What is it about Hervey Bay that attracts so many tourists? Is it the fabulous fishing, the amazing environment, the close proximity to Fraser Island, the friendly locals or the chance to see beautiful whales up close and personal?

I don’t think anyone knows the answer and it probably lies in the multitude of reasons to visit or live in Hervey Bay.

Hervey Bay is a coastal city that is an easy 300km drive north of Brisbane just off the Bruce Highway. It’s a quiet, suburban town made up of five suburbs, Point Vernon, Pialba, Scarness, Torquay and Urangan. Stretched along 10km of coastline, Hervey Bay is a perfect location for swimming, fishing and other water activities.

Dreams come true in Hervey Bay. Because of the diversity of the area, these dreams take many forms, but for anglers like us it’s all about the fishing opportunities; and to suggest Hervey Bay’s fishing options are prolific understates just how good it can be!

For those who only dabble in fishing, Hervey Bay is also a tourism Mecca with an abundance of amazing activities right on its doorstep.

1. Humpback whales invade the water surrounding Hervey Bay, much to the delight of tourists. Day-trippers and holidaymakers flock to Hervey Bay in whale season, which runs from late July to early November.

Every year these huge whales migrate from the Antarctic to the sub-tropical coastal waters of western and eastern Australia. They come to the warmer waters to mate and give birth, and when they migrate south again, the whales find Hervey Bay an ideal place to stop and rest. So it’s here you often see the adult whales and their young frolicking in the crystal clear waters. There is a variety of whale watching boat tours for those who want to see these majestic mammal families.

2. Urangan Boat Harbour is Hervey Bay's meeting location for many different aquatic activities, including passenger ferries, the barge to Fraser Island, whale watching boat tours and fishing charters. There are many restaurants and cafes in this area that are ideal spots to sit down, relax, and take in the wonderful views. And for those who want a close encounter of the nature kind, don’t miss out on the dolphin feeding right in the harbour.

3. The Esplanade takes in the picturesque foreshore and has great walking and cycle paths as well as picnic and play areas, a bustling marina and it’s the entrance to the botanical gardens. Exploring all the Esplanade has to offer is a leisurely experience, made up of casually strolling through the shops and sampling the variety of cafes before discovering the botanical gardens.

4. The Botanic Gardens are situated on 6000-year-old foreshore dunes. The 26 hectare property was established to display plants of the Wide Bay and Great Sandy Regions. These gardens are a unique icon of the region and with the World Heritage listed Fraser Island nearby, they are both regionally and internationally significant. The Botanic Gardens continue to develop as an attractive and educational environment, one in which the science of botany can be interpreted for the benefit and enjoyment of the community.

5. Discover the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef at Neptune's Aquarium that features a large display of local living corals and sea creatures that are living in a natural reef setting. Neptune's Aquarium is an all-natural aquarium that thrives on natural sunlight and a chemical free environment. The admittance fee includes a full day pass which allows you to participate in the morning and afternoon feeding sessions and the leisure of visiting the aquarium throughout the day as many times as you like.

6. Blue Dolphin Marine Tours operate a Champagne Sunset Sail where you can sip champagne and watch the sun set over the waters of the Great Sandy Straits. The sail lasts for 90 minutes and includes champagne or beer and there are soft drinks and orange juice available as well. Also included with the drinks are cheese, dip and vegetable platters. What a great way to wind down after a day exploring or an even better way to start the evening.

7. For a more adrenaline fuelled activity Splat Attack paintball is the ultimate fun-packed adventure in the outdoors. Team up against friends, or enemies on the custom designed paintball fields and test your wits in a game of capture the flag or freeze tag. The course has plenty of trenches, logs, walls and tires to make the adventure even more thrilling. Best of all paintball can be enjoyed everyone, young or old, male and female.

8. For another outdoor adventure with more nature and less paint, try horse riding at the Susan River Homestead Adventure Resort. They cater for everyone from the very beginner to the most experienced rider. The two hour rides go twice a day (9.30am and 2.00pm) and stop for refreshments on the banks of the Susan River. It’s an experience you’ll never forget and a great way to experience the Hervey Bay area.

