Fraser Coast

Explore the Fraser Coast, from Maryborough’s historic streets and Hervey Bay’s calm waters
to the World Heritage landscapes of K’gari (Fraser Island).

Close view of a humpback whale tail rising from the water in Hervey BayJocelyn Watts
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When to Go Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

Whale Watching in Hervey Bay: The Complete Seasonal Guide From lively juveniles in July and August to mothers teaching their calves the ways of the whale in spring, every stage of Hervey Bay’s whale-watching season has something different…
Exterior of The Place Urangan after redevelopment into a mixed-use precinct in Hervey Bay.Win Projects
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What It Took to Save The Place Urangan

How a Casual Lunch Deal Turned Into a Complex Building Rescue “We accidentally bought the building.” That’s how developer and builder Glen Winney at Win Projects describes the beginning of what became one of Hervey Bay’s most ambitious…
Glen Winney and Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour at the reopening of The Place Urangan in Hervey Bay.Jocelyn Watts
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The Place Urangan Revamped for Coastal Living

How The Place Urangan Went from Nightclub Icon to Coastal Living Hub THERE  are few buildings in Hervey Bay that can stir memories quite like The Place in Urangan. Mention the address — 8 Pier Street — to a long-time local and chances…
Humpback whale tail diving beneath the water during whale watching in Hervey BayJocelyn Watts
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11 Things to Know Before Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

Whale season is coming: Hervey Bay’s 2026 season runs July–October, with peak sightings in August–September. If you’re ready to plan, jump straight into Whale Watching Hervey Bay to compare tour operators, departure times and package…
Toogoom Vietnam ShedJocelyn Watts
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Toogoom Vietnam Shed & Fraser Coast Military History

Discover the Toogoom Vietnam Shed A REMARKABLE piece of Australian military history stands just minutes from the beaches of Toogoom on Queensland’s Fraser Coast. Originally manufactured during the Vietnam War as an army mess hall, the Toogoom…
Hervey Bay Esplanade sunrise at Torquay jetty on the Fraser Coast Queensland
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Where Growth Meets Nature: Hervey Bay Resort Approval

Hervey Bay Resort Approval Tests Growth vs Nature FOR YEARS, coastal communities across Australia have walked a fine line between promise and pressure. Growth brings jobs, investment, and the kind of amenity that keeps towns alive. It also…
Coastal apartment living Australia with ocean view from modern living room.
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Coastal Apartment Living: Why More Australians Are Moving

Less Maintenance, More Ocean: The Rise of Coastal Apartment Living There’s a shift happening along Australia’s coastline... and it’s not just the tide coming in! From Hervey Bay to Hobart, more Australians are rethinking what “home”…
retreat accommodation hervey bay: A peaceful sunrise over Hervey Bay, where still waters and scattered sailboats capture the region’s laid-back coastal charm.Jocelyn Watts
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Best Accommodation in Hervey Bay for Group Getaways

How to Choose Retreat Accommodation in Hervey Bay A practical, slightly dreamy guide for organising your next group getaway THERE'S a moment, somewhere between the idea and the booking, when a retreat starts to feel real. It might begin with…
Townhouse Living: Modern townhouse complex exterior in Australia with landscaped gardens and balconies
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Townhouse Living in Australia: The Pros & Cons

10 Things I Wish I’d Known About Townhouse Living Before Buying WHEN I first bought into a townhouse complex, I had the idea there was some overarching — almost mythical — body corporate taking care of maintenance behind the scenes. After…
Fraser Coast arts: Hands weaving a traditional palm frond basket during a Butchulla cultural experience on K’gari (Fraser Island), part of the Fraser Coast’s arts and cultural heritage.Jocelyn Watts
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Discover the Fraser Coast Arts Culture

Fraser Coast Arts Trail: Galleries, Culture and Public Art VISITORS searching for things to do in Hervey Bay and Maryborough usually discover the Fraser Coast’s beaches, whale watching and island adventures first. But spend a little longer…
MacadamiaCreative Commons
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Queensland Macadamia Nut: History, Names & Origins

Is it the Queensland Nut, Macadamia Nut or Bauple Nut? WHEN I was a boy, we'd occasionally get a treat that we knew as a Queensland nut. I was amazed to learn a few years later that they came from Hawaii. That's only part of the story, though…
Oaks Hervey Bay Staycation - swimming poolJocelyn Watts
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Oaks Hervey Bay Staycation: A Holiday Just Minutes Away

