Fraser Coast
Three hours north of Brisbane or a 90 minute flight from Sydney is the Fraser Coast region, which includes World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the coastal city of Hervey Bay and the heritage city of Maryborough.
Fraser Island
One of Queensland's most renowned national parks, around 98 per cent of Fraser Island is protected. The 165,280 hectare park is also know as K'Gari in local Aboriginal language, or "paradise".
With more than 120 kilometres of ocean beaches, coloured sandstone cliffs and home to possums, gliders, wallabies and dingoes, Fraser supports rainforest trees such as satinay and brush box, some more than 1000 years old. There is resort accommodation and camping facilities on the island. Take a tour to visit the Wreck of the Maheno, Central Station, Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek and The Cathedrals. This world class island boasts some of the rarest ecosystems, such as sand based rainforests and crystal clear lakes nestled between towering rainforests and sand dunes.
Beaches and mountain
Fraser Coast offers pristine beaches of Hervey Bay, boating charters on the Great Sandy Strait, excellent beach and inland fishing, and is home to the "world’s best beach" as voted by US Discovery Channel - 75 Mile Beach on Fraser Island. The Great Barrier Reef is easily accessible from Hervey Bay, with regular flights to Lady Elliot Island departing three times a day.
In the South Burnett, the Bunya Mountains national park features spectacular rainforests including stranger figs, hoop pine and wild orchids. The park is home to about 120 species of birds and many species of mammals, frogs and reptiles. The Burrum Coast, just north of Hervey Bay is a diverse range of coastal communities and rural towns, with the Burrum Coast and Poona National Parks great for bushwalking.
Attractions and Adventure
The Fraser Coast is renowned for its range of adventure activities, from acrobatic aircraft to water adventures and everything else in between. Try jet skiing across Hervey Bay to Fraser Island, skydiving, micro-lighting or kite surfing. For a change of pace visit the heritage attractions of historical Maryborough such as Rosehill Homestead, Brennan and Geraght’s Store Museum, Maryborough’s Heritage Gateway and Wharf Street.
Arts, Craft and Markets
You will discover a range of locally made arts and crafts within galleries, tearooms and cottages while exploring the Fraser Coast and south Burnett Heritage Markets are held in the hear of Maryborough every Thursday and Hervey Bay every Sunday.
There are many restaurants and cafes situated along the Esplanade in Hervey Bay and along the historic Wharf Street precinct. Gourmet produce and fine wines are the pride of the south Burnett, with local markets in many South Burnett towns every weekend.
Country Towns
There are some beautiful and historic villages in the South Burnett such as Nanango, Kingaroy, Kilkivan, Murgon and Wondai. The country around Kingaroy is rich, perfect for a wide range of farming activities and is well known for its peanuts. South Burnett is now one of the major wine-producing regions. Wineries are dotted throughout the area, from Nanango in the south to Murgon in the north. This is known as the South Burnett Wine Trail.
The small costal towns that line the shores of the Great Sandy Strait and Burrum Coast are quaint fishing communities and capture the true pioneering spirit and laidback lifestyle of the Fraser Coast region. The tranquil waterways of the Great Sandy Strait are home to fish, dugong, turtles and dolphins.
There's plenty of experiences with winery trails, gold or gem fossicking, farm and produce tours and historic houses, Shop for antiques or crafts, head inland for some fresh water fishing or catch one of the region's many festivals.
Must See and Do:
- World Heritage-listed Fraser Island
- Bunya Mountain National Park
- Fraser Island Great Walk
- World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef - Lady Elliot Island
- South Burnett Wine Trail
- Hervey Bay Whale (late July-early Nov)
- The Esplanade in Hervey Bay
- Maryborough Heritage Gateway
- Gourmet food experiences in the South Burnett
- Freshwater fishing at Bjelke-Petersen and Boondooma Dams
- Colourful festivals and event in the South Burnett
- Bird watching weeks on Fraser Island
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