Hervey Bay - Places to See

The Matthew Flinders Memorial
The Matthew Flinders Memorial is located in Dayman Park (good maps of the Hervey Bay area are freely available from virtually all tourist outlets) which lies between the Urangan Pier and Hervey Bay Marina. A bronze plaque on the monument reads: 'Erected to the memory of Capt Matthew Flinders R.N. who landed hereabout from HMS Norfolk on 6th August, 1799 and Lt Joseph Dayman R.N. who passed here in the schooner Asp, after making the first passage of the Fraser Island Straits in 1847.' Dayman found the straits by clinging to the shores of the bay as he sailed down the coast after a surveying expedition in the Port Curtis area.

Urangan Pier
The Pier is 720m long and is now over 70 years old, it is used by holidaying fishermen and people who want a leisurely walk.

During the war Fraser Island and Hervey Bay were used as training grounds for the famous Z-Force. At Dayman Point, near the Matthew Flinders memorial, is another memorial 'Dedicated to the men of Z. Force who sank 38 000 tons of Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour September 1943'.

Using an old Japanese fish carrier named Kofuku Naru, which had been changed to the Krait, Z-Force managed to get into Singapore Harbour where they attached limpet mines to a number of Japanese vessels. In one night they blew up over 38 000 tons of Japanese ships and managed to return to Australia.

Whale Watching
In recent year the fashionable activity of whale watching has attracted thousands of people to the area. The migrating humpback whales pass along this section of the Queensland coast between late July to early November and interest in the huge mammals has created a new tourist industry. There are ten companies offering whale watching voyages and all are listed in the Fraser Coast Tourist Information Directory.

The Hervey Bay Museum in Zephyr Street (clearly signposted off the Esplanade) is an interesting and detailed collection of buildings and memorabilia related to the area. The Museum is easily located as it has a huge 'Fighting Whiting', donated by the local newspaper, outside to attract tourists.

Tourist Attractions
Apart from these attractions the area has a number of typical holiday resort attractions. There is Vic Hislop's White Death Shark Show on the Esplanade at Urangan. Neptune's Marine Aquarium at Dayman Point (tel: [phone]) which has living coral, tropical fish, a shark pool and crocodile pit, and the Botanic Gardens in Elizabeth Street, Urangan.

Memorial to the Kanakas
There is a Memorial to the Kanakas at Point Vernon (follow the Esplanade along to Corser Street - the memorial is located at the back of the Polson Cemetery) which is a reminder that these virtual slaves were brought to Australia as conscripted labour from 1863-1906. There were an estimated 12 000 (of a total of over 50 000) kanakas living in the Maryborough-Hervey Bay area.

Ferry Services to Fraser Island
Vehicle and passenger ferries depart daily for Fraser Island from both Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach. For more information ring Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre tel: [phone].

Maps of the island are for sale at all ferry points. It is important to remember that a permit is required to drive on Fraser Island, for which a fee is payable. They can be obtained from the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service office at River Heads. There are also fees for usage of the camping facilities on the island.

Tourist Information

The Hervey Bay Tourism and Development Centre
227 Maryborough Hervey Bay Rd
Hervey Bay QLD 4655
Telephone: [phone]

Fraser Coast - South Burnett Regional Tourism Board
Hervey Bay Rd
Hervey Bay QLD 4655
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Hervey Bay Tourism and Development
Cnr Urraween Rd & the Hervey Bay-Maryborough Rd
Hervey Bay QLD 4655
Telephone: [phone]

Hervey Bay Tourist & Visitors Centre
The Esplanade, Torquay

Hervey Bay QLD 4655
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: (07) 41241 556

Hervey Bay-Fraser Island Visitors Centre
The Esplanade, Torquay
Hervey Bay QLD 4655
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]

Hervey Bay Coach Terminal
Shop 6 Bay Central Shopping Centre Boat Harbour Dve
Hervey Bay QLD 4655
Telephone: [phone]