Why I Chose an Oaks Hervey Bay Staycation — and Properly Switched Off THERE'S something a little rebellious about checking into a resort when home is just 15 minutes away. No airport queues. No packing the car like you’re fleeing civilisation.…
pineapples as prestige - fashion items and a pineapple wearing sunglasses.
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Pineapples as Prestige: Why the Motif Still Endures

From Table Centrepiece to Design Motif: Pineapples as Prestige A tropical fruit, a rented centrepiece, and a quiet marker of wealth — the story behind the pineapple is stranger, and more revealing, than it first appears. HAVE you ever…
K'gari Cultural Experience - Tour guide standing next to a tree.
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Walking Country: A K’gari Cultural Experience

Follow Ancient Pathways on K’gari THE FIRST thing you notice when you step onto K’gari (Fraser Island) is the light. It’s softer somehow, even on a bright Queensland day. The salt air seems to move differently, too — as if the island…
K'gari (Fraser Island) - Maheno Shipwreck
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5 Ways to Discover K’gari

Discover The Beauty of K’gari (Fraser Island) IN THE hustle and bustle of modern life, it's tough to find a place that lets you truly switch off and unwind. Thankfully, the tranquil beauty of the World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser…
Italy Meets Mexico Fusion - entréeJocelyn Watts
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Italy Meets Mexico Fusion at Barrel n Vine

Love Italian? Adore Mexican? Barrel n Vine Nails the Fusion! I WASN'T sure what to expect for my first Fusion event at Barrel n Vine in Hervey Bay, but I quickly learned to expect the unexpected! After thoroughly enjoying their Taste of…
A taste of Italy - a glass of red wine and people wine tastingJocelyn Watts
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Taste of Italy: Uncorking Flavours at Barrel n Vine

Sip, Savour, and Socialise at Barrel n Vine’s Events RACHAEL NOCERA and her husband, Joe, were searching for balance with their newest restaurant, and that’s precisely what they discovered in Hervey Bay. Barrel n Vine on the esplanade at…
K'gari Cultural Tours - EugariesJocelyn Watts
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Peek into my K’gari cultural adventure

Learn How K’gari Cultural Tours Connects Past and Present I THOUGHT I had a good grasp of K’gari (Fraser Island), but it wasn’t until I spent two days with K’gari Cultural Tours that I truly began to appreciate the deep and enduring…
Croquet-lover's guide: On a road trip in the Wide Bay area of Queensland.AI
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A Croquet-Lover’s Guide to the Wide Bay

Discover the Wide Bay on a Croquet Road Trip LOOKING for a unique way to venture through Queensland's Wide Bay region during the cooler months of the year (May to August)? Why not plan a self-drive adventure around the genteel sport…
Citroen cars in a line.
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Citroen Fever Hits Maryborough

Maryborough, Qld, To Host 2025 National Citroën Cit-In! GET revved up! Maryborough, Queensland, has been announced as the backdrop for the much-anticipated 2025 national Citroën club gathering, affectionately dubbed Cit-In. In a grand…
Barrel n Vine - restaurant interiorJocelyn Watts
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Barrel n Vine: Italian Flavours by the Coast

A Taste of Italy and the Sea: Barrel n Vine Unveiled EXPERIENCE the flavours of Italy without leaving Hervey Bay at Barrel n Vine, the city's newest hotspot for dining delights. On Charlton Esplanade in Torquay, this new restaurant and wine…
Where to eat in Maryborough Qld - Exterior of Customs House HotelJocelyn Watts
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Where to Eat in Maryborough QLD: A Local Dining Guide

Explore Maryborough’s Food Culture Top Places to Eat in Maryborough QLD Updated 2026 IF YOU'RE wondering where to eat in Maryborough QLD, you'll quickly discover the city has a surprisingly lively dining scene. Here's the scoop: I'm…
K'gari island - man sitting at a bar on an islandJocelyn Watts
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Romancing K’gari Island

✧ Update (28.1.26) : He Loves Me Not Goes Global ✧ Since this article was first published, the film He Loves Me Not (2024) — shot against the dramatic landscapes of K’gari (Fraser Island) — has expanded its global reach. The film…
Humpbacks - whale watchingJocelyn Watts
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Humpback Whales: When and Where to Spot Them

