K’gari (Fraser Island) is the largest sand island in the world. It stretches over 123 kilometres in length and 22 kilometres at its widest point. Its World Heritage listing ranks it with Australia’s Uluru, Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef.

It is the only place in the world where tall rainforests grow on sand dunes and is home to many dingos – the native Australian dog – and the magnificent Lake McKenzie with pristine blue waters and white sandy shores.

It is an island of exceptional natural beauty and has over 250km of sandy beaches with long uninterrupted sweeps of ocean beach, more than 40km of strikingly coloured sand cliffs, spectacular dune blowouts, tall rainforests, perched dune lakes, banksia woodlands, heath and mangrove areas in a spectacular mosaic landscape.

There is nothing quite like coming up close and personal to one of the ocean’s most majestic animals – the humpback whale.   Tasman Venture’s whale watching tours from Hervey Bay commence in mid July and extend to early November as part of the humpback whales’ annual migration along the east coast of Australia.

Tasman Venture’s half-day whale watch encounters depart twice daily from the Hervey Bay Marina.  

Passengers enjoy a tranquil cruise from Hervey Bay across the Great Sandy Strait, along the remote pristine western side of World Heritage listed Fraser Island to Australia’s ultimate humpback whale playground. Immerse yourself with these gentle giants from purpose designed large decks which take you to the water’s edge, including a water level viewing platform.  There are also underwater viewing windows where you’ll be eye to eye with these inquisitive gentle giants.

Remote Fraser Island and Whale Watching Experience (Full Day)

Experience the unique and untouched remote west coast of Fraser Island (K’gari) and enjoy up close and personal encounters with majestic Humpback whales.  This is no ordinary Fraser Island and whale watching full day tour (7.30am – 4.30pm) with Tasman Venture Hervey Bay you can discover the hidden and remote parts Fraser Island whilst marvelling at the acrobatics of the whales in a comfortable and relaxing way.

Departing daily from the Hervey Bay Marina your full day (7.30am – 4.30pm ) you’ll cruise through the Great Sandy Straits, then set off along the West Coast of Fraser Island where you will either start a search for Humpback Whales in Platypus Bay or travel to your first remote location on Fraser Island depending on tide and sea conditions. Guests will be given the chance to visit up to two locations on Fraser Island.

Lady Elliott Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The island lies 46 nautical miles north-east of Bundaberg and covers an area of approximately 45 hectares. It is part of the Capricorn and Bunker Group of islands and is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia.

Situated within a highly protected Green Zone the coral cay is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life and is known for it abundance of manta rays, turtles and an amazing array of spectacular marine life and unspoilt coral reef.

Hervey Bay’s famous and historic Urangan Pier is a must see attraction.  It’s one of the longest in Australia and stretches for almost one kilometre into the ocean.

A walk to the end will reward with spectacular views of Hervey Bay and the chance to see schools of fish, stingrays or pods of dolphin.  Another must do is fishing off the Pier. It is one of the best fishing spots for people of all ages, and is the perfect place to catch whiting, one of Hervey Bay’s most sought after fish.

The water next to the pier is one of the Bay’s best locations for windsurfing or kite surfing with surfing conditions suitable for beginners to experts.

History of the Pier

Urangan Pier is a former deep-water, cargo-handling facility originally built to facilitate the export of sugar, timber and coal.  Construction began in 1913 and to reach the deep water channel, it was required to extend 1.1 kilometres out to sea.  The Urangan railway line also began construction in 1913 and branched off the main railway line at Pialba.  Once it was completed, the Pier served as one of the main ports of Queensland facilitating the transfer of cargo between rail and ships.

There are many regular markets in and around Hervey Bay for all the family to enjoy.

Urangan Pier Park Community Market: adjacent to the Urangan Pier every first, third and fifth (if applicable) Saturday of each month, 7am – 1pm. Handmade work from local artisans, homemade wooden puzzles and toys, beautiful timber products, cutting boards, rocking horses, fashion, crystals, leatherwork, handbags, baby clothes. 

The Urban Farm Markets: adjacent to the Urangan Pier every Saturday, featuring locally grown fruit and vegetables. The Urban Farm Markets form part of the Urganan Pier Park Community Market, but are on every Saturday, providing fresh produce even when the larger Pier market is not on.

Torquay Beachside Markets:  Charlton Esplanade, Torquay (Hervey Bay): every second and fourth Saturday of the month, 7am-1pm. Outdoor market on the waterfront Charlton  Esplanade featuring art & craft, artisans, designers, fashion, handmade.

Marina Twilight Markets:  Boat Harbour Marina, Buccaneer Drive, Urangan:  Friday evenings, 2.30pm – 7.30pm. Clothing, jewellery and more.

Koala Markets:  9-11 Kruger Court, Urangan: every second, fourth and fifth (if applicable) Sunday of the month, 6am-12pm. Run by the Koala Social Club, stalls available include trash and treasure, arts and craft, cakes and jams.

Maryborough City Heart Markets:  Adelaide and Ellena Streets, Maryborough, on every Thursday, 8am – 1.30pm. Maryborough city centre transforms into a colourful, outdoor heritage bazaar. The markets include entertainers, unique wares, original hand made craft, home made treats, artwork, jewellery, clothes and natural beauty products.

Commencing operations in 1888, The Bundaberg Rum Distillery is a world famous rum distillery. Visit the distillery and see how the award winning rum is produced through all stages of production.  You can visit the interactive Bundaberg Rum Museum on the grounds of the rum factory and learn all about its history.  The museum experience takes people into a retired ‘bondstore’ that was previously used to age the rum. Walk through a series of 75,000 litre vats on a self- paced tour to uncover the history and story behind the brand and its famous ‘Bundy Rum’ bear with two tastings from the top shelf range at the conclusion of the tour.

