Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast, Queensland

Hervey Bay is a bustling city in the southeastern coast of Queensland. Most Australians associate Hervey Bay with whale watching and with good reason. This city has a thriving tourism sector focused on this attraction alone, which has its peak every time the whales visit between the months of July and November. In the month of August, a whale festival is held where theatrical performances and an Electric Light Parade are organized to herald the annual visit of these huge cetaceans. Firework displays are customary parts of the week-long celebration.

Apart from the whales, there is another species of marine mammals that call Hervey Bay home. Numerous dolphins are also found frolicking in the bay, as well as a surviving population of dugongs.

The city is also considered as the Gateway to Fraser Island. Tourists visit this island to experience for themselves what it’s like to be on the world’s largest sand island. Fraser Island is listed as a World Heritage Site, and is home to a number of exotic wildlife species. However, all inhabitants and visitors of the island are cautioned against approaching and feeding dingoes, an endangered species of wild dogs that once roamed this island in large numbers. The lakes within the island are also popular attractions, with its clean waters perfect for swimming in.

Hervey Bay also boasts of several pristine beaches that are safe even for children to swim in. Probably the most famous of which would be Hervey Bay Beach, where opportunities for water sports and recreation abound. Visitors can go jet skiing, water skiing, or sailing here. Avid fishing enthusiasts can go visit the beach at Scarness, where snorkeling is also a favorite activity, especially during low tides. Another popular fishing destination would be at the Pialba Beach.

Though the beach is the prime attraction of Hervey Bay, it also has several popular tourist destinations inland. One would be Korrawinga, a local Aboriginal community on Scrub Hill where the agricultural way of life is still practiced. Aboriginal art and artifacts are also sold here. Families also take time to visit the Urangan Botanical Gardens where, on free admission, one can go bushwalking and participate in feeding water birds. Another family destination would be the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre on Boundary Road, Hervey Bay.

Art lovers will surely appreciate the murals painted on the Urangan sea wall. Local artists and schools contributed to this unusual but beautiful attraction.

A little bit further from the city is a tropical rain forest at Dundowran Beach, where different wildlife species can also be seen.

For those craving for something more unusual and more adventurous, there are a lot of skydiving instructors in Hervey Bay that can offer skydiving jumps over the bay.

Back on the beach, tourists also take time to view the sharks displayed by shark hunter Vic Hislop, who organizes shows to demonstrate shark attacks on humans and whales. The strip of beach running along the city is also an ideal place for walking, jogging, bicycling, or simply sitting down on benches to enjoy spectacular sunsets with loved ones.