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Hervey Bay is thought for being the whale-watching capital of Australia. Humpback whales swim into the bay for a soothing time within the calm waters with their infants earlier than making their manner again south.
In peak season, boats by the fleet head out every day to observe them swimming and breaching and having a whale of a time (sorry couldn’t resist!)
However there are lots extra issues to do in Hervey Bay than watching the whales swimming within the water.
To take advantage of out of your journey to Hervey Bay, take into account stopping off at a few of these high Hervey Bay points of interest.
Issues to Do in Hervey Bay
Beneath you will discover the highest points of interest in Hervey Bay that can assist you plan your itinerary.
1. Take a Whale Watching Tour
You might have come to Hervey Bay to see the whales migrating throughout their annual migration between July and November, and that is completely the primary factor to do in Hervey Bay, so we embody this primary.
We pulled out of the marina into the bay and sailed straight previous their playground. Sadly, we arrived in Hervey Bay a bit too far forward of the Hervey Bay whale watch season and didn’t get to see humpback whales play.
As an alternative, we watched inexperienced sea turtles popping their heads out and in of the water and dolphins racing forward of the bow. All of us peered over the sting watching it pace alongside and switch its head to have a look at us watching it. I swear we noticed a gleeful smile.
“I’ve by no means seen a dolphin within the wild earlier than Mumma” Kalyra squealed. And Savannah saved pushing individuals apart so she might see extra dolphins.
Ultimately, she’d cease screaming and operating and take the secure spot contained in the cabin to eagerly peer out the window. (I do the identical factor with cows and kangaroos within the automobile!)
Whalesong Cruises provide a variety of excursions and the prospect to rise up shut with migrating humpback whales. Additionally they run day excursions out to Coongul Level on the North Western facet of Fraser, an element we didn’t see throughout our two-night keep there.
Most boat excursions depart from Nice Sandy Straits Marina, so you can even head there to guide a tour.
Should you’re planning a visit to close by Fraser Island, you need to observe the boat excursions go to the identical spot because the excursions from Fraser Island.
Turquoise water, crystal clear, white powdery sand, and nobody round besides us. We went for a stroll to gather shells and play video games.
We dug castles within the sand and Kalyra and Craig took the kayak out for a paddle, which is complimentary with the cruise.
The climate turned dangerous so we raced again on the boat for a yummy BBQ lunch of sausages, King Prawns, and salad.
It didn’t matter that we didn’t see any whales as we had a soothing day cruising off the coast to our favorite Australian Island. And Kalyra was excited she received to play skipper on the best way house.
2. Take pleasure in The Sundown at Enzos on the Seaside
Enzos is the place to be for sundown. Seize your self a beanbag beneath the umbrella and your drink of alternative and luxuriate in.
You probably have children, there’s a playground subsequent door that may entertain them whilst you zone out.
Should you’re feeling adventurous rent a kayak or stand-up paddle board or guide a kiteboarding lesson.
Return within the morning to take pleasure in breakfast as effectively. My meal at Enzos wasn’t that nice, however the espresso and views made it value it.
It’s a fantastic spot when you’re on the lookout for a restaurant with views.
3. Take a stroll alongside the Esplanade
Otherwise you may even prefer to attempt to run it. Simply watch out – in case you are as unfit as I’m and had not lengthy had a espresso, you may need to cease 5 minutes in, gasping for air and cease your self from vomiting.
The 14km lengthy shared pathway stretches from the Urangan Pier on the jap finish of town to Gatakers Bay within the west.
It’s additionally a fantastic spot for BBQs and fishing off any one of many small jetties alongside the best way.
4. Go to the Hervey Bay Eating places
I actually favored Badger and Brown’s. The burgers have been scrumptious and there have been gluten-free choices – the bread being fairly scrumptious, which is tough to do with burger buns.
I had a Mexican standoff – black bean and quinoa patty, with corn and tomato salsa A winner! Their candy potato fries have been fairly good too!
5. Eat at Dan and Stephs
We got here to Eat at Dan and Stephs a few occasions for some good espresso. We didn’t get to eat right here although as we arrived after kitchen closed at 3pm.
It’s fairly standard, with Dan and Steph being the native celebs, so you may look forward to finding some up to date dishes.
6. Attend the Relish Meals and Wine Competition
We have been fortunate to be on the town through the Relish Meals and Wine Competition held in Maryborough. Should you’re travelling to Hervey Bay in June, make sure you add this to your itinerary.