9. Floating dreams can come true with a houseboat hired from Tin Can Bay Houseboats. Time is no object living on the water; cruise leisurely and take in the wonderful surrounds of the Great Sandy Straits, fish, or just relax with everything within easy reach. There is no better way to get to know the Great Sandy straits than from the water and a houseboat is the best access you will find.

10. Adrenaline pumping in your veins? Then give go karting a go to release the energy. Hervey Bay Go Kart Track offers self-drive karts, tandem karts and a monster water slide to cool off. With BBQ facilities on site, you can give your kids a lesson behind the wheel or humbly accept they are a better driver than you.

Of course there are many more activities to do in and around Hervey Bay so don’t be limited to this short list. And remember with Fraser Island right on the doorstep, many visitors take the opportunity to visit the world’s biggest sand island. Join a Fraser Island tour or do-it-yourself, by jumping on the ferry and taking a four-wheel drive on the trip of a lifetime along Fraser’s many beaches and bush tracks.

World Heritage listed Fraser Island is more than just another tropical island. It’s a place of exceptional, pristine beauty, with its long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly coloured sand cliffs, its majestic tall rainforests and numerous freshwater lakes of crystal clear waters.

With an area of 184,000 hectares, Fraser is the world’s largest sand island and a wild haven where you can immerse yourself in Australia’s natural and cultural heritage; meet the local wildlife; soak up clear, starry night skies; snap a perfect Kingfisher Bay sunset from the resort’s jetty; try Aussie bush tucker and forget about city hustle and bustle until you’re ready to head back home.

Best of all, you could literally spend days taking in the magic of the rainforest and beauty of the dunes and still not see it all!

1. Although it is the world’s largest sand island, Fraser supports over 100 freshwater lakes. Ringed by white, sandy beaches, and perched in the tops of the dunes, and fast-flowing streams, these lakes are perfect to relax, swim and picnic. Discover these pristine beauty spots at your own pace in your own vehicle or hire one from the Island’s resorts.

2. Dundonga Creek is one of many freshwater creeks on the western coast of Fraser Island and a stunning spot to visit by canoe. The creek has its origins in rainforest 5km inland and the fresh water supports an abundance of wildlife. A diverse community of mangrove plants and animals fringes the creek mouth, 400m north of Kingfisher Bay Resort. Exploration of the mangrove community can uncover some amazing features and is easily done with a Ranger-guided canoe paddle, which leaves daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort.

3. Striking, coloured sand cliffs sculptured by prevailing winds flank the stunning Seventy-Five Mile Beach on the eastern side of Fraser Island. One highlight for would-be explorers is Rainbow Gorge, on the edge of Kirrar Sandblow; the dunescape features towering sand cliffs, striking coloured sands and a small natural spring that flows for only a few metres before disappearing into the sand.

4. Eli Creek, from the Aboriginal word eeli meaning sand crab, is a popular spot for visitors on their Fraser Island getaway. Eli is one of the many freshwater creeks on Fraser Island, which flow from the underground watertable. During the warmer months, visitors indulge in the popular pastime of floating down the fast-flowing creek as the water, from this natural outlet, rushes to meet the shoreline.

5. Fraser Island, or K’Gari as the Butchulla Aboriginal tribe knows it, contains many sites of archaeological, social and spiritual significance. Middens, artefact scatters, fish traps, scarred trees and camp sites bear witness to the lives of the original inhabitants.

On Fraser, timber loggers discovered a rainforest wilderness and plundered it for its bounty of soft and hard timbers, which were used for everything from furniture to piles to line the banks of the Suez Canal in Egypt. Logging stopped in 1991, so today you can experience the peace of Central Station, a former logging camp, which is now a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Station with an excellent interpretive centre. There are stands of huge kauri pines, satinays and brushbox trees towering over an under storey of palms and rainforest plants.

While inland, walk along the banks of Wanggoolba Creek, as its clear waters flow silently through rainforest. Wanggoolba is the Aboriginal name for macrozamia and this creek area was a rich source of food for the island’s early inhabitants. The King Ferns growing on this part of Fraser Island are a relic from when tropical rainforests were more widespread and are not found in anywhere else on the island.

