Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay (pronounced Harvey Bay) is a string of beachside towns located in south east Queensland, around 5 hours drive north of Brisbane. Hervey Bay is home to many retired people. Its main attraction is an 868 meter long pier that extends into the ocean.

The town (population approximately 50,000 and growing fast) is a centre for whale watching. People flock to Hervey Bay every Whale season, which starts late July and goes through to early November. It is also a gateway to Fraser Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef.

It has fantastic weather and consequently draws 'sea-changers', backpackers and those who don't like living in houses. Its offshore protection provides beaches almost free from waves.

The large bay is formed by Fraser Island and the coast. Hervey Bay is not so much a single town, as a few seaside towns merged along the bay, Urangan, Torquay, Scarness, Pialba, and Point Vernon each have their own shopping precinct, parks and playgrounds.

The area has a mild, sub-tropical climate with an average 30 °C (86 °F) in summer and 23 °C (73 °F) in winter. The coast is predominantly affected by the south east trade winds which keep a cool breeze throughout the summer.

Hervey Bay was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770 while he was travelling the east coast of Australia. He wrongly assumed that Fraser Island was joined to the Australian mainland and the sheltered waters behind it were a bay. The waters of the Great Sandy Strait are very shallow and he did not proceed far enough south to find the passage between Fraser Island and the coast. He named the bay "Hervey's Bay" after Lord Augustus Hervey an admiral of the Blue, the Earl of Bristol and Captain Cook's boss.

• Explore Urangan Jetty (980m long), if only for its "pier rats" and their local dialect. A variety of fish can be seen from the Jetty, as well as many people with a line trying to catch them.
• Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Pialba, +61 -7-4197-4210. The exhibits are updated every six to eight weeks.
• Coral Viewing Boat Tours. View coral from a glass bottom boat. Both day and night viewing coral tours are available. Enjoy the natural beauty and also see a variety of fish.
• Burrum District Museum, +61 7 4197 4201. A collection of natural and cultural artifacts. The emphasis is on the history of mining in the Hervey Bay region.
• Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum, 13 Zephyr Street, Scarness, +61 7 4128 4804. This museum has 19 buildings that take you on a tour of Hervey Bay's past. Also has blacksmith and woodcraft demonstrations.
• Blue Dolphin Marine Tours, +61 7 4124 9600. Go on a dolphin boat tour to see the bottlenose dolphins and the indopacific humpback dolphins. Boat departs at 8AM from the marina.

Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Pialba, +61 -7-4197-4210. The exhibits are updated every six to eight weeks.

Coral Viewing Boat Tours. View coral from a glass bottom boat. Both day and night viewing coral tours are available. Enjoy the natural beauty and also see a variety of fish.

Burrum District Museum, +61 7 4197 4201. A collection of natural and cultural artifacts. The emphasis is on the history of mining in the Hervey Bay region.

Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum, 13 Zephyr Street, Scarness, +61 7 4128 4804. This museum has 19 buildings that take you on a tour of Hervey Bay's past. Also has blacksmith and woodcraft demonstrations.

Blue Dolphin Marine Tours, +61 7 4124 9600. Go on a dolphin boat tour to see the bottlenose dolphins and the indopacific humpback dolphins. Boat departs at 8AM from the marina.

