Explore Australia

Bond Store Museum: located in the Portside Centre, this museum documents the history of the region from a river port to the present day; open 9am–4pm Mon–Fri, 10am–1pm Sat–Sun; Wharf St. Customs House Museum: also in the Portside Centre, this important cultural heritage museum depicts the area's industries and early immigration and Kanaka history; Wharf St. Military and Colonial Museum: fascinating look at local military and colonial history; open 9am–3pm daily; Wharf St. Mary Poppins statue: statue of the famed and magical nanny in honour of author Pamela Lyndon Travers, who was born in the town in 1899; Cnr Kent and Richmond sts. Central Railway Station, Mary Ann: replica of Queensland's first steam engine with rides in Queens Park every Thurs, market day, and last Sun each month; Lennox St. Queens Park: unusual domed fernery and waterfall; Cnr Lennox and Bazaar sts. Elizabeth Park: extensive rose gardens; Kent St. ANZAC Park: includes Ululah Lagoon, a scenic waterbird sanctuary where black swans, wild geese, ducks and waterhens may be handfed; Cnr Cheapside and Alice sts. Heritage walk: self-guide walk past 22 historic buildings, including the impressive City Hall, St Paul's bell tower (with pealing bells) and National Trust–listed Brennan and Geraghty's Store. The walk starts at City Hall, Kent St; brochure available from visitor centre. Heritage drive: a highlight is the original site of Maryborough (until 1885), where a series of plaques document its history. Drive starts at City Hall; brochure available from visitor centre. Ghost tours: discover the town's ghostly past on tours that run once a month; details from visitor centre.

Teddington Weir: popular for watersports; 15 km S. Tiaro: excellent fishing for Mary River cod in surrounding waterways. See the historic Dickabram Bridge over the river, and nearby Mt Bauple National Park; 24 km SW. Tuan Forest: bushwalking; 24 km SE. Fraser Island: World Heritage–listed sand island to the east of town; see Hervey Bay.

Lake Lenthall 23 km

Anyone who has read about the barramundi boom in Queensland’s impoundments will know about lakes like Awoonga, Faust and Callide. But there are many, less- known waters that also offer excellent fishing, and one of... Find out more

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Hervey Bay 34 km

Hervey Bay and Fraser Island are inseparably linked to each other and to fishing. Variety and quality of species is a true measure of a fishing destination and here you can catch longtails (northern bluefin tuna),... Find out more

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Fraser Island 80 km

The world’s biggest sand island, Fraser Island is 123 km long and has become Australia’s most famous beach-fishing venue, albeit one that also offers rock- and offshore fishing. The list of inshore species... Find out more

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Bjelke Petersen Dam 112 km

Lake Barambah is a 22 sq km water about 15 km south-east of Murgon. It is regarded as one of the state’s best waters for big bass, but also has yellowbelly, silver perch and saratoga. It is relatively shallow for a... Find out more

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Lake Monduran 115 km

Lake Monduran is near Gin Gin, a four-hour drive north of Brisbane on the Bruce Highway. Although it appears narrow, it has a surface area of 53 sq km and a holding capacity of 585 900 ML of water, which is about 1.6... Find out more

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Mooloolaba 134 km

It’s 6am on the Mooloolaba waterfront behind Kawana Waters Hotel. The temperature is mild enough to be wearing shorts and a shirt. All is quiet amid the moored boats except for the eager anglers sitting around the... Find out more

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Lake Boondooma 141 km

Situated on the Boyne River to the west of Bjelke Petersen Dam, this lake is about 15 km from Proston. Since its construction in 1983, a variety of species have been stocked here. Australian bass, silver perch and... Find out more

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Wuruma Dam 178 km

Situated 35 km north of Eidsvold, this 18 sq km little-known water contains Australian bass, barramundi, saratoga, silver perch, yellowbelly and sleepy cod. A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required. There is a large... Find out more

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Lake Wivenhoe 198 km

Impoundment fishing for native species in southern Queensland has enjoyed phenomenal growth and it all began at Lake Wivenhoe. Situated about 80 km west of Brisbane on the Brisbane Valley Highway, Wivenhoe has a surface... Find out more