Maryborough’s magnificent Portside precinct – incorporating Queens Park, Mary River Parklands, heritage streetscapes, and the Mary River is stuffed with historic buildings that have been as soon as a part of Australia’s largest and busiest ports.
Pamela Lyndon Travers, the writer of Mary Poppins, was born above a financial institution constructing in Maryborough in 1899. I had no thought she was Australian.
It was a phenomenal backdrop to this celebration of regional meals and wine.
Relish is a pageant created to promote and have fun Fraser Coast regional produce. Aside from the nice meals and wine to style, there was additionally a steam prepare for the children to take pleasure in with some cookie making actions and stay music.
Movie star and native cooks gave cooking demonstrations and My Kitchen Guidelines winners (MKR) of 2013 and locals, Dan and Steph, have been the principle occasion.
We lastly had an opportunity to strive Dan’s well-known sausages and we should say they have been fairly scrumptious.
7. Take a Day Journey to Fraser Island (Okay’Gari)
The UNESCO World Heritage listed island, Fraser Island, or Okay’Gari because it’s identified to its conventional house owners, is the most important sand island on this planet and is packed filled with adventures.
Drive the enduring 75 mile seaside, the island’s well-known seaside freeway, and cease off at Lake McKenzie for a swim within the turquoise blue waters, or hunt for the well-known Maheno Shipwreck on the ocean’s shore.
It’s among the finest locations to come across native wildlife resembling dingoes, which name the island house, in addition to see sharks, whales, and dolphins from the shoreline.
8. Head Over to Woman Elliot Island
Nestled within the Bundaberg area is the distant island, Woman Elliot Island. It solely covers an space of 45 hectares, however the cause to go to right here isn’t for the island itself.
The island is the southernmost coral cay of the Nice Barrier Reef and has protected waters, which means it thrives with over 1,200 species of marine life.
It’s among the finest locations to see manta rays of their pure habitat in addition to turtles and unspoiled corals.
9. Take A Turtle Discovery and Eco Tour
In fact, many individuals head to Hervey Bay for the whale watching boat excursions, however if you would like a ship cruise that takes you to the pure fantastic thing about the Hervey Bay space and to see inexperienced sea turtles of their pure house, then you definately may need to take into account the Turtle Discovery Tour.
On this tour, you get to discover Queensland’s Nice Sandy Straits Marine Park on a glass-bottom boat, which means you may see the thriving marine life and coral reefs, with out disturbing their peace.
See turtles, dolphins, and when you’re fortunate, a reef shark or dugong.
The tour can even make stops for snorkelling and swimming in secure areas. Benefit from the surroundings of the bay, be taught its Butchulla historical past instantly out of your Indigenous information, all via stunning Dreamtime tales.
10. Have a Picnic at Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens and Orchid Home
The Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens is a 26 hectare backyard that has been open to the general public since 1974. Nestled on a 6,000 12 months previous foreshore dune, it’s among the finest locations to see native crops and fauna from the Huge Bay and Nice Sandy areas.
The gardens have a number of zones, together with a bushland, a proper chinese language backyard, a rainforest, and a wetland.
The gardens have a number of strolling tracks and open areas the place you may sit and luxuriate in a picnic within the lush inexperienced atmosphere.
Make sure to take a look at the Orchid Home, which was added to the gardens within the 12 months 2000. The Orchid Home has 5,500 orchids.
The botanic gardens and orchid home are free to enter, making it the perfect free factor to do in Hervey Bay.
11. Be taught About Hervey Bay’s Previous at Hervey Bay Historic Village
The Hervey Bay Historic Village and Museum is a set of 27 historic buildings that comprise reveals referring to the Fraser Coast and Huge Bay space.
The reveals embody a totally furnished slab cottage which was inbuilt 1898, the previous Goodwood Railway Station, and the primary Dundowran Corridor.
You may also go to the unique Dundowran State College, a blacksmith store, and the previous cane harvesting equipment.
One other spotlight of the museum is the unique Methodist Church, which was inbuilt 1901.
Should you’re visiting Hervey Bay on a Sunday, you’ll meet volunteers wearing interval garments who come to display the crafts of previous, resembling blacksmithing and wooden carving.
Should you’re on the lookout for free issues to do in Hervey Bay, head over to the Rope Maker to make a chunk of rope on a 100-year-old machine to take house as a memento.
