Characteristics
Maryborough is known as Heritage City due to its magnificent homes and
public buildings.
Situated on a curve of the broad Mary River, close to 150 years of history
can be found in the city. The Mary River was discovered by Andrew Petrie
in 1842, and not long after a member of his party returned to establish
sheep farming near Tiaro. However by March 1843, the venture had failed
due to disease in the sheep and attacks by natives. In June, 1847, George
Furber settled in one of the deserted outstations on the south bank and
built a wharf, store and shanty. The schooner Sisters arrived in December
to load wool from the stations and Maryborough became a wool port.
How to Get There By Air
Sunstate Airlines, 13 1313, have daily flights to/from Brisbane. Sunstate
and Flight West, 1300 130 092, both service Hervey Bay.
By Bus
McCafferty's, 13 1499, Greyhound Pioneer, 13 2030, and Suncoast Pacific,
5443 1011, stop at Maryborough on their Brisbane-Cairns routes.
By Road
Maryborough is on the Bruce Highway, 255km (158 miles) north of Brisbane.
The journey takes about 3 hours. Hervey Bay is a further 34km (half an
hour's drive) north east.
Visitor Information
The Fraser Coast - South Burnett Regional Tourism Board Ltd. is located
at 388-396 Kent Street, Maryborough, (07) 4122 3444. The web address
is www. frasercoast.org and
the email address is info@frasercoast.org
The Maryborough Tourist Information Centre is at 30 Ferry Street, Maryborough,
4121 4111.
You will find the Hervey Bay Tourist & Information Centre at 353 The
Esplanade, 4124 4050. There is also an Information Centre at 63 Old Maryborough
Road, Pialba, 4124 9609.
If you wish to make bookings, the following two outlets will be able to
assist you:
The Whale Booking Office, 419 The Eplanade, 4125 3399, and Hervey Bay Accommodation
Centre, 139 Boat Harbour Drive, Hervey ÊBay, 4124 2424.
Accommodation
There is plenty of accommodation available in the South Burnett Region,
and here is a selection with prices for a double room per night, which
should be used as a guide only. The telephone area code is 07.
Maryborough
Susan River Homestead Ranch Resort, Fraser Coast Highway, 4121 6846. 16
rooms, licensed restaurant, swimming pool, spa, sauna, tennis, water skiing,
barbecue - $122 twin share.
McNevins Parkway, 188 John Street, 4122 2888. 15 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool, spa, sauna - $80.
Mineral Sands, 75 Ferry, cnr Albert Street, 4121 2366. 20 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool - $70-75.
Cara, 196 Walker Street, 4122 4288. 13 units, pool - $60-75.
Arkana Inn, 46 Ferry Street, 4121 2261. 32 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool - $60-70.
Spanish Motor Inn Maryborough, 499 Alice Street, 4121 2858. 22 units, swimming
pool - $60-70.
Maryborough City, 138 Ferry Street, 4121 2568. 17 units, licensed restaurant
(closed Sun), swimming pool, barbecue - $60.
Royal Centre Point, 326 Kent Street, 4121 2241. 18 units, licensed restaurant
- $55-80.
Caravan Parks
Wallace Units & Caravan Park, 22 Ferry Street, 4121 3970. Pool, barbecue
- powered sites $14 for two, units $50 for two, cabins $30 for two.
Huntsville Caravan Park, 23 Gympie Road, 4121 4075. (Pets allowed on application)
- powered sites $16 for two, on-site vans $25 for two, cabins $30 for two.
Maryborough Caravan Park, 209 Gympie Road, 4121 6379. 50 sites, barbecue,
pool - powered sites $14 for two, cabins, $40 for two.
Country Stopover Caravan Park, Bruce Highway, 4121 2764. (Pets allowed
on application) - powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans $25 for two.
Hervey Bay
The accommodation for the Bay is in the towns of Torquay, Urangan, Pialba
and Scarness.
Playa Concha Resort, 475 Esplanade, Torquay, 4125 1544. 40 units, 16 suites,
licensed restaurants, heated swimming pool, spa, barbecue - $75.