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Cania Dam 200 km

Located close to Monto, Cania Dam holds yellowbelly, silver perch and Australian bass to 3 kg. Cania’s big drawcard though is the saratoga. Initially stocked with only 200 individuals, the saratoga have bred to a... Find out more

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Dolphin tours around Hervey Bay 33 km

All year-round Blue Dolphin Marine Tours runs eco-tours to see the two species of dolphin in the area – the bottlenose, and the rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. You have a 95 per cent chance of seeing the... Find out more

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Hiking on Fraser Island 39 km

Fraser Island, with its 1653 square kilometres encompassing 200-metre-high sand dunes, 80 beautiful lakes and pockets of rainforest, is a delight for those prepared to put on a pack. Hikers can camp beside some of the... Find out more

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Cycling the Sunshine Coast and hinterland 136 km

Join a half-day or longer guided bike tour with Bicycle Tours of Queensland, particularly the popular Sunshine Coast ride or Maleny to Glass House Mountains. A back-up bus is included if it all gets too much.... Find out more

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Mount Coot-tha Forest 215 km

The largest natural area in Brisbane, this 1500 hectares of open eucalypt forest holds more than 18 kilometres of walking tracks, 12 kilometres of mountain-biking tracks and a further 31 kilometres of multi-use tracks.... Find out more

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Westlander 216 km

Take the overnight train ride from Brisbane to Charleville or Quilpie, travelling over the Great Dividing Range and through some of Queensland’s rich farming areas.... Find out more

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Cycling and mountain-biking around Brisbane 217 km

Brisbane has a growing network of great cycling trails and some excellent rides for tourists – a five-to-20-kilometre ride along the shores of the Brisbane River comes highly recommended. There is also a great ride... Find out more

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Rock climbing around Brisbane 217 km

Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point is perhaps the friendliest city rock-climbing spot in the country, with views over the Brisbane River, a range of climbs for absolute beginners and upwards, and established anchor points... Find out more

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Noosa Springs Resort 104 km

Laid out across 50 hectares of bushland on the shore of beautiful Lake Weyba, Noosa Springs takes you on a gently rolling journey between rainforest pockets, along the edges of lakes and through bloodwood forest,... Find out more

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Hyatt Regency Coolum Resort 119 km

Resort courses are sometimes labelled, perhaps unfairly, as all being similar to one another: wide fairways, big undulating greens, large bunker schemes, the obligatory drinks cart. Some might even say a round of golf... Find out more

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Twin Waters Golf Club 126 km

By the end of the 1980s, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast had a handful of good member clubs. In the ’90s, as the region became home to Australia’s fastest growing population, more golf courses and more... Find out more

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Pelican Waters Golf Club 149 km

It took 54 years for his dream to be realised, but when Pelican Waters Golf Club finally opened for play in 2000, not even the visionary behind the original idea could have imagined it would turn out as good as it... Find out more

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Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 171 km

Challenging the best players without alienating casual and beginner golfers is the fine line every course designer treads in coming up with a new creation. One designer who does it better than most is Ross Watson. His... Find out more

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North Lakes Resort Golf Club 189 km

Good course designers have tricks up their sleeves when it comes to spurring golfers to rise to the challenge. They can visually intimidate you with large schemes of bunkers or water hazards encroaching on the best... Find out more

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Royal Queensland Golf Club 214 km

Of all the golf courses in this book, Royal Queensland has undergone the most dramatic changes in recent years. Originally opened in 1920, on reclaimed mangrove swampland on the north bank of the Brisbane River, ... Find out more

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Brookwater Golf & Country Club 236 km

Brookwater opened to considerable fanfare in 2002, with many observers quick to draw comparisons with Augusta National, venerable home of the US Masters. The varied terrain, inventive bunkering and undulating putting... Find out more

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Mondo Organics, West End 218 km

