Best things to do in Hervey Bay
This gem of a Queensland town is a legit low-key legend for family holidays.
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Your next Queensland escape starts here.
Cerulean waters, beaches for days and some of the best whale watching on the planet make this an enticing prospect if you want a chill Queensland sojourn.
Best place to stay in Hervey Bay
Grand Mercure Allegra Hervey Bay
You get the best of both worlds here: 24 apartments with full-sized kitchens plus a pool, free wifi, a gym and a prime beachfront position.
Best activity in Hervey Bay
Reefworld Turtle Swim
To gain a deeper - see what we did there - understanding of the marine environment around Hervey, this beloved aquarium is a must. It uses only sand filtered in salt water and natural light and the result is utterly memseric. But for $50 per person, you can actually swim with the turtles. No diving experience is required, they’ll sort you out with a snorkel and you get half an hour with these incredible creatures.
Best museum in Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum
This is one of those colossal country coastal finds you’ll wonder why you’ve never heard of. For a start, it rambles over 27 historical building containing a staggering 12000 exhibits from the area. One of which is the entire Goodwood Railway Station. There are demonstrations aplenty and it’s only $15 per adult.
Best golf in Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay Golf Club and Fraser Lakes Golf Club
We couldn’t split these two fine courses. But all you really need to know is that they are both just minutes from the town centre. And if you want to just swing some clubs, check out the Hervey Bay Golf Driving Range. You could say that this town loves its golf.
Best waterpark in Hervey Bay
Wetside Waterpark
Bang on the foreshore where Main Street meets the Esplanade is this aquatic wonderland. There is a free water play area and dedicated TotSide space for the under fives. To access the two large water slides and Aqua Ninja course, a nominal fee applies. Be sure to check if any of the facilities are undergoing maintenance before head over though. If you have skaters in the clan, the newly built skate park on the Esplanade is ideal for all skill levels.
Best whale watching in Hervey Bay
Blue Dolphin Tours
Trust us on this. Hervey Bay is the first ever World Whale Heritage Site. From July to October, humpbacks converge on the bay with calves in tow and you can get close to these breathtakingly magnificent creatures from the water. From $195 per person.
Best tour of K’Gari (Fraser Island)
Personalised 4WD Tour
Sitting within easy reach of HB, K’Gari is one of those places people travel from all over the world to experience. Do it in style with a personalised day-long 4WD adventure with a guide and only four passengers. Because of the small numbers of people on board you can customise the trip to your interests but we’d highly recommend Seventy Five Mile Beach, Rainbow Beach, Lake McKenzie, the Wanggoolba Creek and the Champagne tidal pools. From $279 per person.
Best free activity in Hervey Bay
Urangan Pier
Piers like this 868-metre timber beauty once dotted the Australian coastline. On your saunter to the end, you may well see schools of fish, stingray and even dolphins. If fishing is your thing, drop a line over the side and you’ll find yourself dangling in one of the country’s best spots for whiting. Next door, you'll find one of the most pristine beaches in region, Urangan Beach, and easy access to the Urangan Boat Harbour. There are also Wednesday and weekend markets, Markets at the Pier. Stop by Ya Ya's for great coffee
Best restaurant in Hervey Bay
Odyssey Bistro
Right across the road from the beach, the menu here changes weekly according to season and the kitchen only holds small amounts of produce to minimise wastage. We love the theatre of your menu being presented to you in a sealed envelope and you can be pretty sure that impeccable seafood will figure somewhere. And if the heirloom tomatoes are on, definitely order them. Not knowing what you are getting only adds to the sense of adventure and the three course dinner menu at $95 is damn good value.
Best pub in Hervey Bay
The Bayswater Bar & Grill
This place gets our vote - and not just because it’s dog friendly. This is one of those seaside bars where there’s live music on the weekend, sport on the telly, Sunday family trivia, beautiful ocean views, an extensive cocktail and a pizza happy hour.
Best beaches in Hervey Bay
Scarness, Point Vernon, Gatakers and Torquay
Scarness Beach boasts a mini version of the Urangan Pier and beckons swimmers with its laidback, unspoilt vibe. For something a bit more interactive, Point Vernon is garlanded with tidal rock pools and the snorkelling in nearby Gatakers Bay is superb. Keep a lookout for roos on the beach. Torquay Beach is also highly rated for family vibes and the chance to dive with the resident dugongs plus Dundowran Beach is a gentle paddle spot for little ones as it is sheltered by Point Vernon. A few blocks back you'll find the Arkarra Lagoons and Tea Gardens which are at their best during the summer months.
Best free family activity in Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens
We get it, those whale watching cruises and jaunts to the southern Great Barrier Reef can put a real dent in the holiday budget. Aside from the natural beauty on display on display in this 26 hectare wonderland, there is a beautiful orchid house (with over 5000 specimens) and the free Agents of Discovery app uses to augmented reality to enrich little one's experience of the Gardens. A must when visiting Hervey Bay and a great year round attraction.
How far is K'Gari Fraser Island from Hervey Bay?
Much like Prince - if you're old enough - what was formerly Fraser Island but is now K'Gari is 45 minutes by boat. Be sure to check which marina you are departing from. If you want to drive there from Hervey Bay allow for three hours on the road. Perfect for a day trip. The world's largest sand island, K'Gari is home to the Great Sandy National Park and often accessed via the scenic Great Sandy Strait.
Where is Hervey Bay?
Hervey Bay is smack bang in the middle of the Fraser Coast region, just shy of 300 kilometres north of Brisbane and 200 kilometres north of the Sunshine Coast.
When is whale watching season in Hervey Bay?
Undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Hervey Bay, from mid-July to late October (and even into November), humpback whales shelter in the protected bay. Known as the whale watching capital of Australia, there are whale tours aplenty as these gentle giants breach in the calm waters off the coast. Keep your eyes peeled.
What are the best day trips from Hervey Bay?
Is Hervey Bay worth visiting? Absolutely but there's a lot of cool stuff in Fraser Coast region too. For a start, nearby Maryborough - birthplace of author P.L. Travers - hosts a Mary Poppins Festival every year. If you want to go island hopping north of K'Gari, Lady Elliott Island is a bougie 40 minute flight away over an azure sea. Vernon State Forest is a mecca for mountain bikers and Burrum Heads to the north is like stepping back in time to beachside '70s bliss in all the best ways. The river heads empty into the ocean here but along the river you'll find the conveniently located Wongi Waterholes. These are one of the best attractions that locals try to keep to themselves.. Finally, get your sphere on at the Fraser Coast Discovery Sphere which is an interactive introduction to the regions myriad natural attractions. It will set you up perfectly for any Hervey Bay Tours you do afterwards.
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