6. Climb Indian Head, the best lookout point on the island, for spectacular views along Fraser Island’s eastern coastline. During certain times of the year, whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks and huge rays can also be spotted from here along with an abundance of bird life. The name Indian Head was given to the headland in 1770 by Captain Cook, as he sailed past he saw Aboriginals standing on the headland looking out to sea.

While in the neighbourhood, don’t miss a swim in the Champagne Pools on the eastern side of Fraser Island. These natural rock pools are likened to a Jacuzzi, with bubbles formed by waves crashing into rock pools on the edge of the surf.

7. Fraser Island Great Walk Circuit allows you to literally follow in the footsteps of the traditional custodians, the Butchulla people, through the island’s diverse natural habitats: the surf, sand and stunning scenery of the world’s largest sand island.

The circuit combines challenging and remote routes for experienced walkers, with shorter, easier strolls for day or overnight visitors, which gives walkers flexibility to choose the duration and intensity of their walk. And when the walking is done, pamper yourself at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

8. Trek across the stunning Hammerstone Sand Blow from the eastern beach to swim in the fresh water of Lake Wabby. Wabby is literally an oasis in a desert as the beautiful twin emerald green lakes that form the lake are surrounded on one side by a massive sandblow and on the other side by eucalypt and rainforest. This impressive barrage lake is being slowly engulfed by Hammerstone Sand Blow, and is definite must see.

Wabby is the deepest of all Fraser Island's lakes and supports more fish than all the other lakes. You can walk to the lookout for great views or walk across sandblow to Seventy-Five Mile beach.

9. Exploring Fraser Island takes on a whole new meaning when viewed from the heavens. Local operator Air Fraser Island conducts scenic flights, which take off and land on the eastern beach airstrip/highway. From the air marvel at lakes that look like silver butterfly wings and gain a perspective of the size of the mighty sand blows, tracking their way across the ocean and the golden beach, which stretches as far as the eye can see. From July you can also spot migrating whales as they breach and come up for air in the ocean waters and dolphins at play.

10. The diverse range of habitats also makes Fraser Island a bird watchers paradise with an incredible 354 recorded bird species, some considered rare or vulnerable and many are subject to international bird migratory treaties.

As an angler the hardest decision to make at Hervey Bay is what type of fish to target. Whether you want to chase the prolific bread and butter species like bream, whiting and flathead, or maybe you want some serious sportfishing fun on the rampant tuna and mackerel, or perhaps you’re looking for the stalk and deliver tactics involved with chasing trevally over the flats? And that doesn’t even cover the offshore options such as GT popping, trolling for marlin and sailfish, bottom bouncing for some of the biggest reds going, fishing the famous Urangan pier or floating out pilchards for the various mackerel species and cobia.

The following information was compiled with the assistance Wayne Lack from Tackleworld Hervey Bay. For the latest information on what’s biting at Hervey Bay drop in and see Wayne at 59 Torquay Road Pialba, Hervey Bay 4655 or give them a call on (07) 4128 1022.

Chasing tuna on fly or spin tackle is one of the most exciting and exhilarating fishing experiences you can have. To see balls of bait being hammered by fast tuna and knowing that you are only seconds away from a sizzling hook-up is expectation in its truest sense.

Tuna are found in Hervey Bay waters all year round, but there is a peak in tuna activity from March through to June that gets anglers excited. All you need to be a part of this hectic action is a 4-6kg spin rod and a handful of lead slugs, or a 8-10wt fly outfit and a handful of white-based clouser and streamer flies. Of course you can get far more complicated than this, but the real beauty of tuna chasing is its simplicity. You will need a boat though so make sure you hire a guide, bring your own or hire a boat that can reach the tuna schools.

From August through to April or May the flats along the western side of Fraser Island become flats of gold. This phenomenon sees hordes of stunning golden trevally move onto the flats scrounging for yabbies and crabs and anglers in the know targe these fish with a stealthy, eye-straining approach.