Australia’s first organic restaurant when it opened in 2000, Mondo Organics serves a range of organic meats, including beef, chicken, duck and lamb, and the fish is chosen for the sustainability of the catch. The... Find out more

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Sunshine Coast Brewery 129 km

Queensland’s longest-running microbrewery has been operating from an industrial estate on the outskirts of Maroochydore since 1998. It was established by Jim Robinson and Queensland craft-beer pioneer Graham Howard... Find out more

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Castlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery 216 km

The pages of Australian brewing history are littered with take-overs and acquisitions, and while Castlemaine Perkins sounds like a merger, it was, in reality, yet another buy-out. As the name suggests, the Castlemaine... Find out more

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Wongi camping area 21 km

Chill down with a dip in the beautiful waterholes at Wongi, but note that fishing is not allowed and jumping or diving is not recommended. There is conventional vehicle access and plenty of space for caravans, motorhomes... Find out more

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Poona Creek camping area 28 km

This very basic clearing for self-sufficient campers has signposted access along Tinnanbar Rd. Campers must bring their own untreated wood for campfires, as gathering wood in the forest is not permitted. Use the fire... Find out more

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Garry’s Anchorage camping area 29 km

Unfenced campsites and picnic tables in a very quiet, remote location are 19 km south of Ungowa on the island’s south-west coast. Access is 4WD or boat. ... Find out more

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Ungowa camping area 30 km

Expect plenty of open, shady spots for tents and defined camper trailer sites at Ungowa, 12 km south-west of Central Station on the south-west coast. Access is 4WD or boat. Bring insct repellent as mosquitoes and... Find out more

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Lake Benaroon camping area 36 km

This site is along the Fraser Island Great Walk track. There is a maximum stay of 2 nights and groups should be no more than 8. It is 7.2 km north of Lake Boomanjin. Water from the lake is drinkable but you need to boil... Find out more

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Lake Boomanjin camping area 36 km

Tent camping is permitted at Lake Boomanjin (no vehicular access), where you’ll find cold showers, a wash-up bay, flushing toilets and picnic tables. It is 10 km north-west of Dilli Village on Birrabeen Rd. Bring... Find out more

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Lake Boomanjin camping area (walk-in camping) 36 km

This fenced campground suitable for tent camping is in open forest between a carpark and Lake Boomanjin (walk-in only). It is 15 km north of Jabiru Swamp and 6.3 km north of Dilli Village.... Find out more

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Lake McKenzie camping area 36 km

This is a basic clearing with no facilities situated along the Fraser Island Great Walk track. The maximum stay is 2 nights and groups should be no bigger than 8. It is a little more than 6 km north of Central Station.... Find out more

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Central Station camping area (walk-in camping) 37 km

This fenced family campground in a rainforest setting has 44 tent sites, 16 camper trailer sites and a group area for 20–40 people. Accessible by 4WD only, it is 13 km east of the Wanggoolba Creek barge landing... Find out more

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Central Station camping area 37 km

Much less congested than your typical Central Station, this one is set in a rainforest and can only be reached by four-wheel drive. It is located 10 km west of Eurong, 16.6 km north of Lake Boomanjin and just 300 m from... Find out more

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Wallace Caravan Park 2 km

This is a good quality park close to the city centre and on the banks of the Mary River. Access is easy from the southern approaches – just across the bridge. It is good value here and there is space for larger... Find out more

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Burrum River Caravan Park 27 km

In a quiet location on the banks of the Burrum River, on the south side of Howard, and less than 1 km from the Bruce Highway this is an ideal park for a quiet rest away from the traffic and the beach bustle. There are... Find out more

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Fraser Lodge Holiday Park 33 km

Explore Hervey Bay, go whale-watching or relax and enjoy the pool, barbecues, and the ducks in the lake or have a game of tennis at this great park. Set in a quiet street, it is just a short walk to the beach and close... Find out more

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Happy Wanderer Village Caravan Park 33 km

With more ensuite sites than anything else, this is a large quality park with plenty of shade and excellent facilities to make your Hervey Bay holiday something to remember. It is not far to the waters edge and the boat... Find out more