• Swim. Hervey Bay's has calm waters, and a range of sandy beaches.
• Cycle. The 18km bay foreshore cycleway.
• Whale Watching. Hervey Bay is the end of the line for many of the Antarctic humpback whales that migrate north annually. Although many places along the New South Wales and Queensland coast offer opportunities for whale sightings as the whales pass, this is where they stay for a while. Whales are around from August to October.
• Susan River Homestead Horse Riding. Go on a horse ride for up to 2 and a half hours. Get picked up and dropped off from Hervey Bay for $15 per person. horse ride is $85 for each adult.
• Fish. Different types of fishing are offered including beach fishing, rock fishing, continental shelf fishing, and deep sea fishing. There is a great variety of fish ranging in size from garfish to marlin.
• Hervey Bay Golf Country Club, +61 7 4124-4544. Golf at the country club for a relaxing afternoon.
• WetSide Water Education Park, 1300 808 888 (local rate). WetSide is supplied with recycled rainwater harvested from the city's stormwater network. The water park features hundreds of spouts and jets, fountains interactive play equipment, water slides, surfing, special play area for children under-5 called TotSide, tipping buckets, music and a giant water screen. The site also includes a coffee shop, viewing decks and boardwalks, educational displays, amenities blocks and the pay-per-use Board Rider wave machine.
• Krystal Klear Charters. Go on a boat tour to see dolphins and to snorkel. After the water activities, enjoy a barbecue lunch at Round Island. Departs in the morning and returns approximately 5 hours later. $90 for adults, $50 for children.
• Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre, +61 7 4125 9722. Swim in 2 large outdoor swimming pools.
• Hervey Bay Bowling Club, Denham Camp Rd, Torquay, +61 7 4128-1093. Have fun while lawn bowling.

Swim. Hervey Bay's has calm waters, and a range of sandy beaches.

Cycle. The 18km bay foreshore cycleway.

Whale Watching. Hervey Bay is the end of the line for many of the Antarctic humpback whales that migrate north annually. Although many places along the [[New South Wales]] and [[Queensland]] coast offer opportunities for whale sightings as the whales pass, this is where they stay for a while. Whales are around from August to October.

Susan River Homestead Horse Riding. Go on a horse ride for up to 2 and a half hours. Get picked up and dropped off from Hervey Bay for $15 per person. horse ride is $85 for each adult.

Fish. Different types of fishing are offered including beach fishing, rock fishing, continental shelf fishing, and deep sea fishing. There is a great variety of fish ranging in size from garfish to marlin.

Hervey Bay Golf Country Club, +61 7 4124-4544. Golf at the country club for a relaxing afternoon.

WetSide Water Education Park, 1300 808 888 (local rate). WetSide is supplied with recycled rainwater harvested from the city's stormwater network. The water park features hundreds of spouts and jets, fountains interactive play equipment, water slides, surfing, special play area for children under-5 called TotSide, tipping buckets, music and a giant water screen. The site also includes a coffee shop, viewing decks and boardwalks, educational displays, amenities blocks and the pay-per-use Board Rider wave machine.

Krystal Klear Charters. Go on a boat tour to see dolphins and to snorkel. After the water activities, enjoy a barbecue lunch at Round Island. Departs in the morning and returns approximately 5 hours later. $90 for adults, $50 for children.

Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre, +61 7 4125 9722. Swim in 2 large outdoor swimming pools.

Hervey Bay Bowling Club, Denham Camp Rd, Torquay, +61 7 4128-1093. Have fun while lawn bowling.

There are a number of restaurants and take-away places situated in town and along the esplanade. You will have no difficulty finding Thai, Italian, Chinese and Mexican restaurants.

There are kiosks, fish and chips, bakeries and cafes located near the beach.

• The Deck Restaurant & Bar. A premier seafood restaurant open seven days a week. It also has a seafood buffet dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Drovers Dog Bar & Grill. Open for dinner seven nights a week. It is a fine dining restaurant that serves both steak and seafood.
• Morocco’s Party Bar. Eat at one of the trendiest places in Hervey Bay. International sports shown on big screens to create a fun atmosphere.
• Salt Café, +61 7 4124 9722. Has delicious food and also provides a stunning ocean view.
• Sails Brasserie & Cafe, 433 Esplanade, Torquay, +61 7 41255170.
• Marina's by the Bay, 385 Esplanade, Torquay, +61 7 4125 4522. Open 7 days and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Gataker's Restaurant, The Esplanade, Point Vernon, +61 7 4124 2470. 10AM- 2PM. Serves steak and seafood.
• Toto’s Restaurant, 2 Fraser Street, Torquay, +61 7 4125 1711. Serves a variety of pizza, Italian, Turkish, Asian and seafood.
• Goody's On the Beach, 54 Moreton Street, Toogoom, +61 7 4128 0227. opens at 10AM. Offers lunch and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday.
• Gringos Mexican Cantina, 449 Esplanade, Torquay. Opens at 5:30PM. Open 7 days a week, is a Mexican restaurant.
• Wild Lotus Restaurant & Bar, 433 Charlton Esplanade, Torquay, +61 7 4125 3278. An upscale restaurant that offers a selection of salads, steaks, pastas, seafood and desserts.
• Hoolihans Irish Restaurant & Bar, 382 Charlton Esplanade, +61 7 4194 0099. Provides live music every Friday and Saturday night.
• The Water Front Restaurant, +61 7 4194 6733. Exclusive waterfront dining with views of Fraser Island, Hervey Bay's calming waters and the famous Urangan pier.

