The Best Family Approved Things to do in Hervey Bay
With its safe, sheltered waters, mild weather, whales and easy access to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island (K’Gari), Hervey Bay is one of Australia’s ultimate sea-side family holiday destinations. Located just 3.5 hours drive North of Brisbane, Lonely Planet describes Hervey Bay as one of the Fraser Coast’s most alluring honeypots.
Here is the ultimate list of family approved things to do in Hervey Bay! (Check out the accommodation suggestions at the end of the blog.)
Go For a Swim at The Beach
Thanks to the protection from K’gari (Fraser Island), Hervey Bay’s beaches feature unusually calm water. With 13 kilometres of beachfront to choose from, it’s incredibly easy for families to find the perfect spot.
Top beach spots for families include Torquay, Scarness, Urangan and Pialba. If you have time to explore further afield, take a drive out to Craignish, Toogoom or Dundowran Beach.
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD and Vince Valitutti
Splash Around at WetSide Waterpark
WetSide Waterpark is a free water play area featuring water jets that shoot out of the ground. There is a dedicated area for under 5’s play, dumping water buckets and slides. Don’t miss the free fountain light show on Saturday nights!
Fun waterslides or FlipSide Board Rider can be enjoyed for a fee and there is a fantastic coffee shop as well as a fish & chip shop on site.
WetSide is open 7 days from 10am to 5pm during the QLD school holiday, except for the June/July holidays. Check their website for up-to-date opening hours.
Credit – Fraser Coast Tourism & Events
Stroll, Ride or Cruise The Esplanade
Stretching for a whopping 17km alongside the beach, The Esplanade is loved by both visitors and locals alike. From Urangan to Point Vernon, the paved track passes by cafes, parks, restaurants, exercise equipment, BBQs, the beach and beautiful green communal areas.
Check out these fun Surrey Bikes for hire … perfect for cruising the Hervey Bay Esplanade!
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Explore Reef World Aquarium
Located on the foreshore at Urangan, Reefworld Aquarium is an all-natural aquarium that uses only sand filtered seawater and natural sunlight. Established in 1979, Reefworld has been delighting both locals and visitors for over 40 years.
Expect to see colourful tropical fish, turtles, sharks, large reef fish, crabs and more. Families can feel around the touch tank and watch the daily turtle and shark feeding.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Visit The Iconic Urangan Pier
The Urangan Pier is a must-see and at 868 metres long, is one of the longest in Australia. Stroll to the end for great views back towards the bay and don’t be surprised if you see dolphins!
Bring a picnic or get some fish & chips to eat by the beach near the entrance to the pier.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Tuck Into Fish & Chips by The Beach
There are plenty of places to get Fish and Chips along the esplanade in Hervey Bay. Grab your meal and set yourself up on the beach anywhere on the 17km stretch between Urangan and Point Vernon. This is a great thing to do in Hervey Bay when the sun is going down.
Easy dinner with the kids bliss!
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Relax While The Kids Play at SkateSide & The Adventure Playground
Located within close walking distance to WetSide on the other side of the Seafront Oval, this great hangout features a skate bowl, skate ramps, parkour equipment and an adventure playground with very high slides and various climbing ropes.
Parents can take a break with a picnic rug on the grass while the kids let loose on the playground.
Cast a Line And Reel in a Whopper
Many families choose to fish from the Urangan Pier for the great location and scenery. Fish commonly caught in the shallow waters of the first channel include flathead, whiting and garfish. Larger species such as mackerel, queenfish, trevally and tuna can be caught from the deeper, outer channel towards the end of the pier.
Join in a fishing charter to target some of Australia’s most iconic sportfish such as mangrove jack, barramundi, sailfish, GT, black marlin, sailfish and more.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Grab Your Fruit, Veg & Gifts at The Markets
The Urangan Pier Park Community Markets are held every Saturday from 7am – 1pm directly opposite the entrance to the Urangan Pier.
Also held in Urangan, but on Kruger Court, the Koala Markets are held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday from 6am to 12 noon.
The Nikenbah markets are held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday from 8am at the Nikenbah Animal Refuge on Nikenbah-Dundowran Road.
