Fairymead House image: Appleton Studios
Bundaberg Regional Council is proud to see its iconic attractions the Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Fairymead House Sugar History Museum among the many local experiences recognised under the Best of Queensland Experience Program (BOQEP).
The two Council‑operated venues were among 58 Bundaberg Region experiences acknowledged for excellence in 2026, achieving silver status in the program’s newly introduced gold, silver and teal tiers.
This year marked the first time the program introduced the three recognition tiers.
The recognition highlights those consistently delivering high‑quality, Queensland‑defining experiences.
Hinkler Hall of Aviation and Fairymead House Sugar History Museum each earned silver status for consistently delivering high‑quality, memorable experiences for visitors.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said the results reflected the region’s commitment to delivering exceptional visitor experiences across both Council‑run attractions and privately operated tourism businesses.
“Council is incredibly proud to see our own venues recognised alongside so many outstanding local operators,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“The introduction of the new tier system reinforces the importance of continuous improvement and it’s pleasing to see Bundaberg experiences, including our cultural and heritage attractions, performing so strongly.
“These results show that our region is offering memorable, high‑quality experiences that truly resonate with visitors and showcase the stories, people and places that make Bundaberg unique.”
Out of 93 local experiences assessed, 62% (58 experiences) achieved Best of Queensland status.
The region also recorded an impressive ReviewPro Global Review Index score of 90.98, up from 89.95 in 2025, reflecting strong and growing visitor sentiment across global review platforms.
Seven Bundaberg Region experiences achieved the maximum score of 100 points, earning gold status:
- Turtle Sands
- Splitters Farm Tours
- Splitters Farm – Camping and Glamping
- Villa Mirasol Motor Inn
- Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience
- Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
- Lady Musgrave Experience
Six experiences achieved silver status, scoring 95 points or above:
- NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park
- Burnett River Cruises – Bundy Belle
- Bundy Bowl and Leisure Centre
- Hinkler Hall of Aviation
- The Bundaberg Barrel
- Fairymead House Sugar History Museum
Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reid said these results were a strong reflection of the passion, professionalism and pride Bundaberg Region operators brought to every visitor experience.
“To have 58 local experiences recognised through the Best of Queensland Experience Program is an outstanding result, and the uplift in our region’s ReviewPro score shows that visitors are not just coming here, they are leaving inspired and ready to recommend the tourism operators and businesses across the region.
“We are incredibly proud to see so many Bundaberg region businesses recognised, and particularly proud that our region’s visitor sentiment continues to grow year on year.”
About the Best of Queensland Experience Program
The Best of Queensland Experiences Program (BOQEP) is an innovative program that guides the Queensland tourism industry to deliver exceptional transformational experiences.
By creating positive word of mouth for Queensland, it will help to attract more visitors, grow expenditure and increase market share.
The program has been developed in partnership with the state’s Regional Tourism Organisations, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).
It identifies and recognises experiences that best bring the Queensland story to life and consistently deliver an exceptional customer experience.
The program is based on an independent set of criteria that incorporates online customer reviews, responds to consumer expectations and reflects industry best practice.
All operators assessed in the program receive an individual report providing valuable insights on consumer perceptions of their experience to drive business performance.
The Best of Queensland Experiences are assessed annually with more than 2,300 tourism experiences recognised statewide, reflecting strong and continued growth across Queensland’s tourism industry.