Reef, 410 The Esplanade, Torquay, 4125 2744. 25 units, swimming pool, barbecue
- $40-67.
Kondari Resort, 49 Elizabeth Street, Urangan, 4128 9702. 97 units, licensed
restaurant, bistro, swimming pool, spa, playground, half-court tennis,
barbecue - $59-99.
Shelly Beach, 509 Esplanade, Urangan, 4128 9888. 13 units, barbecue, undercover
parking - $55-80.
Hervey Bay, 518 Esplanade, Urangan, 4128 9277. 18 units, swimming pool,
barbecue - $47-72.
Urangan Motor Inn, 573 Esplanade, Urangan, 4128 9699. 42 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa, barbecue - $42-65.
Fraser Gateway Motor Inn, 68 Main Street, Pialba, 4128 3666. 28 units,
licensed restaurant (Mon-Thu), swimming pool - $75-80.
Hervey Bay Resort, 249 Esplanade, Pialba, 4128 1555. 24 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa - $70-80.
Sunseeker Motel, 354 The Esplanade, Scarness, 4128 1888. 10 units, swimming
pool, playground, barbecue - $62-88.
Fairway, 29 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba, 4128 1911. 10 units, swimming pool,
barbecue - $58-78.
Golden Sands Motor Inn, 44 Main Street, Pialba, 4128 3977. 10 units, swimming
pool, barbecue - $58-75.
Caravan Parks
Happy Wanderer Village Caravan Park, 105 Truro Street, Torquay, 4125 1103.
92 sites, pool, spa - powered sites $21 for two, on-site vans $30 for two,
cabins $45-55 for two.
Fraser Lodge, Fraser Street, Torquay, 4124 9999. Tennis, spa, pool - powered
sites $24 for two, cabins $50-55 for two.
Shelly Beach Caravan Park, 61 Ocean Street, Torquay, 4125 1105. (No dogs
allowed) - powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans $25-30 for two, cabins
$40-45 for two.
Lazy Acres Caravan Park, 91 Exeter Street, Torquay, 4125 1840. 80 sites,
pool, barbecue - powered sites $15 for two, on-site vans $30 for two, cabins
$60-70.
Torquay Beachfront Tourist Park, Esplanade, beach frontage, 4125 1578.
(No dogs) - powered sites $18-22 for two.
The Palms Caravan Park, cnr Roberts & Truro Streets, Torquay, 4125
1704. Pool, barbecue - powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans $25-35.
Pier Caravan Park, 571 Esplanade, Urangan, 4128 9866. (Pets allowed on
leash) - powered sites $18, on site vans $25-35 for two, cabins $50-60
for two.
Anchorage Caravan Park, Boat Harbour Drive, Urangan, 4128 9286. Pool, barbecue
- powered sites $16-19 for two, on-site vans $35-40 for two.
Windmill Caravan Park, 17 Elizabeth Street, Urangan, 4128 9267. 60 sites,
barbecue, pool - powered sites $18-20 for two, on-site vans $30-40 for
two.
Hervey Bay Caravan Park, Margaret Street, Urangan, 4128 9553. Pool, barbecue
- powered sites $18-20 for two, cabins $6-70 for two.
Harbour View Caravan Park, Jetty Road, Boat Harbour, Urangan, 4128 9374.
80 sites, pool - powered sites $16-18 for two, on-site vans $30 for two.
Pialba Beachfront Tourist Park, Esplanade, Pialba, 4128 1399. Powered sites
$18-22 for two.
Magnolia Caravan Park, cnr Boat Harbour Drive & Taylor Street, Pialba,
4128 1700. 53 sites, pool, barbecue - powered sites $14 for two, on-site
vans $30 for two.
Australiana Village, 295 Boat Harbour Drive, Scarness, 4128 2762. Pool,
barbecue, excellent facilities - powered sites $19-22 for two, on-site
vans $35 for two, units $75-90.
Scarness Beachfront Tourist Park, Esplanade, Scarness, 4128 1274. (No dogs
allowed) 160 sites - powered sites $14 for two.
The Hervey Bay Youth Hostel is at Boat Harbour Drive, 4125 1844. They have
29 rooms $18 per person twin share.
