bundaberg makes the famous rum, the unmistakable ginger beer, and a third of Australia's macadamia crop. Four producers run open visitor experiences — Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Kalki Moon Distillery and Macadamias Australia. Burnett Riverside Hotel sits in the middle of the trail: the three town stops are all under 4 km / 6 minutes' drive; Macadamias Australia is 8 km / 15 minutes east. Doable as a comfortable day; better as two.

Check availability for the trail

The four stops

Bundaberg Rum Distillery — 3.0 km / 6 min. The Bundy brand. The Distillery Experience tour walks you through the 1888 site, the bond store, the molasses tanks and a guided tasting of the rum range. Allow 90 minutes; book in advance, especially on weekends. Tasting rules out drive-yourself; rideshare both ways.

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks ("The Barrel") — 3.7 km / 6 min. The visitor centre for the world-famous Bundaberg Ginger Beer (and the rest of the family — Lemon Lime & Bitters, Sarsaparilla, Pink Grapefruit, the alcoholic line). Interactive exhibits, brewery viewing, tasting bar. Self-drive works here.

Kalki Moon Distillery — a short drive across town. Boutique distillery doing small-batch rum, gin, and a stand-out craft tonic. The contrast to the big Distillery Experience makes Kalki Moon a strong second stop — same-day if you're a serious enthusiast, second-day if you're pacing yourself. Complimentary distillery tours on Queensland Rum Day (25 October).

Macadamias Australia visitor experience — 8.0 km / 15 min. The producer-led showcase of the macadamia industry — orchard tour, sensory experiences, an on-site café doing macadamia-led brunches and lunches, and a retail store with the broadest macadamia range you'll find anywhere. Worth a half-day on its own with the orchard tour booked in advance.

How to do it in one or two days

One day (compressed but doable):

  1. 09:30 — Bundaberg Rum Distillery Experience tour (book the first morning slot).
  2. 11:30 — rideshare back to the hotel.
  3. 12:30 — lunch at H2O (open from 4 pm for dinner but lunch can be arranged on request for groups; otherwise take a short walk to Casa Menta or Water Street Kitchen).
  4. 14:00 — Bundaberg Brewed Drinks visitor centre.
  5. 15:30 — Macadamias Australia (café + store; orchard tour if pre-booked).
  6. 17:30 — back at the hotel; deck drinks at H2O; dinner from 6 pm.

Two days (the better option):

  • Day 1. Bundaberg Rum Distillery morning · lunch in town · Kalki Moon Distillery afternoon · dinner at H2O.
  • Day 2. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks morning · Macadamias Australia (café + orchard tour) midday · Bargara Beach late afternoon · dinner at H2O.

Why the riverside base works

  • Central to three of the four stops. Rum, Brewed Drinks and Kalki Moon all within 6 minutes' drive. You're never more than a short rideshare from a tasting flight back to your bed.
  • H2O Restaurant & Bar downstairs. Open Mon–Sat from 4 pm; the kitchen sources from the same Bundaberg producers (regional beef, Bundy seafood, local seasonal veg) you're meeting on the trail. Bundy-Rum-led cocktail menu at the bar.
  • Free secure underground parking. 2.2 m clearance — keep the car off the street between stops.
  • Kitchenette rooms available (Family Studio, Loft Apartment, Two Bedroom Apartment) if you want to bring local produce, macadamia oils, or a bottle of the boutique gin back to the room.

Time it for Queensland Rum Day

Queensland Rum Day — Saturday 25 October. Bundaberg Rum Distillery offers a free Bundaberg Alcoholic Ginger Beer shirt to every adult guest on a Distillery Experience tour that day; Kalki Moon Distillery runs complimentary distillery tours. The day is the natural anchor for a rum-themed weekend — combine with the Brewed Drinks visit and a Saturday-night dinner at H2O. Book the rum tour and the hotel together early; rooms tighten as the date approaches.

Other dates worth pegging the trip to: Taste Bundaberg Festival (4–13 September 2026, region-wide producer events) and the Milbi Festival (late October / early November, First Nations culture aligned with the Mon Repos turtle nesting). Full events listing on the Events accommodation hub.

FAQs

Bundaberg food and drink — the answers.

Can I walk the food and drink trail from the hotel?
Three of the four stops are under 4 km / 6 minutes' drive from Burnett Riverside Hotel — the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks ("The Barrel") and Kalki Moon Distillery sit in the same broad corner of town. Macadamias Australia is a little further out at 8 km / 15 minutes. Most guests rideshare or self-drive between stops; the distillery tour serves spirits, so designate a driver or use Uber / Ola for the rum leg.
How long does the trail take?
Two comfortable options. One full day: Bundaberg Rum Distillery Experience tour in the morning (allow 90 minutes), lunch at H2O on the way back, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks visitor centre in the afternoon. Two-day version: rum + Kalki Moon on day one (both tasting-led; back to the hotel for dinner), Brewed Drinks + Macadamias Australia on day two. Adding a beach morning at Bargara (15 min east) is a natural extension on the longer version.
When is Queensland Rum Day?
Saturday 25 October each year. In 2026 the Bundaberg Rum Distillery is offering a free Bundaberg Alcoholic Ginger Beer shirt to every adult guest on a Distillery Experience tour that day; Kalki Moon Distillery is running complimentary distillery tours. Book direct with each distillery in advance — the day fills out quickly. We hold a small block of Riverview rooms each Rum Day; mention it when you book.
Is there a kitchenette if we want to take home the local produce?
Yes — three room types include a kitchenette with cooktop, microwave, fridge, toaster, kettle, cookware and crockery: Family Studio, Loft Apartment, and Two Bedroom Apartment. Handy if you're picking up macadamia products at the Macadamias Australia store, smallgoods at the Macadamias café, or local produce from the Bundaberg Sunday Market for cheese boards in-room.
Where should I eat between stops?
In the hotel, H2O Restaurant & Bar serves dinner from 4 pm Monday to Saturday and is the natural anchor between stops — the kitchen leans on the same regional producers (Bundaberg seafood, regional beef, local seasonal veg) you're meeting on the trail. Around town, Casa Menta, Water Street Kitchen and Old Bundy Tavern all sit within walking distance of the hotel. The macadamia café on site at Macadamias Australia is a strong lunch stop if you're already out there.

Distances and walking times for every producer on the Location & Distances page.

Book the trail

One base. Four producers. A weekend.

Riverview Queen and Riverview King rooms book out first on Queensland Rum Day and Taste Bundaberg weekends. Lock the dates in early.

Check availability Book a table at H2O

Sources & last verified. Distances to Bundaberg Rum Distillery (3.0 km / 6 min), Bundaberg Brewed Drinks "The Barrel" (3.7 km / 6 min) and Macadamias Australia visitor experience (8.0 km / 15 min) per the measured Location page (June 2026; OSM-routed, Google sense-checked). Kalki Moon Distillery distance not yet machine-measured; framed as "across town" pending a Session 7 follow-up measurement. Queensland Rum Day shirt / Kalki Moon complimentary-tour offer confirmed by Jess (Travellers Group Marketing) for 25 October 2026; confirm specifics with each distillery direct before travelling. Tour duration, sessions and prices change — book direct with each operator (Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Kalki Moon Distillery, Macadamias Australia) to lock in your slot. Last reviewed: June 2026.