Top things to do in Hervey Bay

From visiting living museums to admiring vast orchid displays and idling away a day on a sweeping beach, these are the best things to do in Hervey Bay.

 The Fraser Coast is no stranger to the limelight, with K’gari (Fraser Island) arguably the jewel in the region’s crown, attracting many a holidaymaker. But the largest city in the region has seemingly slipped under the radar. While Hervey Bay (pop. 54,674) may not boast the same natural wonders as K’gari, there’s still plenty to see and do here.

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Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens and Orchid House

Pack up a picnic and make for these sprawling, beautiful gardens, established in 1974. There’s a number of different collections to explore, from natural bush, to wetlands, formal gardens and rainforest, as well as a rather impressive collection of orchids, which together take over 26 hectares of prime Hervey Bay real estate.

Perhaps the gardens’ most spectacular collection, Orchid House showcases some 5,500 orchids. It exhibits some of the most popular and unusual plants from the orchidaceous family, and has two major seasonal displays: one in late summer/early autumn (February, March and April), and one in spring (August, September, and October).

Another standout feature of the gardens is its cultural diversity. Among its grounds you’ll find an Australian bush tucker garden, which was planted to represent the original owners of the land, the Butchulla people, and a very zen-like Chinese-themed garden, which was created to celebrate Hervey Bay’s relationship with its sister city of Leshan in China.

Address: 62-105 Elizabeth St, Urangan, QLD 4655
Phone number: +61 7 4125 9700

Inside the famous Orchard House.

The Maryborough Mural Project

It’s not strictly in Hervey Bay, but the Fraser Coast Region’s other most sizable city, Maryborough (a 25-minute drive away), is home to an outdoor gallery that merits mention and a little day trip. The Maryborough Mural Project began in 2014, and now counts nearly 40 different works among its CBD collection, with local history providing the theme for many of the murals. You’ll chance upon walls splashed with depictions of the region’s flora and fauna, and cartoon-style paintings that chronicle unique historic events, such as the Shamrock Hotel’s goat race.

The street art tells quirky and poignant stories of Maryborough’s colourful past

Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum

In the mood for a little slice of Fraser Coast history? Visit this award-winning attraction. You’ll wander among 27 historical buildings that accommodate more than 12,000 exhibits from the Fraser Coast and Wide Bay area.

Without doubt Sundays are the best days to visit: volunteers dressed in period clothing populate the site to demonstrate long-forgotten crafts, such as blacksmithing horseshoes, or using a lathe to make a wooden goblet.

The attraction actively welcomes people with access needs. It’s also pet-friendly and offers a range of facilities, such as picnic tables and barbecues.

Address: 13 Zephyr St, Scarness QLD 4655
Phone number: +61 7 4128 4804
Website: hervey-bay-historical-village-museum.business.site

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Whale watching

You can’t mention Hervey Bay without mentioning whales in the same breath. In October 2019, the city was in fact named the world’s first Whale Heritage Site – a recognition awarded by the World Cetacean Alliance in honour of the region’s commitment to conservation and protection.

Humpback whales call in to the warm and sheltered waters off of Hervey Bay each winter, to rest and nurse their calves before migrating back to their feeding grounds in Antarctica for the summer. Such is the regularity of visits that many local operators offer a money-back guarantee over the whale watching season (July to November). Take your pick from large cruisers or smaller sailing catamarans, or even dive right into the water with them – the Hervey Bay Dive Centre operates the region’s only dedicated ‘swim with whales’ experience

2Experience whale watching in Hervey Bay.

Family friendly beaches

Hervey Bay is home to a whopping 13 kilometres of beachfront that can be explored via walkways and cycling paths that stretch for the length of the entire esplanade. Thanks to its offshore protection by K’gari (Fraser Island), the city’s beaches boast calm waters, perfect for those searching for safe spots to swim. Try Torquay Beach, right in the thick of the city; Pialba Beach, with its free water park on the foreshore; or beautiful Urangan Beach, with its lengthy pier.

Torquay Beach is the perfect place for aquatic adventures.

Weekend markets

There’s a slew of weekend markets to discover on the Fraser Coast. Every Saturday morning, Urangan Pier Park hosts community markets, bustling with live music from local bands, artists purveying their works, activities for little ones, plus plenty of goods for sale (think clothing, home decor, kids’ toys, fresh produce, flowers and more). On the first, third and fifth Sundays of each month, the Hervey Bay Animal Refuge hosts the Nikenbah Markets, with stallholders proffering the usual arts and crafts, fresh produce, and cakes and jams. And on the first Saturday of each month, make the drive out of town to the Howard Country Markets, which are well worth the detour.

Day trip to Fraser Island

Given Hervey Bay’s proximity to K’gari, it would be remiss not to mention the day trips on offer to this island paradise. Operators such as Fraser Explorer Tours offer all-inclusive full-day outings to the isle. Or you could take a shorter excursion and view K’gari from above with a scenic flight that departs from Hervey Bay Airport.

Stunning K’Gari.