Fraser Island
Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village, North White Cliffs, 3032 2805. 19 units,
licensed restaurant, pool, spa, tennis, fishing - $280.
Fraser Island Retreat, Happy Valley, 4127 9144. 9 units, licensed restaurant,
barbecue, pool - $125-180.
Eurong Beach Resort, Eurong, 4127 9122. 59 units, pool - $90-225.
Camping
Cathedral Beach Resort & Camping Park, Cathedral Beach, 4127 9177.
(No pets, no permit required) 54 tourist sites, no power, hot showers,
kiosk, barbecue - sites $20 for two, on-site vans $50 for two, cabins $80-100
for two.
Queenslands Park & Wildlife Service, 4127 9128. (No pets) 250 camping
sites, no power, hot showers, barbecue - $16. Facilities vary, please check.
4WD vehicle access and a camping permit apply. The permit must be obtained
prior to arrival, and it is available from the Department of Environment & Heritage,
Rainbow Beach, & (07) 5486 3160 or (07) 3227 7111 (Brisbane). Permit
costs are $30 per vehicle if pre-paid prior to arrival, or $40 per vehicle
on the island.
Eating Out
If you are having trouble deciding where to eat, here is a list of restaurants
in the Maryborough area, with numbers and locations, from which you might
like to make a choice. The telephone area code is 07.
Maryborough
China Dragon Restaurant, in the Central Hotel, 171 Adelaide Street, 4123
1399.
The Gardenia, 193 Adelaide Street, 4121 4967.
Muddy Water Cafe, 71 Wharf Street, 4121 5011.
Red Roo Hotel, 100 Adelaide Street, 4121 3586.
Colony Room Restaurant, cnr Ferry & Albert Streets, 4121 2366.
Casino Royale, 338 Kent Street, 4121 6225.
Lucky Chinese Restaurant, 302 Kent Street, 4121 3645.
McDonalds is on the corner of Quarry Road and the Bruce Highway, as well
as on the corner of Alice and Ferry Streets. KFC is on the corner of Walker
and Ferry Streets. Pizza Hut is on the corner of Alice and Ferry Streets,
13 1166.
Hervey Bay
The Deck, Hervey Bay Marina, Buccanneer Avenue, Hervey Bay, 4125 1155.
Don Camillo Ristorante Italiano, 486 Esplanade, Hervey Bay, 4125 5466.
Bay Central Chinese Kitchen, Boat Harbour Drive, Hervey Bay, 4124 1200.
Hervey Bay Chinese Restaurant, Shop A, 3 Fraser Street, Torquay, 4125 6906.
Aegean Waters French Restaurant, The Esplanade, Torquay, 4125 2232.
China Palace, 38 Torquay Road, Pialba, 4124 8808.
Curried Away, 174 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba, 4124 1577.
Raphaels, 564 Esplanade, Urangan, 4125 2183.
Fryer Tucks, Urangan Plaza, 564 Esplanade, Urangan, 4125 5933.
Thai Diamond, 355 Esplanade, Scarness, 4124 4855.
Marty's on the Beach, 344 Esplanade, Scarness, 4128 1233.
KFC is on the corner of Torquay Road and Taylor Street in Hervey Bay. Pizza
Hut is in Lot 2 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba, 13 1166.
Fraser Island
The resorts have restaurants and the camping grounds have barbecue facilities.
Points of Interest Maryborough
The site of the original Marybor-ough township illustrated the real environs
and features of early settlements in the then colony of New South Wales.
Of particular relevance is the scale of the early settle-ment, with the
landing, the inns, the sawpits, the water supply, trades and industries,
and even the burial ground all within walking distance.
In the town there are two marked Walking Routes to see the attractions.
For Route Number 1, start at the Information Centre and follow the Red
Marker posts. Walk Number 2 branches from near the site of George Furber's
Inn and returns past Baddow House.
Baddow House, 366 Queen Street, 4123 1883, is one of Maryborough's most
historic homes, and is fully furnished with authentic period furniture.
It has exhibits of colonial and museum pieces, and is open daily 10am-4pm.
Devonshire teas and souvenirs are available.
