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Hervey Bay Top 10 Things to Do ~ Queensland
Hervey Bay is a relaxed coastal city located 292 km north of Brisbane. It is known as the Whale-Watching capital of Australia and the gateway to K’Gari, the world's largest sand island (formerly Fraser Island).
It has lovely beaches, a free water park, beautiful botanic gardens, a historical village, and much more.
Explore the Esplanade and the Beaches
Hervey Bay's Esplanade stretches 17 kilometres along the coastline from Point Vernon to Urangun and offers stunning views of the bay and its pristine beaches.
There are walking and bike tracks along the esplanade, and you can take a leisurely walk under the shady trees on the boardwalk.
You can also relax, swim or picnic on one of the many sandy beaches along the Esplanade.
2. Wetside Water Park
Wetside Water Park is located on the foreshore at the junction of Main Street and the Esplanade. This interactive water playground provides hours of fun for kids and adults alike.
Entry into the WetSide splash park is free however there is a cost for the Water Slides and Aqua Ninja Adventure Course.
With two water slides, fun splash zones, and an adventure lagoon, it's the ideal place to cool off on a warm Queensland day.
3. Discover Urangun Pier
Hervey Bay's historic Urangan Pier is 868 metres long and is one of the longest piers in Australia. It was built between 1913 and 1917 and was originally 1.1 kilometres long.
A walk to the end will reward you with spectacular views of Hervey Bay and the chance to see schools of fish, stingrays or pods of dolphins just metres out to sea.
The Urangun Pier is also one of the best fishing spots in Hervey Bay and is the perfect place to catch whiting, golden trevally, Spanish mackerel and many more varieties.
4. Explore Reefworld
Located on the Esplanade at Urangan, Reefworld is an all-natural aquarium that lets you explore the local marine life through touch tanks, aquariums, and displays. It is open from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, seven days a week.
Wander around and watch a diverse range of colourful fish and other fascinating marine life in the large aquariums.
Then head out to the turtle area, where you can see Sam and Hook, the two green sea turtles that live at Reefworld. You can even feed them their lettuce at 11.00 am each day.
5. Discover the Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens
The Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens is a 26-hectare garden on Elizabeth Street, Urangun. They are open daily from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm and entry is free.
The gardens were established in 1974 and feature stunning Chinese-inspired gardens, lush lawns, shady trees and a lagoon that has turtles in it.
The Orchid House is situated within the Botanic Gardens and was built in 2000. It is open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 2.30 pm and there are approximately 5,500 orchids.
6. Discover the Hervey Bay Historical Village
Step back in time at the Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum. With 21 historic buildings and displays, it’s the perfect place to learn about the area’s rich history.
The Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as all Queensland School and Public Holidays.
The Historical Buildings include a Church, School, Railway Station, Fire Station, shops, and cottages, all set in beautiful shady gardens.
Visit Hervey Bay Regional Gallery
The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery is located at 166 Old Maryborough Road, Pialba.
At the front of the gallery is a giant whale sculpture dedicated to
Nala, a female humpback whale who was a regular visitor to Hervey Bay.
Nala is 8.3 metres tall and spans a width of 14.8 metres from flipper to flipper. There are other interesting sculptures outside the gallery.
The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery is a contemporary multi-space gallery dedicated to engaging people through ideas, art, place, history and culture and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am. Closed on Mondays.
8. Discover Local Markets
Hervey Bay has several local markets that offer an abundance of fresh produce, artisan goods, and unique crafts.
Markets at the Pier are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7.00 am to 12.00 pm at Pier Park Urangun. They have more than 50 stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, local produce, and unique and homemade products. There is also a selection of food trucks serving coffee, tasty treats and live music.
9. See the Whales
Hervey Bay is the world’s first Whale Heritage site and one of the best places to see humpback whales.
Every year from late July to the end of October, these magnificent creatures migrate through the bay, and the region is known for its whale-watching tours.
Hop on a boat and get up close to these majestic animals in their natural habitat.
10. Day Trip to K'Gari (Fraser Island)
Just a short ferry ride from Hervey Bay, K’Gari (formerly Fraser Island) is the world’s largest sand island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can discover the highlights of K’gari on a full-day tour that includes pristine lakes, beaches, and rainforests.
Visit iconic spots, including Seventy-Five Mile Beach, Eli Creek, Lake McKenzie, Rainforests and the Maheno shipwreck.
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