The Deck Restaurant & Bar. A premier seafood restaurant open seven days a week. It also has a seafood buffet dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

Drovers Dog Bar & Grill. Open for dinner seven nights a week. It is a fine dining restaurant that serves both steak and seafood.

Morocco’s Party Bar. Eat at one of the trendiest places in Hervey Bay. International sports shown on big screens to create a fun atmosphere.

Salt Café, +61 7 4124 9722. Has delicious food and also provides a stunning ocean view.

Sails Brasserie & Cafe, 433 Esplanade, Torquay, +61 7 41255170.

Marina's by the Bay, 385 Esplanade, Torquay, +61 7 4125 4522. Open 7 days and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Gataker's Restaurant, The Esplanade, Point Vernon, +61 7 4124 2470. 10AM- 2PM. Serves steak and seafood.

Toto’s Restaurant, 2 Fraser Street, Torquay, +61 7 4125 1711. Serves a variety of pizza, Italian, Turkish, Asian and seafood.

Goody's On the Beach, 54 Moreton Street, Toogoom, +61 7 4128 0227. opens at 10AM. Offers lunch and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday.

Gringos Mexican Cantina, 449 Esplanade, Torquay. Opens at 5:30PM. Open 7 days a week, is a Mexican restaurant.

Wild Lotus Restaurant & Bar, 433 Charlton Esplanade, Torquay, +61 7 4125 3278. An upscale restaurant that offers a selection of salads, steaks, pastas, seafood and desserts.

Hoolihans Irish Restaurant & Bar, 382 Charlton Esplanade, +61 7 4194 0099. Provides live music every Friday and Saturday night.

The Water Front Restaurant, +61 7 4194 6733. Exclusive waterfront dining with views of Fraser Island, Hervey Bay's calming waters and the famous Urangan pier.

Some of Hervey Bay's pubs are on the Esplanade. The Torquay Hotel, Hoolihan's, and the Beach House, all of which are across the road from the beach and perfect people-watching locations.

There are other pubs on Boat Harbour Drive.

Morocco's is as good as Hervey Bay's night-clubbing gets. Seven also exists.

Hervey Bay Boat Club is a large club near the marina and Fraser Island ferry wharf. It serves meals, and has live music country style.

• Bay Central Tavern, +61 7 4124 4111. Enjoy food and drinks at the tavern.
• Bayswater Bar. Carries a broad list of Australian and International beers, a vast list of wines and a cocktail menu featuring 20 traditional and innovative cocktails. It is located inside the Bayswater Hotel and also provides live entertainment.

Bay Central Tavern, +61 7 4124 4111. Enjoy food and drinks at the tavern.

Bayswater Bar. Carries a broad list of Australian and International beers, a vast list of wines and a cocktail menu featuring 20 traditional and innovative cocktails. It is located inside the Bayswater Hotel and also provides live entertainment.

The town may have a relaxed feel to it and is considered safe. There has been a growing (albeit minor) drugs problem, but shouldn't impact your visit.

• Lady Elliot Island is a 30 minute flight.
• Go and see Fraser Island (considered the world's largest sand island). Ferry services make the short trip regularly from the boat harbour. You can do a day-trip, or stay longer. Some combine the trip with whale watching.