There are Pioneer Graves at the northern-most extremity of the Original
Maryborough township, in Aldridge Street, Baddow. The harshness and difficulties
of frontier life ensured that the early township experienced loss of life,
but death from natural causes or old age was virtually unknown.
Queens Park, Sussex Street, was established more than a century ago, and
many of its huge trees were planted as experiments by the Acclimatization
Society. Features of the park are the fernery, waterfall and lily pond,
lace-trimmed band rotunda built in 1890, and the 13cm gauge model railway
built by the Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association. On the last
Sunday of the month the Association meets in Queens Park to relive the
steam age.
Ululah Lagoon, Lions Drive, was originally the water supply in the early
days of settlement. The lagoon is now a wildlife sanctuary where tame black
swans, ducks and waterfowl can be hand fed. The lagoon is surrounded by
tree-studded parkland with picnic tables and barbecues.
Bottlebrush Crafts (Maitlia Potters), 320 Albert Street, 4122 2533, have
sales and promotion of local crafts, regular exhibits and workshops. Open
Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-1pm.
Caltex Mountain View Roadhouse, Bruce Highway, Bauple, 4129 2267, has an
extensive range of rocks, minerals, gems and fossils, including thundereggs
and petrified woods.
Macadamia Plantation, cnr Bruce Highway & Owanyilla Boundary Road,
south of Maryborough, has brought the world of macadamia nuts to the public.
Stage one of the complex, the processing and retail plant, is a major tourist
attraction. Guided tours of the plantation aboard the Nutty Choo Choo,
with running commentary, are very popular. There is also a shop selling
unusual souvenirs, a kiosk with light refreshments, and barbecue lunches
are available. Open daily 9am-5pm.
The MV Duchess has hourly cruises on the Mary River on Wed, Thurs and Sun
afternoons. Her low profile design enables her to travel un-restricted
up river under all the bridges, passing past and present sites of early
industry and architecture, an island bat colony and much more. There is
informative and humorous commentary. For more in-formation contact the
Maryborough Tourist Information Centre, 4121 4111.
Hervey Bay
Situated 34km (21 miles) east of Maryborough, Hervey Bay is one of Australia's
best value holiday destinations. It has a climate similar to that of
Hawaii, and virtually year-round swimming in a safe and sheltered environment.
The Bay offers a variety of charter boats for fishing trips. These vary
in length from a couple of hours out on the water to day/night trips. Most
trips are out to the deep waters off Sandy Cape, Breaksea Spit, Rooney's
and the gutters around Fraser Island. Reef fish which abound in the Bay's
waters include Coral Bream, Blackall, Snapper, Coral Trout and Cod. A few
companies specialising in cruises are:
Lady Elliot Island Reef Resort Day Tours, 1800 072 200 for reservations.
Splash Safaris, 6 Inman Street, Point Vernon, &0500 555 580.
Stefanie Yacht Charters, 7 Burum Street, Hervey Bay, 4125 4200.
Hervey Bay now has international recognition as one of the best vantage
points for studying the Humpback Whale. From early August to mid-October,
these gentle giants stop in at Hervey Bay on their return south to Antarctica.
They frolic in the warm waters of the Bay, almost oblivious to the people
watching eagerly from the safety of tour boats.
Some of the companies operating whale watch tours are:
Islander Whale
Watch Cruises, Buccaneer Avenue, 4125 3399.
Mimi Macpherson's Whale Watch Expeditions, 449 The Esplanade, Torquay,
4125 1700 or 1800 683 368.
Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watch Cruises, 864 Boat Harbour Drive, Urangan,
4125 5131.
Whalesong Cruises, Torquay, Whale Watch and Dolphin Cruises, 4125 6222.
For further details on tours and cruises, contact the Hervey Bay Tourist & Visitors
Centre, 353 The Esplanade, & 4124 4050.
The Whale Festival, held in August, is a weekend full of activities to
officially launch the whale watching season. Features include an aquatic
carnival, illuminated procession of boats, the Princess of Whales competition,
and the World Smiling Championships.
