The Top 10 Things to Do in Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay is best known as the Whale Watch Capital and as the gateway to the World Heritage site, Fraser Island. It also boasts having long stretchy of sandy beaches, scenic waterways and strips of forest. While Hervey Bay is a peaceful place, the seaside city offers plenty to do on both land and water.

1. Go Whale Watching

Hervey Bay is known as the whale watching capital for good reason. As it is one of the best places to get up close and see the humpback whales during their annual migration between July and November, going on a whale watching cruise is a must do. Watch the magnificent humpback whales breach, slap, spy hop and socialise! You will not soon forget your close encounters with these fascinating creatures!

• - Marvel at the whales in their natural environment on a full day whale watch tour. Board the 3-level catamaran in the morning and enjoy morning and afternoon teas and snacks, as well as a delicious buffet lunch, while cruising and spotting whales!
• - For a slightly shorter trip, join a three quarter day whale watch tour that includes a buffet lunch or a half day cruise.
• - To get to the whales quickly, board the fastest vessel in Hervey Bay. Enjoy high speeds and low passenger numbers on an adventure whale watch tour.
• - For a peaceful and intimate ride, board a whale watching sailing cruise.

2. Spend at least a day on Fraser Island

Fraser Island, with an area of 184000 hectares, is the world’s largest sand island. This exceptionally beautiful island is listed as a World Heritage site and is ranked by UNESCO to be as precious as Uluru, Kakadu, and the Great Barrier Reef. Fraser Island is diverse, home to kilometres of beach, different coloured lakes and creeks, colourful sand cliffs, giant sand blows and the only rainforest in the world grown in sand. With so much to see, it is easy to enjoy several days on the island—at least make it out for one!

• Enjoy a personalised, guided one or two day tour of Fraser Island and its many highlights, including the white sand beaches of Lake McKenzie or Lake Birrabean, the red perched lake, Lake Boomanjin, Maheno shipwreck, Eli Creek and Central Station Rainforest, among many other stunning sites.
• Experience the best of Hervey Bay’s world in a Fraser Island and whale watching tour combo. Depending on your schedule, you may book a one, two or three day adventure.

3. Meet the dolphins

While Hervey Bay is best known for its whale visitors, it is also a favourite resting place and playground for dolphins and other marine life. Join a dolphin cruise or tour for an opportunity to see and/or feed playful dolphins while also on the lookout for dugongs, turtles, whistling kites, brahminy, kites, white breasted sea eagles and stingrays.

• Join a dolphin ferry cruise and observe not only dolphins but an array of marine life while and enjoying views of Fraser Island, Carlo Sandblow, Great Sandy Straits and Inskip Point. Some cruises include a meal and some enable you to feed the dolphins. Listen to informative commentary from a guide while exploring the pristine waters.
• - Hand feed fish to wild Indo Pacific Humpbacked Dolphins at Tin Can Bay on a morning dolphin tour.

4. Catch yourself a marlin

Many visitors are attracted to Hervey Bay for its fishing. There are a variety of fish such as Barramundi, garfish, marlin and red emperor, among many others, teeming the spectacular waters of Hervey Bay. There are a variety of places and ways to fish at in the area; you may fish from the beach or from the rocks on Fraser Island, from the Great Sandy Strait’s mainland or from the straight itself; you may also fish in any of the area’s large creek, go fresh water fishing at Lenthall’s or go deep-sea fishing on a purpose-built vessel.

5. View the bay from the clouds

It can be difficult to see all of Hervey Bay’s natural beauty in one visit…unless you take to the skies! Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the area’s impressive islands, forests, beaches, lakes and ocean from 14,000ft in the air on a skydive in Hervey Bay!