
Sunset in Hervey Bay © Kiwi Mikex
One of Queensland's fastest growing regions, the Fraser Coast is
best-known as the home of Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef,
two of Queensland's World Heritage Sites, and is the capital of
whale watching in Australia where visitors can experience the sheer
beauty and majesty of the giant humpback whale. Boasting a rich and
diverse natural beauty, the Fraser Coast region encompasses the
areas of Fraser Island, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Cooloola,
Tiaro, and the Great Sandy Strait.
Prospectors should take a trip back in time and visit the old gold
mining town of Gympie, where gold-diggers flocked and saved
Queensland from its severe economic depression in 1867. Visitors
can also admire the beautiful colonial architecture of the charming
Victorian town of Maryborough and stroll around a Heritage Market
(Thursdays), visit the Mount Walsh National Park, watch loggerhead
turtles hatching on Mon Repos Beach from January to March, feed the
dolphins breakfast in Tin Can Bay or simply relax with a good book
on the stunning stretches of sandy white beaches and top up your
tan.
The World Heritage Site of Fraser Island is by far the region's
most popular attraction. The largest sand island in the world,
Fraser Island's pristine freshwater lakes and creeks are the
perfect place for nature lovers to escape for a bit of peace and
quiet, while the verdant rainforests are juxtaposed with swampy
wetlands and the coastal strands of Pandanus palms. Keen fishermen
should take a trip to Hervey Bay where monsters like garfish and
marlin can be hooked, as well as red emperor, barramundi and
mangrove jack. Hervey bay is also the best place to view the
awesome humpback whales as they make their annual migration south
from July to November.
With endless activities and a good range of natural and man-made
attractions to visit, it's not surprising the Fraser Coast is
becoming one of Australia's premier holiday destinations.