There are two ways to get amongst some of the golden action on the flats and the most talked about is to sight cast to the fish with 8-10wt fly tackle. Again the white-based clouser is a standard choice as anglers slowly move across the flats in their boat and look for signs of the fish feeding. These signs include a tail waving in the air, some dirty, stirred-up water or ghostly shadows. The fly fisher casts to the area and carefully works the fly and then hangs on for dear life as a golden trevally screams off across the flats.

Lure fishers don’t miss out either with soft plastic fishers taking the same approach and getting rewards that can sometimes embarrass with their numbers. A sturdy 4-6kg spinning outfit is the preferred weapon for spin anglers.

Flathead are a staple diet for many fishers because they are found almost everywhere and they will greedily eat just about everything thrown in their vicinity.

From August to November the flathead numbers increase in all the creeks and inlets found in Hervey Bay and anglers fishing shallow flats with weedy margins and deep water close by are well rewarded. Whether you’re a lure fisher bouncing plastics along the bottom or a bait fisher working a live mullet or whiting in the same area, big flathead are ready to make your day.

Remember there is a slot limit for flathead across Queensland that means any fish under 40cm or over 75cm must be released as soon as possible.

Like the flathead, whiting are a favourite target in the Hervey Bay region. It’s not just their great taste and the fact you can catch winter and summer whiting in Hervey Bay, it’s also that these little warrior battle it out so hard on the end of a line making them very appealing.

Anglers fishing yabbie or worm baits are in the best position to catch a great feed of whiting. Targeting shallow flats on the rising tide or fishing slightly deeper water as the tide runs out is a sure way to tempt a whiting or two to the hook. Make sure you know the difference between summer and winter whiting as their bag limits and size limits vary, and both can be caught in the same months.

These tasty little speedsters are some of the most prolific fish found in Hervey Bay and you are a good chance to catch one at any time of the year.

The humble bream has risen to almost cult status as the professional tournament circuit gains momentum and popularity, but in the creeks and rivers around Hervey Bay, bream fishing is what it used to be, a peaceful fishing experience with some tasty fillets for the end of the day.

Bream take a wide variety of baits in an even wider range of habitats but anglers using live worms and yabbies that are fished near rocks, timber or weed will soon find some of these hardy fish gracing their bags. Found from the inlets and creeks on Fraser Island as well as all the creeks and rivers along the mainland and the Great Sandy Strait, bream are a popular and relatively easy to find species when you visit Hervey Bay.

Offshore and game anglers are in a real hot bed of activity when they visit Hervey Bay. There are two primary places to chase some offshore sportfish from Hervey Bay and that includes inside Hervey Bay or in the offshore waters via the north of Fraser Island, through the bar at Inskip or by beach launching from Fraser Island itself.

Inside the sheltered water of Hervey Bay game fishers are rewarded with mini-marlin, sailfish, mackerel and some thumping big giant trevally. Most anglers troll for their billfish fix and concentrate on the annual small marlin run early in the year. It seems almost every year a small marlin is caught in water clear enough and shallow enough to wade in. One word of caution though if Spanish mackerel are on your target list: the species is known to be a carrier of the ciguatera poison so it is advisable to release any mackerel caught inside Hervey Bay’s waters.

Offshore anglers really have a fantastic time as the available species list is more like a Grant’s Guide to Fishing rather than a simple area list of species.

For bottom bashers there are some of the best reds available within a couple of hours of Hervey Bay. These reds take the form of snapper, red emperor and nannygai. Alongside these reds are sensational cod, sweetlip the envy of the barrier reef, trevally of a dozen different species and big cobia, amberjack and occasional kingfish down south.

The trollers love these offshore grounds too as marlin and sailfish are plentiful and many anglers believe it won’t be too long before an official grander (over 1000lb) marlin is landed from Hervey Bay waters. The trollers also come into contact with massive wahoo, Spanish mackerel, mahi mahi (dolphin fish) and giant trevally, the latter being some of the world’s biggest, especially around The Spit on the northern end of Fraser.

This wrap of available fish and options barely does the area justice. It is literally an angler’s paradise where every want is right there for the taking. Just remember that new bag and size limits have recently been bought in and there are a range of activity zones that directly impact on angling so make sure you are aware of them before you bit these fantastic waterways.