For a more immersive experience, join a behind the scenes tour inside the distillery or get creative on a 2 hour Bundaberg Rum experience and learn to blend your very own personalised rum to suit your own taste.

Bundaberg is located 110km from Hervey Bay.

WetSide Water Park is located on Hervey Bay’s foreshore at the junction of Main Street and the Esplanade, Pialba, Hervey Bay.  It is a fun, family friendly water park with waterslides, the FlipSide Board Rider, water play areas, TotSide for under 5s play and a Fountain Light Show on Saturday nights at 7pm.  There is also a coffee shop, fish and chip shop and restaurant on site.

Entry into WetSide is free however there is a cost for the Waterslides and FlipSide Board Rider. (see below)

During Queensland State school holidays WetSide is open 7 days from 10am to 5pm (excluding June/July).

Immerse yourself in art and culture at Fraser Coast’s premiuer public art gallery.  Showcasing the creative talents of regional artists alongside a program of inspiring touring exhibitions.

166 Old Maryborough Road, Pialba (Hervey Bay)
Phone: (07) 4197 4206

Jump Park Hervey Bay is the premier Indoor Trampoline Park of Fraser Coast.  Featuring multiple zones and olympic trampolines, it won’t disappoint even the most hardcore.

Become an aerial superstar on the olympic size trampolines, enjoy a game of Dodge Ball with your mates, shoot some hoops or take on the challenge of the Inflatable Course. Mini-Play is also available for the little ones.

229 Maryborough Hervey Bay Road, Urraween, Hervey Bay

A doorway into the past…  come and discover how the early settlers built the foundations of what has become today’s Hervey Bay.

The Fraser Coast area and Hervey Bay have a rich history dating back to before Captain Cook first sailed up the east coast of Australia in 1770 and found what is now known as Fraser Island.  Discover what life was really like in the early days.

Walk through the museum that covers 1.2 hectares and:

• explore 21 buildings from early days (church, stables, dairy, school, cobblers shop, barbers shop)
• examine 12,000 historical items of interest
• take part in interactive demonstrations of some of the skills early settlers needed to survive in what was a harsh and untamed environment (blacksmith, rope making, wood turning).
• and discover what life was like for the people who settled the Hervey Bay area.

13 Zephyr Street, Scarness (Hervey Bay).  Phone:  (07) 4128 4804

Open: Friday & Saturday 1pm – 4.30pm, Sunday 10.30am – 4.30pm.  Demonstrations: 1-3pm

Open all public holidays and all Queensland School Holidays (except Christmas Day and Good Friday).

Located right on the beautiful foreshore of Hervey Bay in Urgangan, Reefworld Aquarium has a unique display of marine life including green sea turtles, colourful tropical fish, sharks, large reef fish, and also tubeworms and crabs.

Everyone is welcome to join in the daily feedings and in addition a swim with the reef sharks can be arranged.  You can also experience what marine life feels life at the touch tank.

Reefworld is an all natural aquarium using only sand filtered sea water and natural sunlight.  There are very few all natural aquariums in the world making it quite unique.

For all the speed demons out there, Hervey Bay Go Kart Track is the place to be.

They run 12 singles and up to 6 tandems on the track at any one time, so you can race all your mates and nobody misses out.

The karts are powered by 4 stroke 7HP Subaru Robin motors and reach a top speed of about 40kph. While 40kph may not  sound that fast, don’t forget you’re sitting in the open, and very low to the ground, so it definitely feels faster than it sounds.

245 Scrub Hill Road (Corner Scrub Hill Rd & Maryborough Hervey Bay Rd), Nikenbah (Hervey Bay).  Ph:  (07) 4128 1180

Queensland school holidays:  7 days, 9.30am – 5pm

Outside Queensland school holidays:  Thursday to Monday, 9,30am – 5pm

Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo is a fun day out to be enjoyed by the whole family displaying over 45 species and sub-species of Australian reptiles, amphibians and marsupials.  Attractions include a fantastic snake house, a walk through vivarium housing dragons and frogs and a kangaroo reserve where the animals can be hand fed.

The list of animals at the zoo is extensive including koalas, meerkats, a snake show featuring phythons and the 5 most venomous snakes in the world, salt water crocodile feeding, reptile handling, emus, bearded dragons and blue tongue lizards.

51 Lucketts Road, Childers (9.30am – 3pm).  Phone (07) 4126 3332.  Closed Wednesdays.

Childers is approximately 60km (45 minutes drive) from Hervey Bay.

Mon Repos is a 45 hectare beach and coastal vegetation conservation park on the coast of  the Bundaberg region.  It supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland. This is the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific Ocean region. Successful breeding here is critical for the survival of this endangered species.

At this globally-significant site you can learn all about these extraordinary animals and the conservation and research programs that are protecting them—visit the Mon Repos Turtle Centre: discover the Turtle Tales immersive theatre and interactive display experiences; and have a “Turtles Encounters” like very few others in the world.

The park’s features also include Woongarra rainforest scrub remnants, mangroves, the site of Bert Hinker’s first glider flights, a tidal lagoon, rock pools and a historic basalt stone wall built by South Sea Islanders who were brought to Queensland from the 1880s to work in the sugar industry.

The basalt slabs and reefs that form much of this coastline provide an ideal canvas for colourful displays of corals, sponges, barnacles and shellfish. This stunning diversity of sea life so close to shore has made the Woongarra coast one of the most popular shore-diving areas in Australia.

For more information: Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre, 36 Avenue Street, Bundaberg, ph (07) 4153 8888