A Dozen Things to do in Hervey Bay: Your Caravan Park Holiday Guide

Located a few hours north of Brisbane, Hervey Bay makes for a beautiful holiday destination and one of the top choices for caravanners across the country. 

There are a number of quality Hervey Bay Caravan Parks to choose from, but once you’ve parked your rig and set up with the family, you’re going to want to plan a bunch of activities, right? Well, luckily there’s plenty to see and do in Hervey Bay and we’ve compiled some of the best things to get up to during your stay.

Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

Through the months of July to October Hervey Bay plays host to some of the most spectacular natural sights you’re likely to see. Known as the whale watching capital of Australia, Hervey Bay is something of a whale migration pitstop, where mother Humpback Whales raise their calves in the calm waters of the bay. 

Hervey Bay has a number of options available for you to get up close and personal with the migrating Humpbacks. There are a range of tours departing every day in the on-season from shorter trips, to full day tours. Prices for a tour can range between $99 to $200 for an adult ticket, depending on the length of the tour you’re going on.  

See more here: https://whalewatchingherveybay.com.au/whale-watch-tours/hervey-bay.php 

Turtle Discovery Tour

There’s still plenty of marine wonders for you to find outside of the peak whale watching season in Hervey Bay. Why not book a turtle discovery tour? You’ll spend four hours out exploring the marine habitat on a glass bottom boat complete with a guided experience from a member of the Butchulla people. You’ll even be able to get out in the water yourself for a snorkel in the clear shallows, weather permitting.  

Tours depart daily at 10:30am and prices for tickets start at $120 for Adults and $330 for a family ticket. 

More info here: https://www.herveybayecomarinetours.com.au/turtle-discovery

Hervey Bay Water Park 

If you’re looking for a family friendly option to entertain the kids on a hot sunny day, Wetside Water Park can be just what you’re looking for. Found on the foreshore at the junction of Main Street and the Esplanade in Pialba, the park is a perfect option . You could let them frolic in the water fountains or on the water slides while you relax at the onsite coffee shop. Afterwards you could all sit down with some fish and chips by the beach. 

Entry to the park is free, however access to the waterslides is ticketed. A $6.70 ticket will buy you 10 goes on the waterslides. 

More info here: https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/wetside-water-park

Reef World Aquarium

Reef World Aquarium is your opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the native marine wildlife that lives in the tropical Queensland waters. It’s one of the few natural aquariums in the world, using only natural sunlight and sand-filtered seawater. No fluorescent lighting here! You’ll be able to come across various species including sea turtles, reef fish and even sharks. 

Prices for Reefworld start at $22 for adults and $12 for kids aged 3 to 14. 

More info here: http://www.reefworldherveybay.com/

Hervey Bay Markets

If you’re in the mood for a slow paced and relaxing day, why not take the time to explore some of the local markets that Hervey Bay has to offer. On any given weekend, you’ll be able to find a number of markets running throughout Hervey Bay that specialise in everything from handmade goods to local produce to night markets with mouth-watering street food. 

• Torquay Beachside Market runs the 2nd, 4th and 5th Saturdays of the month.
• Urangan Pier Park Market runs every Saturday. 
• The Koala Markets run on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.
• The Howard Country Markets run on the 1st Saturday of each month.

Hervey Bay Restaurants

No holiday would be complete without taking the time to experience what local dining has on offer. Well, the locals of Hervey Bay are no strangers to good food and you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice with a range of different cuisines and atmosphere’s available. 

If you’re looking for something a little bit rustic, and a little bit different, The Black Bear specialises in Canadian themed dishes, such as poutine or maple bacon cheeseburgers. Elsewhere Cafe Balaena offers waterside views and modern Australian cuisine and Aegean Waters can provide you with an accessible range of French food.

Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum 

One of the top attractions in Hervey Bay, the Historical Village and Museum gives visitors a chance to experience what life was really like back in the early colonial days of Australia. You can watch volunteers perform various in-person demonstrations, such as blacksmithing or rope making. You can even assist in making a miniature wooden goblet to take home.  

The museum is open on weekends and will set you back $10 for an adult ticket, while children’s tickets are $3. 

More info here: https://herveybaymuseum.com.au/

The Esplanade

It’s not always necessary to jam pack every single day of your trip with planned activities. Sometimes the best holiday experiences come when you take the time to slow down and explore what your chosen destination has to offer.  

Hervey Bay’s Esplanade has plenty in that regard. You can take the day to stroll around near the beach and take in the sights while visiting the many shops and restaurants along the way.

Urangan Pier

If you’re a fan of fishing or strolls along the water, then Hervey Bay boasts a unique sight. The Urangan Pier juts out towards the Coral Sea at a length of nearly a kilometer, making it the perfect place to throw the line in the water for a while. You may find yourself not alone though, as many of the locals are also avid fishers, the pier even plays host to an annual fishing competition.

Botanical Gardens

Take some time to get amongst nature with a walk through the botanical gardens. Don’t go into the Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens expecting the same manicured experience you might get from a big city – the gardens here have been allowed to grow in a much more natural way. There are natural bush as well as wetland areas for you to visit, which will allow you to get a close up glimpse of the native flora and fauna. 

Entry to the gardens is free and they are open daily from 6:30am to 8:30pm. 

Day Tour To Fraser Island

One of the most iconic tourist destinations in Australia, Fraser Island could easily fill an entire article of amazing things to do all by itself. It’s a bit difficult to get a caravan over there though, so you may want to restrict yourself to just a day trip. 

You’re going to be spoilt for choice if you do, with guided air, sea and land tours available. You can also take a 4WD over for some driving on the sand dunes (just make sure your rig is properly set up for it) or simply go for a bushwalk.

Hang out at the Caravan Park

Lastly, there’s always one alternative if you find yourself stumped for things to do, and that’s to stay put and see what your accommodation has to offer on hand. Many of the caravan parks in Hervey Bay have amenities to keep you and the kids entertained. You’ll find that most caravan parks will have a pool and BBQ area and others, including Ingenia Holidays Hervey Bay, have a kids playground as well.