Hervey Bay is one of the world’s best places to see humpback whales up close. If you’re ready to plan your trip, these whale tours will float you into the best viewing zones and often get inquisitive, close encounters. How to Optimise…
Sunreef Mooloolaba - lady excited at whale watching
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Spot Humpback Whales With Sunreef Mooloolaba

The 2026 humpback whales are heading for Queensland again. Season runs July–October, with the best encounters in August–September. If you’re ready to go in Hervey Bay, choose a tour and book early. ‘Tis the season to see humpback…
K'gari - Humpback whales - aerial view with calf above mum
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Welcome Humpback Whales to the Bay

The 2026 humpback whales are heading for Hervey Bay again. Season runs July–October, with the best encounters in August–September. If you’re ready to go, choose a tour and book early. Celebrate humpback whale season in Hervey Bay EACH…
whales - people swimming with whales
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Whale Watching on the Sunshine Coast

The 2026 humpback whales are heading for Queensland again. Season runs July–October, with the best encounters in August–September. If you’re ready to go in Hervey Bay, choose a tour and book early. Have a Whale of a Time on the Sunshine…
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery exhibition Origin Story - Erika Scott with her sculptureJocelyn Watts
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Art, Culture and Surprises at Hervey Bay Gallery

Hervey Bay Regional Gallery: Discover What's Inside WHEN people think of Hervey Bay, they usually picture whales, beaches and long walks along the Esplanade. But tucked just a few minutes from the waterfront is a cultural surprise many visitors…
The Story Bank - statue of two childrenJocelyn Watts
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The Story Bank: Where imagination comes to life

Discover the magic of Mary Poppins at The Story Bank TO VISIT the Story Bank in Maryborough, Qld, is like discovering a secret realm steeped in magic, mystery, and nostalgia. Here you’ll find a unique selection of stories unlike anywhere…
Rotary Peace PoleJocelyn Watts
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New Rotary Peace Pole is a sight to see

Rotary Peace Pole: A reminder to strive for world peace HAVE you seen the new Rotary Peace Pole outside the Brolga Theatre in the Queensland city of Maryborough yet? It's a beautiful sight. The pole, consisting of three elements, is a hand-crafted…
Whale Watching - breaching
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Whale Watching for Citizen Scientists

The 2026 humpback whales are heading for Hervey Bay again. Season runs July–October, with the best encounters in August–September. If you’re ready to go, choose a tour and book early. Join the fun of whale watching and citizen science ATTENTION…
Maryborough Open Gardens - Stirling HouseJocelyn Watts
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Maryborough Open Gardens

Sneak peek at Maryborough Open Gardens If you love gardens, then you won’t want to miss the annual Maryborough Open Gardens event, held each year in late August. From traditional gardens to those with a more modern twist, the event is…
Walking on the Wild Side - Mud crab on beachJocelyn Watts
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Walk on the Wild Side

More than a decade ago, I spent a week on K’gari (Fraser Island attending a photography workshop with Australian wildlife photographer Darran Leal. The experience was originally captured in a 2010 article for the Fraser Coast Chronicle —…
Nuyina bellJocelyn Watts
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Olds Engineering casts bell for Nuyina

Mary Bell for Nuyina, Australia's new icebreaker WHEN Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina, makes its maiden voyage later this year, it will be carrying a bell made in Maryborough. A team from the Australian National Antarctic…
Angel cemetery monumentJocelyn Watts
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Understanding Cemetery Symbols

What do the cemetery symbols and emblems mean? HAVE you ever wondered about the symbols and emblems found on headstones and monuments at the cemetery? If you grew up in a religious family, there were no doubt some symbols that appeared frequently. For…
Mortuary Chapel, Maryborough, Qld.
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Learn mortuary chapel history

Mortuary chapel, the nucleus of M'boro Cemetery HAVE you ever been to the Maryborough Cemetery, the Monumental Cemetery, south of Walker St? Of course, you have! However, if you have visitors and you’re looking for something interesting…

Discover more about K’gari, the world’s largest sand island.

K’gari
K’GARI PHOTO GALLERY BY JOCELYN

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