Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay is a coastal city on the eastern shore of the Fraser Coast Region in Queensland, roughly 290 kilometers north of Brisbane facing the Coral Sea. The waterfront stretches across several adjoining suburbs with sandy beaches, parks, and a jetty extending into the shallow waters.

British navigator James Cook sailed through these waters in 1770 and named the bay after Augustus Hervey, an admiral of the Royal Navy. The Butchulla peoples had lived along this coast for thousands of years before European settlers arrived during the 19th century.

The city takes its name from Augustus Hervey, an 18th-century British admiral, a heritage still felt in the maritime identity of the community today. Local markets and harbor areas express this seafaring tradition through fresh fish sales and small craft shops producing boat gear.

The subtropical climate brings mild winters and warm summers, making beach walks and water sports possible year-round. Accommodation options range from hotels right on the waterfront to campgrounds inland, depending on preference for comfort or outdoor experience.

The waters offshore are considered one of the few places worldwide where humpback whales regularly linger with their calves and rest, rather than just passing through. This behavior led to global recognition in 2019 as the first Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance.