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The town (population approximately 80,000 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. Is is also a gateway to [wiki=d2a07a3e58f3415b7f99d629c15a0683]Fraser Island[/wiki] and the southern [wiki=9b36d354ed6d3178ed1d6b392849ed0c]Great Barrier Reef[/wiki].
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 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.
It is pronouced Harvey Bay. While the town may have a relaxed feel to it, there has been a growing drugs problem. The police have been trying to crack down on this, as well as drink-driving so be forewarned!
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By plane
Hervey Bay Airport (HVB) airport is around 4km from Urangan, or a few minutes drive. It is only about an hours walk, so it would be possible if you were enthusiastic. It is certainly an easy cycle if you box your bike on the plane.
The airport is called the Fraser Coast airport, by some airlines.
* Qantaslink [url=http://www.qantas.com.au]]fly to [[Brisbane[/url]].
* Virgin Australia [url=http://www.virginaustralia.com]]and Jetstar [url=http://www.jetstar.com[/url]]operate services to [[Sydney[/url]]. Often flights to Hervey Bay from Sydney are cheaper than flights to [wiki=759302fb84c5f72078746e7358ba44a0]Brisbane[/wiki] or the [wiki=b6832e9b8fba542b412d4377177cc43d]Sunshine Coast[/wiki].
* There are also flights to [wiki=a2d29266f136c289f9a153cb0c3540fb]Lady Elliot Island[/wiki] (you could fly there from the [wiki=6496055c81ee7976cc6fa14b217c9165]Gold Coast[/wiki] or [wiki=20295782309e635c70c45f5ef564bb37]Bundaberg[/wiki] spend a day or two, and then fly back to Hervey Bay if you wished to.
Shuttles are available from the Airport into town, or as far as Bundaberg.
Taxis from the airport into town cost $20-$30 depending on destination.
The airport has an ATM, and a cafe restaurant. The terminal buildings are air-conditioned. There is no aerobridge access to planes, but most aircraft can be accessed by ramp.
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By car
About 3-4 hours drive north from the [wiki=b6832e9b8fba542b412d4377177cc43d]Sunshine Coast[/wiki], and 4-5 hours drive north from [wiki=759302fb84c5f72078746e7358ba44a0]Brisbane[/wiki].
Take the Bruce Highway (driving north from Brisbane) until you reach the town of Gympie, where you take the road to Maryborough.
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By train
A coach service connects with the [wiki=759302fb84c5f72078746e7358ba44a0]Brisbane[/wiki] to [wiki=a3bf97e41e5ee942ad0237eb3c5a5e8d]Rockhampton[/wiki] tilt train at [wiki=31c4a461a5a2bcb6275a320de5609ae4]Maryborough[/wiki], the closest station. You disembark here and continue the 30 minute journey by bus to the Hervey Bay Transit Centre terminal in Pialba.
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By bus
Coach services running north from [wiki=759302fb84c5f72078746e7358ba44a0]Brisbane[/wiki] stop in Hervey Bay.
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By car
Can rental facilities are easily available. Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget all have car rental depots.
Hervey Bay Rent A Car. 5 Cunningham Street, Hervey Bay. (07) 4194 6626. Rent small, medium and large vehicles, motor scooters and bicycles. All vehicles are automatic, power steering, and have air conditioning. Short and long term rentals are available.
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By taxi
Taxis are available. Call the national 131 008 taxi number for service.
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By bike
There is 18km of waterfront cycleway, starting from Urangan and going to Point Vernon, and there is never a need to cycle on the Esplanade. If you want to make better time, the backstreets tend to be wide, flat and quiet. A bicycle is quite an ideal way to see Hervey Bay, because with the towns spread over abour 10km, it is a little far to walk, and a car seems unnecessary. The two bike hire places make prices competitive.
The layout of the cycleway should inspire even the most lycra-averse to get on a bike, with possibilities of stopping for coffee, ice-cream, a swim or a beer, every couple of kilometres along the path.
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Go and see [wiki=d2a07a3e58f3415b7f99d629c15a0683]Fraser Island[/wiki] (the world's largest sand island). Ferry services run regularly from the boat harbour.
* 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.
*
*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.
*A collection of natural and cultural artifacts. The emphasis is on the history of mining in the Hervey Bay region.
*This musuem has 19 buildings that take you on a tour of Hervey Bay's past. Also has blacksmith and woodcraft demonstrations.