Choosing where to stay is always an important part of any trip away and below we have detailed some of the best options on the mainland and on Fraser Island to make your stay as good as it should be.

Kingfisher Bay Resort is a world-class environmental resort sitting on the dunes of Fraser Island. The island’s untamed wilderness and rugged, natural charm entices from the first, providing 4WD adventure and excitement, but also a relaxing atmosphere from your base at beautiful, eco-friendly Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Slip into island living and explore the hundreds of tracks that criss-cross the world's largest sand island. Immerse yourself in the ancient rainforests, which flourish in dune valleys, coloured sand cliffs on Seventy-Five Mile Beach or the mirrored lakes, ringed with gold, which tempt even the most reluctant swimmers.

Nature’s art-gallery turns on seasonal exhibitions: wild spring flowers, lazy summer days, the colours of autumn and wintry wilderness. And all this is just a 45-minute flight from Brisbane and a short hop from Hervey Bay on the stunning Fraser Coast.

Check out their website at www.kingfisherbay.com.

Tin Can Bay Houseboats is located at the bottom end of the Great Sandy Marine Park. Their vessels are situated within E finger at the Tin Can Bay Marina, which is in Emperor Street, Tin Can Bay.

Discover the unspoilt beauty of this unique Marine Park that spans over 350km square of natural waterways. You be skipper and cruise the Great Sandy Straits with your own crew. These sub-tropical waters are your highway to the holiday of a lifetime, in this vast area of National Park and wilderness.

This magnificent World Heritage area provides an abundance of wildlife, so be sure to keep a lookout for dolphins, turtles, sea eagles, pelicans, dugong and the popular Fraser Island dingo. The world famous mud crab is a gourmet's delight and can be easily caught from your houseboat with crab pots (supplied).

Go fishing, swimming or yabbying with the kids or simply laze around and watch the tide rise and fall. Houseboats are fully equipped with linen, crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, TV and radio, fridge, freezer, icebox, hot and cold running water, BBQ and dingy with outboard motor.

Call (07) 5486 2669 or visit www.tincanbayhouseboats.com.au.

Stewart Island Eco Villas is located on remote Stewart Island in the Great Sandy Straits – just a short boat trip from the nearby fishing hamlets of Maaroom, Boonooroo and Poona, south of Maryborough, or just 30km north of the southern most tip of Fraser Island.

At less than three hours drive north from Brisbane, and a part of the World Heritage listed Great Sandy Marine Park; Stewart Island offers fishing and boating families, as well as those with a passion for the great outdoors, a unique opportunity to experience one of Australia’s most pristine and untouched coastal eco systems.

A stone’s throw from your luxury accommodation at Stewart Island Eco Villas are some of the best fishing, crabbing, boating and eco tourist opportunities to be found anywhere in the region. With the beautiful Fraser Island just minutes away by boat, guests can plan their daily fishing or eco tourist trips to take in the sights of the magnificent waterways of the Great Sandy Straits or venture inland to soak up some of the beauty of Fraser Island’s unique plant, bird and animal life.

Stewart Island Eco Villas cater for that truly unique boating family eco holiday with a difference. On offer are three beautifully appointed villas; each taking full advantage of spectacular 180 degree views of the Great Sandy Straits and views over the water to Fraser Island in the east; and the beautiful Fraser Coast hinterland in the west. Enjoy those special moments with family and friends from the comfort of your modern fully equipped villa, offering modern conveniences including full 240V eco friendly solar power (with emergency back-up), plenty of refrigeration, TV/DVD (to keep the little boaties happy), loads of solar hot water and the convenience of gas cooking in your fully equipped family sized kitchen.

Bookings can be made by phoning Stewart Island Eco Villas on 0408 840 995 or (07) 4129 8959.

There are countless accommodation options in Hervey Bay itself and you can find one that suits you by contacting the Fraser Coast Regional Council by logging onto www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au. This website has an abundance of information for anyone travelling to the area and will lead you to some fantastic accommodation options of all levels. Click on the Visitors link at the top of the page and go from there.

