Hi all!

Today is my 33rd birthday! I wanted to share some of my favourite places in Hervey Bay, Queensland, to show exactly why I love living here. If you didn’t know, I moved from Melbourne with my family last month. It was the best decision we ever made. Read more about that here. It’s such a slow-paced and visually stunning area of Australia. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) The Botanical Gardens

The Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens are located in the suburb of Urangan. Established in 1974, it is situated on 6,000 year old foreshore dunes, spanning 26 hectares. There is a Japanese inspired bridge, a Chinese Zen Garden, an Orchid House, Bush Tucker Garden, Chapel and more. You can find turtles swimming in the lake, as well as lots of hidden trails within the greenery. I love going for walks there. It’s so peaceful and beautiful.

2.) Wetside Water Park 

The Wetside Water Park is located on the foreshore, at the junction of Main Street and the Esplanade. Entry is free (except for the water-slides) and there is a Fountain Light Show every Saturday night at 7pm. As you can imagine, my daughter loves it. There is so much to do. It’s the perfect place to spend a few hours on a warm day. Even better, it overlooks the beach, with a cafe on site.

3.) Urangan Pier

The Urangan Pier is a must-see attraction on the Fraser Coast. It is one of the longest piers in Australia, stretching almost one kilometre into the ocean. If you walk all the way to the end, you may spot a pod of dolphins, stingrays or schools of fish. It’s also the most popular site for fishing. I’ve spent a lot of time there already. It’s absolutely beautiful.

4.) The Esplanade 

The Esplanade stretches all the way from Urangan, to the beaches of Point Vernon (17 kilometres). There is so much to see along the way. You can walk, jog, ride your bicycle, work out on the gym equipment, have a picnic in the park, go to the beach, hire a scooter (I did and it was so much fun), stroll along the pier, get an ice-cream and more. The options are endless.

5.) Reef World Aquarium 

Reef World Aquarium is located in Urangan, right on the foreshore. Established in 1979, it has been operating for well over 35 years. It is an all-natural aquarium, using only sand-filtered sea water and natural sunlight. During our first week here, we were permitted to pat the gigantic green turtles (see image below). It was a truly special moment we will never forget. They also house sharks, stingrays, many different species of fish and more. I absolutely recommend going to visit.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope this post inspires you to visit my little corner of the globe. Let me know if you’ve been to Hervey Bay before. 

Peace & Love xoxo