*Go on a dolphin boat tour to see the bottlenose dolphins and the indopacific humpback dolphins. Boat departs at 8 am from the marina.
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Swim. Hervey Bay's has calm waters, and a range of sandy beaches.
* Cycle. The 18km bay foreshore cycleway.
* Vic Hislop's Shark Show is display on dangerous sharks. The highlight of the museum is an eighteen foot six Great White Shark frozen in a large freezer, as well as numerous documentaries, newspaper cuttings, articles and pictures of catching and fishing sharks. Entry is $15 for adults, $12 for concessions, $7 for children, five and under free. Those expecting a display on shark conservation will be disappointed, this place is about catching them. Situated at 553 The Esplanade, Hervey Bay. You can't miss the gigantic shark mouth entry. Phone: (07) 4128 9137.
* Hervey Bay is the end of the line for many of the Antartic humpback whales that migrate north annually. Although many places along the [wiki=51927f298859f68ad4b6dc0a99947f6c]New South Wales[/wiki] and [wiki=a5242c1436be2b5a277885df78be6b01]Queensland[/wiki] 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.
* Fraser Island is a popular destination for those visiting Hervey Bay as one of the main barges to [wiki=d2a07a3e58f3415b7f99d629c15a0683]Fraser Island[/wiki] leaves from here. Some companies combine Whale Watching with Fraser Island tours at a package price.
*Go on a horse ride for up to 2 and a half hours. Get picked up and dropped off from Hervey Bay.
*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.
*Golf at the country club for a relaxing afternoon.
*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.
*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.
*Swim in 2 large outdoor swimming pools.
*Have fun while lawn bowling.
*Hervey Bay based, Humpback Whale Watch enables you to book your Hervey Bay Whale Watch Tours online from Aug through to Oct.
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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.
*Has delicious food and also provides a stunning ocean view.
*Serves steak and seafood.
*Serves a variety of pizza, Italian, Turkish, Asian and seafood.
*Offers lunch and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday.
*Open 7 days a week, is a Mexican restaurant.
*An upscale restaurant that offers a selection of salads, steaks, pastas, Hervey Bay seafood and deserts. Many Gluten free, vegetarian and dairy free options. Fraser Coast tourism awards restaurant winner 2012 and 2013.
*Provides live music every Friday and Saturday night.
*Exclusive waterfront dining with views of Fraser Island, Hervey Bay's calming waters and the famous Urangan pier.
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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.
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.
*Enjoy food and drinks at the tavern.
*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.
*Wild Lotus Restaurant & Bar's wine list showcases many of the great Australian wine styles. Their list focuses on iconic Australian wineries and also carries some New Zealand and Italian wines. Wide range of cocktails, beers and spirits.
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There are many apartments for rent along the Esplanade. The Esplanade is a road that runs along the waterfront, but there are no buildings on the ocean side of the road. All the apartments, motels, etc look over the road, and then a park, and then the water. You have to cross the road to the beach.
*Offers 2 to 3 bedroom villas located within a tropical landscape. It has privacy and is ideal for families on vacation.
*Kingfisher Court is mid range family accommodation on the beachfront. Shopping, dining and entertainment are on your doorstep. Hotels, clubs, water sports, dining venues, jetties, playgrounds, bowling clubs and more are all within walking distance. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Fraser Coast Tourism Awards winner.
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Budget
There are numerous backpacker's hostels in the Bay.
*Located near food shops, the beach, and recreational centres. Hostel has a swimming pool and entertainment room.
* The hostel is surrounded by tropical gardens and has a large pool and spa, bistro, bar, internet lounge, tennis & basketball courts and tour booking service. Breakfast is served at $6 per person
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Mid-range
The resort tag on the end of the names of hotels and motels in Hervey Bay can be misleading. It seems a small backyard swimming pool is all that is required for a fairly standard motor inn to call itself a resort. Check the facilities carefully, so you know what you are in for.
*
* Thai restaurant on the premises.
* Spanish restaurant on the premises.
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Splurge
1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments
* One of the Pepper's chain of resorts is on the Esplanade. Fancy! Has three bedroom apartments consisting of a hotel room + 2 bedroom adjoining.
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[wiki=a2d29266f136c289f9a153cb0c3540fb]Lady Elliot Island[/wiki] is a 30 minute flight.
*[wiki=d2a07a3e58f3415b7f99d629c15a0683]Fraser Island[/wiki] is sand island, a short boat trip away.
[[WikiPedia:Hervey Bay, Queensland]]
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