Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour with Kids
Are you planning a trip to Bundaberg with kids and wondering if it is worth visiting the Bundaberg Rum Distillery for their tour?
My family went to Bundaberg when our kids were 5 and 7 and though the Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour is not meant for kids, it is family-friendly. There were multiple families on our tour.
I am always interested in knowing the basics before I book something, and if you are the same way, this post should help you learn what to expect during your visit to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery even if you don’t have kids.
Bundaberg Rum Distillery Ticket Information
There are 3 options for ticket types at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery.
The most common tour, and the one my family enjoyed, is the Museum and Distillery Experience. There is an option for a family ticket.
Tours run on the hour between 10 am and 3 pm, Monday to Friday, and until 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The museum part of the tour is self-guided, and they suggest you arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour time to experience the museum.
The guided part of the tour takes an hour and ends with a tasting.
If you only want to see the museum, you can purchase a family pass. The museum is open from 9:30 am until 2 pm, Monday through Friday, and until 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday. This ticket also includes tastings.
The last ticket option is for adults only and includes a Blend Your Own Rum Experience.
Bundaberg Rum Distillery Museum
We did not arrive 30 minutes before our tour time, but we had enough time to walk through the museum.
If you are interested in reading the material provided, be sure to allow at least 30 minutes at the museum.
When You Arrive
Before your tour starts, you need to put your belongings into a locker. You are not allowed to bring anything that has a battery, including phones and watches. Of course, you are allowed to bring anything medically necessary.
It looked like rain, so they had umbrellas we could take if we wanted. Of course, the kids each had to grab a giant umbrella.
Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour
The first stop was to see the molasses.
Basically, it was a giant warehouse filled with molasses. We compared it to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The room smelled like molasses, and we could taste some as soon as we left the building.
Another favorite part was walking over a barrel filled with rum.
The tour takes about an hour overall, but the time goes quickly. Pictures are not allowed, and so there is very little stopping.
The last stop is at the bar. Everyone sits down, and the guide walks you through the menu choices. Adults can get 2 drinks: one rum and one liqueur. There are 6 choices for top-shelf rum, and 3 choices for liqueur.
Top Shelf Master Distillers’ Collection
- Solera
- Blenders Edition
- Small Batch Reserve
- Vintage Barrel Small Batch
- Small Batch Silver Reserve
- Small Batch Spiced
Premium Rums
- Original Up Rum
- Red Rum
- Spiced Rum
- Select Vat Rum
- Bundaberg Black
Bundaberg Royal Liqueur
- Coffee and Chocolate
- Banana and Toffee
- Salted Caramel
You can pick any of the rums available and choose if it will be served neat, on the rocks, or with a mixer.
Kids can pick from Bundaberg ginger beer, lemonade (fizzy, of course), soda, or water. Their drink is unlimited within the 30 minutes that your group is in the bar area.
Our Rum Choices
Mark chose the Solera as it is the most expensive, and I picked Small Batch Spiced. We got both on the rocks, no mixer.
For our liqueur, Mark chose Salted Caramel while I had Banana and Toffee. He had his served on the rocks, and mine was on the rocks with cream on top. We brought the kids a ginger beer and lemonade.
Of course, I got the drinks mixed up and accidentally tasted the Salted Caramel first, thinking it was the Solera. I was shocked at how smooth it was, but quickly realized my mistake. I tried the Solera next, and there is definitely a big difference between the two!
After trying my rum without a mixer, I had Coke added. I wanted to try it plain, but I don’t normally sip rum and prefer my drinks mixed.
I recommend adding cream to the liqueur. Of course, it was good without it, but it was amazing with it. The liqueurs are only available at the factory or online.
All the drinks are available for purchase in the shop. There is a wide variety of options available in the shop, including jams, spice rubs, and other food items in addition to clothing and accessories.
Blend Your Own Rum Experience
I thought about gifting Mark the Blend Your Own Rum Experience, but he would have had to go alone, as it is expensive and for adults only. Tours run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
We learned more about the Blending Your Own Rum Experience during our tour. The beginning of the factory tour is the same, but in the last room, when the regular group heads to the bar, the blenders stay in the room and learn about the blending options.
They can make and take home 2 bottles of their own creation and add their name to the label.
Even cooler, their recipe is held at the distillery, so they can have it made anytime they want. If you join in this experience, you can buy as many bottles of YOUR rum as you want, whenever you want.
Bundaberg Barrel
A more kid-friendly option is the self-guided tour at Bundaberg Barrel, which you can read more about on my guide to Bundaberg with Kids.
Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour with Kids FAQ
Yes, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour Museum and Guided Tour are wheelchair and pram-friendly.
Yes, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery Tour is kid-friendly, and all ages are welcome. You must be at least 18 years old to enjoy the rum tasting at the end, though soda and other options are available for kids.
It is suggested, though not mandatory, that closed-toed shoes be worn by the participants on the Bundaberg Rum Tour.