Torquay Beachside Markets are held on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Saturday of every month from 8am to 1pm. You can find them opposite the Torquay Post Office on the Esplanade.
Credit – Jules Ingall
Learn Something New at The Discovery Sphere
Located on Old Maryborough Road, the Discovery Sphere is an ideal starting point to learn about the wonder of the Hervey Bay region. Designed with both adults and kids in mind, there are plenty of cool things and interactive exhibits to keep everyone interested.
Learn about Hervey Bay’s relationship with the humpback whale and seek inspiration from World Heritage-listed K’Gari (Fraser Island) and the Great Sandy Strait.
Discover What Life Was Like in The Early Days at The Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum
The Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum has something for the whole family. Discover what life was really like in the early days for pioneering families!
The museum covers 1.2 hectares and includes 21 buildings from the early days and over 12,000 items both large and small. Families can take part in interactive demonstrations of the skills that early settlers needed to survive
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Enjoy a Fun Bowling Session and Check Out The Synthetic Ice-Skating Rink
Ten Pin Bowling is always a lot of fun and Hervey Bay Ten Pin Bowl makes it just that little bit better with the option of bumper bowling and a ramp for the littlies.
After your game, check out the arcade machines and try out the synthetic ice-skating rink, where you can enjoy the fun of ice-skating without getting cold or wet.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Feel The Serenity of The Botanical Gardens
Established in 1974, the Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens on Elizabeth St in Urangan are situated on 6,000 year old foreshore dunes spanning 26 hectares. Entry is free and there are great walking tracks, lush green lawns, a pretty lagoon that features a fountain and viewing platform and an Australian bush tucker garden.
Everyone will love the Zen garden at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens and kids will love the small nature-themed playground.
Credit – Credit Tourism & Events QLD and Sabrina Lauriston
Explore Fraser Island
World Heritage listed K’gari (aka Fraser Island) is accessed by a short 40-minute boat ride from Hervey Bay. Featuring stunning crystal clear freshwater lakes and creeks, ancient sand dunes, lush rainforest and plenty of sandy 4WD tracks, K’gari is truly an amazing experience.
Check out our Fraser Island page for more information on this wonderful island!
If you don’t have your own 4WD, consider joining in one of the great one-day tours or two-day tours departing Hervey Bay.
Credit – Jules Ingall
Join a Whale Watching Tour For a Memorable Experience
From July to November every year, the whale watching opportunities in Hervey Bay are epic. Hervey Bay’s status as one of the best whale-watching destinations worldwide was recognised in 2019 when it was chosen as the first Whale Heritage Site.
Whale watching is extra-special in Hervey Bay as the inquisitive whales stop and play for a while before continuing their migration.
Book your Whale Watching Tour >> HERE <<.
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Experience The Wonder of The Great Sandy Straits Marine Park With Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours
Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours offers a range of tours from early morning through to sunset, sharing the beauty of the Great Sandy Straits Marine Park on an unforgettable outing.
Families will experience the local islands of the Great Sandy Straits, snorkel the healthy reef, learn about sustainability and listen to Dreamtime stories from a local Butchulla guide.
Book your Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours here.
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Swim With The Whales
During the annual Humpback migration from July to October, Hervey Bay Dive Centre operates a dedicated Whale Swim and Watch Tour. This tour is a unique and memorable opportunity to watch and swim with one of nature’s most majestic animals.
The swim takes place via a 20 metre line connected to the stern of the vessel and only snorkels are used as whales are not keen on the bubbles from dive equipment.
Wetsuit, masks, snorkel and safety gear are provided and guest numbers are strictly limited, making for a great day on the water. Only children over 8 years are permitted to swim with the whales.
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Chill Out at Arkarra Gardens and Cafe
Arkarra Tea Gardens is a relaxing cafe featuring homemade sweets and tasty meals made by a gourmet chef. Located on Panorama Drive at Dundowran Beach, the site is a blissful two acres of wonderfully landscaped gardens.