Hervey Bay Nature World, Maryborough Road, Pialba, on the main highway
at the entrance to Hervey Bay, is an Australian theme park set in 15ha
(37 acres) of bushland. Calling the place home are kangaroos, wallabies,
wombats, emu, deer, buffalo, waterbirds and a large number of crocodiles.
The crocodiles feed daily in summer and twice weekly in winter. Feeding
time is 11.30am. Lorikeets feed daily between 3-4pm. There are free paddle
boat rides, playground, barbecue and picnic areas, and toilets for the
disabled. Open daily 9am-5pm. You can phone them on 4124 1733.
Dayman Point features sweeping views of Great Sandy Strait, picnic facilities
and two memorials: one to Z Force and their vessel The Krait; the other
to Captain Matthew Flinders, who landed nearby on August 6, 1799, and Lt
Joseph Dayman, RN who passed in the schooner Asp after making the first
passage through Fraser Island (now Great Sandy) Strait in 1847.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, a fishing paradise,
and one of the world's last wilderness areas. It is 11km (7 miles) from
Hervey Bay, and is composed almost entirely of siliceous sands which
extend to more than 600m (1968 ft) below sea level. The only rock outcrops
on the east coast are at Indian Head, Middle Rock and Waddy Point. On
the west coast there is a small outcrop of hard rock at Bun Bun Rocks.
The island has an area of 184,000ha (454,480 acres), is 123km (76 miles)
long, and has an average width of 14km (9 miles), ranging to 22km (14 miles)
at its widest part. Dune heights reach to 240m (787 ft). Most of the island
is crown land, national park or State forest reserve. Five main tourist
centres - at Eurong, Happy Valley, Orchard Beach, Cathedral Beach and Dilli
Village - cater for those who like home comforts. If you prefer a real
wilderness experience, you can camp in a secluded spot and explore the
island by forest tracks, which are suitable for 4WD only.
All visitors to the island are required to have permits. The fee charged
is used to provide facilities for visitors and to provide effective protection
for the unique island environment. Permit costs are: $34 per vehicle prior
to arrival, $45 per vehicle on the island. They are available from Department
of Environment & Heritage, Rainbow Beach, (07) 5486 3160 or in Brisbane,
(07) 3227 7111.
Fraser Island can be reached by sea and air. Cruises and Êvehicular barges
operate from Hervey Bay, Mary River Heads and Rainbow Beach. Charter flights
and tours are also available.
There are over 40 freshwater lakes on the Island. As well as the perched
dune lakes, there are window lakes, formed when the shifting sand falls
below the level of the island's dome-shaped water table. Remarkable is
Lake Wabby, an easy walk from the ocean beach. It is the deepest of the
island's lakes, and contains the greatest variety of fish, but it is dying,
slowly being strangled by a sandblow that encroaches four metres each year.
Up to 72 different colours have been recorded in the sands on the island.
The most famous area of coloured sand cliffs is The Cathedrals on the eastern
side of the island midway between Happy Valley and Orchid Beach. The island
has hundreds of kilometres of white sand beaches, its own wreck (the Maheno,
which beached during a cyclone 50 years ago) and countless freshwater streams.
Dingoes are also found on the island, not as pets or in cages, but living
freely. It is generally accepted that if you leave them alone, they will
leave you alone, but it is requested that you do not feed them. They find
their own food, and do well without handouts.
Outlying Attractions Burrum Heads, Toogoom,
Howard, Torbanlea
Burrum Heads and Toogoom are two small coastal resorts located at the mouth
of the Burrum River, both popular for their good fishing and relaxed atmosphere.
In the winter months especially, fishermen come from miles around to catch
whiting.
Burrum Heads is growing rapidly and is well serviced with shops. In September
the area is vibrant with colourful wildflowers. Toogoom has plenty of good
picnic spots, and over ninety species of birds have been identified in
the area. Both of these resorts have caravan parks and holiday homes.
The Burrum River crosses the highway between Howard and Torbanlea. It is
a picturesque water-way for boating, fishing and crabbing, and has a caravan
park on its banks. Most houses in these two townships are the cool high-set
timber Queenslander homes. Howard has all the facilities of an up-and-coming
small town. Approximately 20km north of Maryborough on the Bruce Highway,
there is an exit for Burrum Heads.
