Fraser Island’s diversity includes smooth flowing rainforest streams, spectacular aquamarine lakes and diverse ecosystems.
Easily accessed from Hervey Bay, the brilliant Southern Great Barrier Reef offers some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world.
Hervey Bay is the capital of up close & personal whale watching in Australia...
Discover the rich and fascinating history of the Fraser Coast, a unique blend of old and new...
Surrounded by 40 kilometres of safe and pristine swimming beaches, Hervey Bay is blessed with some of Queensland’s best nature-based activities.
Melissa Gibson enjoys the renowned experiences of the Fraser Coast and discovers a few more she didn’t know about.
Always imagining that a trip up this way would be simply to visit Fraser Island and say ‘hi’ to the humpbacks in Hervey Bay, I was interested to discover a much more diverse holiday experience …
A 30-minute flight took me from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, a friendly beachside community with great beaches, loads of activities, al fresco Esplanade dining and a good range of accommodation. I stayed at the lush Peppers Pier Resort, where a long Jacuzzi bubble bath and large assortment of squishy pillows made my stay one to remember. Up for a 7am start, I thanked Queensland for yet another gorgeous sunny day, then jumped on the ferry and set my compass for Fraser. Forty-five minutes later, we arrived. I’d made it to my nirvana!
You have a choice of Fraser experiences: eco resort luxury, beach houses, self-drive camping and guided tours. Short on time, I opted for the latter. Kingfisher Bay Ranger Guided Tours took me cruising at top speed on the Fraser ‘highway’, stopping by freshwater Eli Creek, the Pinnacles, the Maheno shipwreck, Central Station rainforest and stunning Lake McKenzie, where I got to hang out with local dingoes. Our guide told some great stories along the way and gave us plenty of facts on discovery, vegetation, wildlife and Aboriginal bushtucker: I am now a fountain of Fraser knowledge … and a huge fan of the place in general.
Back in Hervey Bay, I settled in for a comfortable stay at the Emeraldene Eco Lodge, only to be whisked away the next morning to nearby Maryborough. My only other encounter with this city had been a quick stop to fill up the tank on the way to somewhere else, so I was interested to discover a fiercely proud community with a rich and colourful history. Local character Mary Heritage and her team of volunteer guides offer free daily walking tours that begin at City Hall and take in museums, parks, heritage buildings and monuments to local heroes. If you can, visit the quirky Mavis Bank house museum and catch Thursday’s heritage markets, where the town crier fires a cannon to let you know they’re closing!
Click here to view Mel's photos.
