Mystery Craters FAQs

Quick answers about visiting Mystery Craters at South Kolan, near Bundaberg, Queensland: opening hours, prices, booking, the café, accessibility and the mystery itself. Can’t find your answer? Call (07) 4157 7291 or email info@mysterycraters.com.au.

Visiting

What are the Mystery Craters?

Mystery Craters is a visitor attraction at 15 Lines Road, South Kolan, about 25 minutes from Bundaberg, Queensland. You can explore 35 unusual crater formations, the Earth Room collection of rocks, crystals and fossils, a viewing platform, augmented reality encounters and antique vehicles at Jim’s Trail, which is a work in progress. The craters were discovered in 1971 and first opened to visitors in 1973.

Where are the Mystery Craters?

At 15 Lines Road, South Kolan, Queensland 4670, between Bundaberg and Gin Gin and about 25 minutes’ drive from Bundaberg. Free on-site parking is available.

What are the opening hours?

Open daily from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. Please check our website or Google listing for any special closure notice before travelling.

How much does it cost?

General admission: Adult $20.50; Senior (Seniors Card) $18.50; Pensioner $16.00; Student $16.00; Child or teenager 5–17 $11.00; Child 0–4 free; Family (2 adults and 2 children) $57.50. Admission includes the Mystery Craters and the Earth Room. Café and boutique purchases are separate.

Do I need to book?

No. Walk-ins are welcome daily from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, and you can book online if you prefer. Private and VIP guided visits, the Family Mystery Adventure, groups, schools and wellness experiences need to be booked in advance.

How long should I allow?

Most visitors spend 45–60 minutes exploring. Allow longer if you’d like to relax in the café or browse the boutique. The Family Mystery Adventure takes about 2 hours.

What’s included in general admission?

A short introductory presentation in the Murrin Discovery Space, the crater walk and viewing platform, augmented reality encounters, antique vehicles at Jim’s Trail (work in progress), and the Earth Room. Everything is self-guided, so you can explore at your own pace.

What’s the difference between self-guided and VIP guided visits?

General admission is self-guided. A VIP guided visit is booked separately and adds a host, one of the owners, who discusses the stories and theories and answers your questions. Advance booking is essential.

What should I wear?

Enclosed, comfortable shoes. Mystery Craters is a natural bush setting, so please stay on the paths. Native wildlife, including snakes, insects and ticks, may occasionally be present.

Families, pets and accessibility

Is Mystery Craters good for kids?

Yes. Children enjoy the augmented reality encounters, the crater walk, the colours and textures of the Earth Room and the antique vehicles at Jim’s Trail (work in progress). Children 0–4 are free and must be supervised at all times. See our family day out guide.

What is the Family Mystery Adventure?

A bookable family experience of about 2 hours. Your family explores the craters with a Family Investigator Pack, unlocks the augmented reality encounters, visits the Earth Room and sees antique vehicles at Jim’s Trail (work in progress), enjoys a stone-baked pizza and treats, and submits your official family verdict on what formed the craters. See the Family Mystery Adventure.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, dogs are welcome on a lead. Please clean up after your pet and be mindful of wildlife and other visitors.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

The café, boutique and Earth Room have accessible entry, and there are viewing areas for the craters and places to sit and rest. Some outdoor areas have uneven ground and original rock formations. Drop-off is available close to the entrance. Please call us before your visit so we can help you plan, or read our accessibility guide.

Is there support for visitors with low vision, hearing loss or other languages?

Yes. We offer audio storytelling, touchable rocks and crystals, written information, QR code content, and A4 visitor story guides in selected languages. Our video can be watched online with captions and translation features.

Café and boutique

Is there a café?

Yes. The Mystery Craters Café is open daily from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, with barista coffee, tea, milkshakes, toasties, croissants, homemade cakes, tarts and scones. Walk-ins are welcome. See the full café menu.

Are there gluten-free options?

Yes. Gluten-free bread is available for toasties, and the Pumpkin, Sweet Potato & Spinach Frittata and the Almond Orange Cake are gluten-free. A gluten-free base is available for our seasonal pizzas.

Do you serve pizza?

Our gourmet stone-baked pizzas, dessert pizza and kids’ meals are seasonal, usually on busier weekends and during school holidays. Please call (07) 4157 7291 to check before you visit.

Is there a gift shop?

Yes. The boutique has crystals, fossils, jewellery, books and gifts inspired by the natural world.

Groups, schools and private experiences

Do you take school excursions?

Yes. Students can observe the craters, discuss evidence and hypotheses, and explore rocks, minerals and fossils in the Earth Room. Visits are quoted on enquiry. See school excursions.

Can clubs and tour groups visit?

Yes. We welcome Probus clubs, seniors’ groups, social clubs, community organisations and coach tours, with optional morning or afternoon tea. See group visits.

Can I book a private experience or celebration?

Yes. Private experiences include guided walks, sound journeys, heart coherence sessions and celebrations, booked in advance. See private experiences and celebrations.

The mystery

How were the Mystery Craters formed?

Nobody can say for certain. Geological Survey of Queensland researchers in the 1970s (Kay, 1972; Robertson, 1979) interpreted the craters as sinkhole-like depressions related to weathering, groundwater movement and the removal of softer material beneath a harder iron-rich layer. Later researchers suggested chemical dissolution may also play a part. Other ideas, including meteorites and underground gas, have been suggested over the years but not established. Read what the geological evidence does and does not tell us.

Are the UFO and meteorite in the augmented reality real?

No. The augmented reality encounters are creative storytelling that bring different ideas to life. They are not evidence of how the craters formed.