Meals can be taken in your own Bali Hut and Arkarra Cafe also has a great selection of Gluten-free and vegetarian meals. They even have options for little ones!
After a meal, go for a short walk around the gardens and adjoining lagoons to spot the turtles and local birdlife.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Hire a Boat and Cruise the Sheltered Waters of Hervey Bay
Boab Boats allows families to explore the waters of Hervey Bay without having to own your own boat. They offer a walk on -walk off service which means there is no launching, retrieving or cleaning.
Go fishing, swim in the warm protected waters or have fun with a wake board. If no one in your group has a licence, Boab Boats have the services of a coxswain who can drive for you.
Credit – Jessica Palmer.
Let the Kids Loose on One of Many Playgrounds
Hervey Bay is home to many parks for family fun however here are six of the best … tried and tested!
Ernie Organ Train Park is a popular park located on the Esplanade at Torquay with direct access to the beach and Torquay Pier. Kids will love the human-sized hamster wheel and stationary mini-train.
Dayman Park is located in Urangan next to Reef World Hervey Bay. The playground features swings, slides, various climbing things and a fun climbing rope structure.
Adventurous kids will love the Adventure Park located on the Esplanade just a short walk from WetSide WaterPark in Pialba. It features high climbing ropes structures with steep slides and there is a skate park right next door.
The Pines is located on the Esplanade just past Beach Road and is a rope structure type obstacle playground. It’s built directly on the foreshore of Point Vernon’s rocky outcrop where at low tide, kids can also scramble over the rocks searching for shells and crabs.
Apex Park is perfect for younger kids as it’s completely enclosed by a fence. There is a small low ropes type playground, sand kitchen, climbing boulders and some ”semi submerged” whales. This playground is great for imaginations and can be found on the Esplanade at Pialba near Tooan Tooan Creek.
The Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens in Urangan has a small but fairly new nature-themed playground with a tunnel, balancing beams, musical items and balancing ropes.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Eat at Dan and Steph’s
After winning season 4 of My Kitchen Rules in 2013, Dan and Steph Mulheron created an urban style eatery designed for people to leave happy and satisfied with friends and family.
EAT at Dan and Steph’s has become somewhat of a Hervey Bay icon. Opened for breakfast and lunch daily (closed Tuesday) with great views across the Hervey Bay Water, the menu changes seasonally with a focus on fresh, local and seasonal produce.
There is a children’s menu and they even cater to those who have had weight loss surgery. Due to Covid-19 dining restrictions, book your table in advance on the Eat at Dan & Steph’s website direct.
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Stroll the Hervey Bay Marina
The Urangan Boat Harbour in Hervey Bay is where most of the marine tours depart from and it has come a long way since its early days of one public wharf. These days there are three marinas inside the harbour for both commercial and private use.
Stroll the harbour for its scenic views, great cafes and gift shops. It’s also fun to just sit with fish and chips and watch the boats come and go! The boat club is also located here which is a great dining option for families.
Credit – Tourism & Events QLD
Looking for More Awesome Family Holiday Inspiration?
For more information on visiting the wonderful Hervey Bay, head on over to our Hervey Bay page. Alternatively, head back to the home page for inspiration on other destinations in Australia and worldwide.
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Resources for Booking Your Family Holiday to Hervey Bay
Flights
Hervey Bay is located 3.5 hours drive North of Brisbane. Get a great deal on flights by comparing major airlines on I Want That Flight. Deals on car hire can be found at Discover Cars.
Accommodation
CAMPING – There is a Discovery Park on Fraser Street as well as a council-owned beachfront tourist park. For those seeking a little more privacy, the author (yours truly) offers private land camping through HipCamp at our property, Hervey Bay Bush Escape.
MIDRANGE – Try the Woolshed Eco Lodge for larger families, Silver Sands Apartments or Break Free Great Sandy Straits.
UPMARKET – Try the Grand Mecure Allegra, Akama Resort or Oaks Hervey Bay Resort and Spa.
Booking.comActivities
When you get tired of lazing around on the beach, you can’t beat a visit to Fraser Island or a Whale Watching trip.
- Check out the great tour options on Viator here.
