Hervey Bay is a major regional centre located on the east coast of Queensland that has become one of the most popular holiday destinations in Australia. It is situated just 3 hours north of Brisbane (289km by road), 45 minutes by air, and is also accessible by both rail and boat. Its boundaries span an area of 2,357km extending from Gatakers Bay (in the north) to River Heads (in the south), whilst the central area of the city borders 14km of beautiful golden beaches that are safe to swim in all year round. Hervey Bay‘s warm weather (average winter temperature of 22°C / average summer temperature of 29°C) provide the perfect climate for a range of attractions and activities that have earned it the nickname:

Hervey Bay is home to a laid back and friendly population of 54,000+ that is boosted by the presence of around 2 million tourists each year. It is one of Australia’s youngest cities and at the same time is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities both in population and infrastructure investment. Hervey Bay’s main industries are tourism, farming (sugar cane, non-orchard fruit and citrus, livestock, fishing) and manufacturing (wood products, machinery, equipment, food, beverages, fabricated metals). With its continuing rapid growth, virtually all industries in the area are booming. Every day new residents arrive and new businesses open their doors, and it is expected the population will exceed 100,000 by the mid 2020’s.

The city itself is built around a network of parks, walkways and paved cycle tracks that have been designed to make the task of getting around Hervey Bay as easy, relaxing and scenic as possible. The cycle tracks unfold along mostly flat ground making it a breeze to pedal or walk around. One popular track weaves for kilometres along the tree sheltered “Esplanade”, is dotted with exercise equipment free for use by the public, and at every step of the way is a mere stone’s throw from one of the best beaches in Australia. People from all walks of life can be seen enjoying this beautiful scenic track every day.

Hervey Bay is internationally recognised as one of the leading tourist destinations in Australia thanks to its amazing depth of holiday attractions. One of the most well known of these is whale watching. From mid-July until early-November Hervey Bay becomes one of the few places in the world where you are guaranteed a sighting of a whale. In fact, the Humpback Whales around Hervey Bay have become so familiar with being watched that they literally behave as if on stage, befriending whale watchers, swimming and playing around the vessels and putting on deliberate displays for their audience. Whale Watching Tours in Hervey Bay are second to none and is the reason why Hervey Bay is called the:

Hervey Bay is not only the best place to go whale watching, but it is also the gateway to World Heritage Listed Fraser Island. Fraser Island is the largest Sand Island in the world and is heritage listed due to its unique environment, flora and fauna. Classed as one of the best sand four wheel driving terrains in the world, Fraser Island also has many attractions well worth visiting including crystal clear fresh water lakes, centuries old dense rainforests, kilometers of white, sandy beaches, shipwrecks, and some of Australia’s most pure native animals. If islands are your thing, Fraser Island can’t be missed.

Hervey Bay is also a main access point to enjoy Lady Elliot Island. Located on the southern tip of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliott Island is renowned for breathtaking scuba and snorkeling experiences. Take a tour of Lady Elliot Island and swim down amongst stunning coral reefs teeming with hundreds of species of tropical fish, manta rays, and giant turtles. If you’re more land based inclined, the island also offers beautiful nature walks along which you can see historical artifacts, the lighthouse, and a myriad of wildlife. The island is well known for providing a home to thousands of birds during the nesting season, and offers humpback whale watching from July to October.

Hervey Bay is literally home to a multitude of enjoyable attractions and tours. Spend some time relaxing in the many foreshore reserves and parks, or wander through the lush Botanical Gardens in Urangan that were built on 6000 year old sand dunes. Take a tour of the 8000 exhibit strong Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum, or immerse yourself in the exhibitions of the Hervey Bay Regional Art Gallery. Have some fun at the Aquatic Centre, catch a sunset at Gatakers Bay, visit the local Aquarium, or check out Vic Hislop’s popular Great White Shark Expo where you can get up close with a real Great White that is frozen in ice. Keep your camera free to take some shots of the thousands of Flying Fox’s hanging from trees at Pialba, and marvel as they fill the sky en-masse at sunset. These and so many more attractions are why Hervey Bay is often referred to as:

There are many, many reasons to put Hervey Bay at the top of your to-do list.