Hervey Bay is so accessible to everyone it’s a wonder more people don’t visit and stay.

For starters you can self-drive to the region. Maryborough is 255km north of Brisbane along the Bruce Highway and Hervey Bay is a further 34km northeast of Maryborough. The popular backpackers town of Childers is 60km north of Maryborough, while Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay can be accessed via Maryborough for those travelling from the north or Gympie for those travelling from the south.

There are flights direct to Hervey Bay with QuantasLink, Virgin Blue and Jetstar all operating into Hervey Bay airport. Most car hire companies will have shuttle bus pick-ups or have your car waiting for you at the airport.

You can also catch the train to Maryborough West and pop onto a transfer bus into Hervey Bay if you love the feel of rail travel, and many do. You can also jump on a bus from north or south and arrive at Maryborough, Hervey Bay or Childers. There are numerous operators with varying pick up and drop off points and times so research this mode of transport if you are likely to catch a bus.

When we visited Hervey Bay we linked up with Boab Boat Hire. Boab has a satellite operation based in Hervey Bay and the ability to grab a boat once you arrive is an option that will appeal to many. Boab Boat Hire allowed us to get around on the water, which is every bit as important as getting around on the land if you’re a keen angler.

The advantages of having a boat on site, that can be launched and retrieved by the team at Boab, are many.

For starters you do not need to own a suitable boat for fishing the waters surrounding Hervey Bay. The Boab boat we used was a Kimberley 5.5m with a 75hp Honda outboard that would set you back about $60,000 to buy, plus insurance, maintenance, towing fuel and wear and tear on your car and boat trailer.

Secondly, the simple hassle of towing a boat from home is just not there. Your fuel bill for travel will immediately come down in a significant way and this saved money will help offset the hire cost. Also, if you fly or coach into Hervey Bay, you can still fish by yourself from a safe fishing rig that actually will get up on the plane, rather than putter around at 6 knots.

Thirdly the team from Boab can and will point you in the right direction to catch some fish and every new client undergoes a familiarisation session on the boat to ensure they are competent in its operation before they are set free to explore the waters of Hervey Bay.

Put simply, hiring a Boab boat when you arrive at Hervey Bay takes a lot of hassle out of the trip planning and allows you the freedom to concentrate on planning all the other details of your trip. And as you already know there are plenty of things to do when you visit Hervey Bay.

If you are going to Hervey Bay for a holiday and want to hire a boat for a day or a week, give Boab Boat Hire in Hervey Bay a call on 1300 00 2622 or visit www.boabboathire.com.au – you won’t regret it.

If you fly into Hervey Bay or coach in, you can still grab yourself a 4WD and get into the business of getting around town and around the sand. Bay 4WD Hire has a range of vehicles that are set up to cope with everything the Hervey Bay region can dish out. And the best part is you can take these rigs onto Fraser Island and experience some of the best beach and sand driving available anywhere in the world.

Operating out of Hervey Bay since 1982, Bay 4WD Hire is your Fraser Island self-drive tour specialist. They’re a one-stop shop for everything Fraser Island – from packages, great rates, itineraries, permits, safety briefings and manual and automatic vehicles available.

The friendly team is there to help, giving you more time to explore the beauty and hidden treasure of the island and less time spent fussing. And to top it all off, on your return they’ll do all the washing and cleaning of the cars. Now what could be better than that?

Log onto www.bay4wd.com.au for more information and to check out their great package pricing.

Hervey Bay and its surrounds, including the natural beauty of Fraser Island, offer visitors so much variety.

From the local cafes through to the bigger resorts, visitors rave about how beautiful Hervey Bay and its surroundings are and how friendly the locals are to visitors. It’s a rare combination to find locals who live in a stunning natural environment with a willingness to share their little patch of paradise with visitors, but it just makes Hervey Bay all the more unique. Try launching your boat without a local asking if he can give you some help. Sit at a café and listen to the locals say: “G’day”. It’s refreshingly inclusive.

Whether you want to experience the fishing, the activities, the whales or the people, or even for the whole lot, don’t delay when it comes time to visit Hervey Bay. It’s a special part of Queensland that can’t wait to see you.