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Hervey Bay - Cities, Towns and Localities |
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An easy 3½ hour drive or 45 minutes flight north of Brisbane, Hervey Bay is known as the “Whale Watching Capital of the World”.
It is also the “Gateway to Fraser Island”, part of the “Fraser Coast”,
part of the Port of Maryborough, and neighbour to the City of
Maryborough. There are at least
five settlements in Hervey Bay: Point Vernon, Pialba, Scarness,
Torquay and Urangan. It is Urangan harbour where most vessels
depart. As
well as the best place to view the Humpback Whale (during July to
November, with the ideal period between August and October), Hervey
Bay
is also
home to dolphins, dugongs and turtles, as well as 14 km of
beautiful beaches.
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Pronounced ‘Harvey’ or ‘Harvy’, the name Hervey is
frequently mis-spelled. A favourite destination for backpackers, it
is a popular aquatic playground and year-round holiday destination.
With a sub-tropical climate, Hervey Bay’s natural assets includes
the Great Sandy Strait, World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the Bay
and the wetlands. There are a series of parks that line the
foreshore, as well as a great botanical garden. Other attractions
include the Urangan sea wall murals, harbour activity, Yag’ubi
multicultural festival (held once a year) and much more. The waters
around Hervey Bay are a fisherman’s paradise, with plenty of fishing
options and trips to choose from. With an estimated 600,000
visitors each year, it is definitely worth a visit and all within
easy reach of Brisbane, Gold Coast,
Sunshine Coast and central
Queensland.
Local residents
have a 24 hr full time community-focused radio station serving them:
Fraser Coast Community Radio broadcasting on FM 107.5 For additional information visit the tourist information centre. For Hervey
Bay accommodation click here: |
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Whale Watching
• Hervey Bay is the longest established whale watching site, as well as
being one of the best whale watching locations in Australia and the
world. The waters are protected by the world famous Fraser Island which
has made the bay enjoyed not only by whales, but by dolphins as well.
The ‘whale watching’ season starts from late July through to early
November.
The Humpback Whales migrate between Antarctica and the Great Barrier
Reef, where they mate and breed in the warm tropical waters. On their
return journey, they spend several days in Hervey Bay resting or feeding
their new born calves, before continuing on their 5,000 plus km back to
Antarctica.
Much of the world famous footage from Ross Isaacs of Ocean Planet
Images, as well as the song of the Humpback Whales was filmed and
recorded here in Hervey Bay. The Oceania Project runs their annual tours
from August to November.
Although Humpbacks are the most common whale, there have also been
sighted visits from the Brydes, Melonheaded, Minke and Southern Right
Whales.
The marine park is also home to 4 species of dolphins that include
the Bottlenose, Common and Humpback.
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