Hervey Bay is a relaxing tourist city approximately 300 km north of Brisbane. The waters of the bay are protected by Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. Consequently, there is no surf which makes it ideal for families with young children and retirees. The most popular tourist activity is whale watching during June - November. Mother whales use the bay as a nursery for the newborn whales. Fraser Island offers 4-wheel driving, rain forest walking trails, pristine beaches, dingos and sandy cliffs. Nearby Maryborough is filled with 19th-century buildings and was the birthplace of P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins.

There are numerous restaurants, superb seafood and a walking / bicycle path that stretches the length of the bay. The old wooden jetty at Urangan is 868 meters long and is a popular fishing spot. There are two significant tides each day and it is a delight to walk out onto the sand at low tide and watch the thousands of tiny soldier crabs. Of course, you can go swimming in the sea at high tide. The water is warm for most of the year. Or you can lie on the sand.