Hervey Bay
Welcome to Hervey Bay
Natural beauty and local friendliness are at the heart of everything you'll love about Hervey Bay. The pristine beaches and waters of the bay are clear, calm & safe, and rival any top-listed beaches of the world. When you arrive at the Esplanade and are gazing along 16km of white sandy beaches and unbelievable aqua sea, your breath will slow and your body will relax. What a beautiful place.
Hervey Bay is also the gateway to the world's largest sand island and Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island), and Lady Elliot Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. It is also uniquely home to the world’s first Whale Heritage Site – the only place where thousands of Humpback Whales stop during their migration between mid-July and October to rest, socialise and play with their calves in the warm shallow waters of Hervey Bay and K’gari (Fraser Island). Hervey Bay truly is Australia’s capital for Whale Watching.
Hervey Bay
Must Do Experiences
Whale Watching Capital of Australia
There are over 15 different Hervey Bay Whale Watching cruises so if you need help choosing, we can recommend the most suitable tour for you. As locals, we know each tour & vessel. The main differences are the timings & duration on the water, vessel type, and inclusions such as meals, hydrophone, swim with whales and other activities.
Hervey Bay was declared the first Whale Heritage Site in the world in 2019 and recognised globally as a premier whale watching destination.
It is the only place on Australia’s east coast where thousands of humpback whales take a break during their annual migration and stay up to two weeks in the calm, warm waters of Platypus Bay in the lee of K’gari (Fraser Island). The large number of whales in this relatively small area results in extraordinary whale watching from mid-July to late October.
A few fun facts!
- Adult humpback whales are about 13-15 metres long and weigh 35-40 tonnes!
- They can consume up to a tonne of food in a day.
- When swimming, humpbacks breath every 6-8 minutes and when resting every 10-20 minutes.
- Calves remain with their mothers for about 6 to 12 months nursing on fat-rich milk and growing rapidly.
- Hydrophones are microphones that crews lower into the water so you can hear whales singing (typically called "whale song").
Watch out for these whale behaviours!
- Head Slap - lunging head-first out of the water up to 6 metres.
- Breach - the whale propels itself out of the water, clearing the surface with two-thirds of its body or more.
- Blow - as a whale exhales and inhales at the surface, a cloud of water vapour is produced above its head during exhalation.
- Pec Slap - the whale rolls sideways at the surface slapping a pectoral fin against the water.
- Tail Slap - forceful slapping of the tail fluke against the surface resulting in underwater sounds.
- Spy Hop - the whale propels itself out of the water clearing the surface with two-thirds of its body or more.
Things To Do
Hervey Bay
Whether you just want to spend your time in Hervey Bay unwinding and relaxing, or being more adventurous and active, enjoying beachside shopping & dining, Hervey Bay is a friendly and welcoming eco-destination with a laid-back lifestyle and plenty of Things-To-Do for everyone.
Beaches - Take a relaxing walk or swim at the beautiful calm & clear shelly beaches of Torquay and Scarness. Some days you will think you are on an island.
Sunset - Grab your camera & find the perfect vantage point for a vibrant sunset over the water. As the bay orientates north, you'll get a special east coast experience with the sun setting over the water. For that reason, Hervey Bay has some very enjoyable Sunset Cruises worth experiencing.
Cycle - Enjoy the 16km leafy Esplanade as it winds its way along the pristine beaches on one side and cafes, shops, pubs and restaurants along the other. Hervey Bay is a very popular cycling destination and holds cycling and triathlon events throughout the year.
Picnic - Nothing beats a relaxing outdoor picnic and Hervey Bay has you covered with plenty of free picnic areas along the Esplanade. Pack a picnic, cook a beachside BBQ, or enjoy fresh fish and chips at the many picnic tables and decks overlooking the sparkling bay.
Fishing - Grab your fishing line & bait and head out along the iconic 868m Urangan Pier. Many kids have learnt to fish during family holidays at Hervey Bay, good outdoor family fun. If you want something more serious there are charters to book for fishing the inshore reefs and offshore fishing zones.
Galleries - If art and culture are more your style there's always something interesting on exhibition at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery. We are also home to some lovely private art studios and galleries such as Ashleigh Manley.
Botanical Gardens - Walk through the beautifully landscaped Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens and Orchid House and discover a rich, natural ecology which reflects our proximity to World Heritage listed K’gari (Fraser Island).
Getting To Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay is a small coastal city on the Fraser Coast in Queensland, Australia. The location is approximately 290 km north of Queensland's state capital, Brisbane.
It's an easy drive of only 3.5 hours north of Brisbane or 2.5 hours north of the Sunshine Coast via the Pacific Coast Way and Bruce Highway.
If you prefer to fly, Hervey Bay is a short 35-minute commercial flight direct from Brisbane Domestic Airport, or a 90-minute flight direct from Sydney Domestic Airport to Hervey Bay Airport.
There are coach shuttle services 3-times per day between Hervey Bay and Brisbane.
Greyhound Australia also provide regular services between Hervey Bay and Brisbane.
Daily train services operated by Queensland Rail stop at the nearby regional stations of Howard and Maryborough West where you then take a short transfer to Hervey Bay.
We highly recommend you plan your Nature Coast Australia Road Trip using our itinerary tips here.
Blog
Traditional Custodians
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.