12. Test Out Torquay Seaside
Hervey Bay isn’t in need of gorgeous seashores, so when you’re on the lookout for someplace to put your towel and take in the Queensland solar, then head over to Torquay Seaside.
Torquay Seaside is protected by Fraser Island (Okay’Gari), which implies the water is extra light and secure for youths to swim in.
The waters are clear, clear, and refreshing. Should you’re on the lookout for a shocking white sand seaside on the East Coast close to Hervey Bay, this must be it!
13. Splash Round at Wetside Water Park in Pialba
Should you’re on the lookout for enjoyable issues to do in Hervey Bay with children, then you definately’ll love sliding down the water slides at Wetside Water Park.
This oceanfront water park in Pialba, and has a splash pad, wave machine, and an Aqua Ninja journey course.
You probably have toddlers, they’ll love the TotSide play space which has been designed for beneath 5s.
14. Hike the Level Vernon Coastal Stroll
The Level Vernon Coastal Stroll is a part of the Hervey Bay Esplanade Path, which spans for 16 km alongside the gorgeous shoreline from Gatakers Bay and the Urangan Boat Harbour.
This a part of the path could be very simple, and one thing you are able to do with households with small children because it’s largely flat and used for jogging and biking.
It’s identified for its chook life, wonderful surroundings, and inexperienced areas. You’ll be able to see as far out as Fraser Island (Okay’Gari) on a transparent day.
15. See Marine Life at Reefworld Aquarium
The Reefworld Aquarium in Urangan is likely one of the high points of interest in Hervey Bay and has been working since 1979. It’s generally known as one of many world’s few all-natural aquariums, utilizing solely sand-filtered sea water and pure daylight in its tanks. It’s what makes Reefworld Aquarium distinctive.
Guests can see an enormous array of sea life, from Inexperienced Sea Turtles to reef fish, sharks and tubeworms.
There’s even a contact tank, the place guests can rise up shut and private with sure marine animals. If you wish to step your journey up a notch, head contained in the shark tank and swim with them (with a previous association with the aquarium, after all).
16. See the Geese at Arkarra Lagoons and Tea Gardens
Should you’re on the lookout for extra stress-free issues to do in Hervey Bay, then make sure you head over to the Arkarra Lagoons and Wetland Reserve.
The identify Arkarra means “place of many geese” in aboriginal language and was given to the park by the Butchulla Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Olga Miller.
And that is precisely what you discover right here.
As you take pleasure in a brief stroll across the wetlands lagoons and gardens, you’ll discover loads of geese swimming of their pure house.
After you’ve seen the geese, head over to the Arkarra Tea Gardens for a soothing espresso and selfmade candy treats.
Easy methods to Get to Hervey Bay
If you’re leaving from Brisbane, The Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, drive North for 3.5 hours alongside the M1 and Bruce Hwy/A1.
You may also take a prepare from Brisbane, Rockhampton, or Cairns to Maryborough West. From right here, it’s simple to get a taxi or bus to Hervey Bay, or take the Practice hyperlink bus service, which connects with each prepare.
The place to remain in Hervey Bay
Our Hervey Bay lodging was a beautiful self-contained house, The Bay Residences, which is true on the Esplanade with water views and when you don’t really feel like cooking, your a simple stroll to a number of eating places and takeaway meals retailers alongside the strip.
Should you’re going to go to Hervey Bay, why not time it to coincide with the migrating whales. It’s considered one of Queensland’s finest pure vacation locations and we had a whale of a time (sorry couldn’t resist!)
You’re additionally inside easy accessibility to World Heritage Listed Fraser Island. Keep tuned, we’ve an article on Fraser developing quickly!
You’ll be able to search via the record of lodging in Hervey Bay beneath.
Last Phrase on Issues to Do in Hervey Bay
So, there you will have it, these are the highest issues to do in Hervey Bay and as you may see, there’s lots to see and do in addition to whale watching.
Hervey Bay is an thrilling vacation spot with a lot to supply. We suggest you propose to spend no less than 5 days right here to see all of the highlights and get a very good really feel of the place.
We hope this information helped you propose your go to to Hervey Bay. You probably have any extra points of interest so as to add, tell us within the feedback!
Disclaimer: Our go to was in partnership with Tourism Queensland, however all of the ideas, concepts, and opinions on this information are our personal. To plan your subsequent journey take a look at Queensland Holidays.
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