Hervey Bay is a beachside city located in south east Queensland.

Understand

The town (population approximately 50,000 and growing fast) is a centre for whale watching and 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 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.

It is pronouced Harvey Bay.

Getting there

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 fly to Brisbane .

• Virgin Blue and Jetstar operate services to Sydney . Often flights to Hervey Bay from Sydney are cheaper than flights to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast.

• There are also flights to Lady Elliot Island (you could fly there from the Gold Coast or Bundaberg 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 $15-$20 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, and you must use the stairs.

By car

About 3-4 hours drive north from the Sunshine Coast, and 4-5 hours drive north from Brisbane .

By train

A coach service connects with the Brisbane to Rockhampton tilt train, that runs to Pialba and Urangan.

By bus

Coach services running north from Brisbane stop in Hervey Bay.

Traveling around

By car

Can rental facilities are easily available. Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget all have car rental depots.

By taxi

Taxis are available. Call the national 131 008 taxi number for service.

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 Esplanada. 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, 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.

• Bay Bike Hire, 106 Truro Street, ☎ 0417 644 814

• Fraser Coast Bicycle Hire, ☎ 0400 666 488

See

• Go and see Fraser Island (considered the world's largest sand island). Ferry services run regularly from the boat harbour.
• Explore Urungan 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 QLD 4655, ☎ 61-7-4197-4210

Things to do

• 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.
• Whale Watching. Hervey Bay is the end of the line for many of the Antartic 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.

Eat

There are a number of restaurants and take-away places situated in town and along the esplanada. 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.

Drink

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.

Sleep

There are many apartments for rent along the esplanada. 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.

Budget

There are numerous backpacker's hostels in the Bay.

• Beaches Backpackers (Beaches Backpackers), 185 Torquay Terrace, Hervey Bay, QLD, 4655, ☎ +61 7 4124 1322 Located only 500 metres from the beach

• Colonial Village YHA, 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. Complimentary breakfast for backpackers.

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.

• Beachside Motor Inn Hervey Bay, ☎ +61 7 4124 1999

• Shelly Bay Resort, Thai restaurant on the premises.

• Playa Concha Motor Inn, Spanish restaurant on the premises.

Splurge

• Breakfree Apartments, ☎ 1300 987 602 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments

• Mantra Harvey Bay, 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.

Get out

• Lady Elliot Island is a 30 minute flight.

• Fraser Island is sand island, a short boat trip away.