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Harbour View Caravan Park 34 km

Hervey Bay is a major tourist destination and this owner-operated waterfront park is close to the large marina complex where the whale-watching cruises depart during the season. This is a good park with basic facilities,... Find out more

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Woodgate Beach Tourist Park 50 km

In the centre of a small beachfront community and just across the road from a wonderful beach, this is a convenient and popular park with a relaxing coffee shop. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length... Find out more

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Tin Can Bay Tourist Park 52 km

In a quiet area of Tin Can Bay, this is a good quality park with facilities to suit the discerning tourist. Good value here. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies at Christmas and... Find out more

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BIG4 Bonny Hills Holiday Park 56 km

This is a popular beachside spot a short walk from the surf club. The park has a popular coffee shop that sells numerous styles of coffee, or the ingredients. We like it here. Bookings are required in peak periods and a... Find out more

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Glenlodge Caravan Village 78 km

This owner-operated park is 6 km south of the town centre and easily accessible, ideal for an overnight stay or as a base for a few days exploring the region. It has very good amenities. Bookings are required in peak... Find out more

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BIG4 Cane Village Holiday Park 82 km

This is a very good quality park on the western approach to the city, in a convenient location for an overnight stay and excellent for a longer visit. The Sugarland shopping centre is close by. Bookings are required in... Find out more

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Emeraldene Inn and Eco-Lodge, Hervey Bay 29 km

The 14 hotel-style rooms here, including two disabled rooms, have solar hot water and an envirocycle treatment system so that all sewage and greywater is treated and reused on site. The lodge has a solid environmental... Find out more

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Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island 37 km

With 1000 beds, and a choice of pools, restaurants and bars, this is the largest accommodation place mentioned in this book, but it has a longstanding reputation as being a positive role model for large ecotourism... Find out more

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Glass House Mountains Eco-Lodge 155 km

The simple, down-market rooms here include the use of old train carriages for a communal kitchen and group area. An old church has also been recycled, and all greywater and blackwater is used on site to irrigate the... Find out more

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Brisbane Marriott Hotel 216 km

By no means the greenest accommodation in this book, the Marriott still deserves inclusion as one of the better options in large hotels. It gained the Green Globe Benchmarked Bronze status and is AAA-rated for its water-... Find out more

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Wongi Camp Area 20 km

T/O 36 km N of Tiaro (L) or 42 km S of Childers (R) Large secluded campground located 10 kilometres west of the highway in a native bush setting in Wongi State Forest. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Unsealed... Find out more

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Petrie Rest Area 23 km

T/O 1 km N of Tiaro (L) or 81 km S of Childers (R) Small secluded area 1 kilometre west of the highway in a pleasant setting on the riverbank. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S25 42.905 E152 34.533... Find out more

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Tiaro Camp Area 24 km

Middle of town Small area just east of the highway via Inman Street. Limited shade. Toilets at adjacent town park. GPS: S25 43.722 E152 35.059... Find out more

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Gunalda Rest Area 51 km

29 km N of Gympie (R) or 32 km S of Tiaro (L) Large area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S25 59.184 E152 34.259... Find out more

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Apple Tree Creek Rest Area 59 km

6 km N of Childers (L) or 51 km S of Gin Gin (R) Large area just off the highway on the south side of the village. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S25 13.141 E152 14.292... Find out more

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Chatsworth Rest Area 68 km

6 km N of Gympie (L) or 55 km S of Tiaro (R) Large grassed area just off the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S26 09.01 E152 37.47  ... Find out more

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Wallum Rest Area 72 km

26 km N of Childers (L) or 28 km SW of Bundaberg (R) Large area just off the road to Bundaberg. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S25 03.584 E152 13.869... Find out more

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Six Mile Creek Rest Area 77 km

162 km N of Brisbane (L) or 6 km S of Gympie (R) Large grassed area just off the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S26 13.901 E152 41.849... Find out more

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Sharon Rest Area 86 km

35 km E of Gin Gin (R) or 16 km W of Bundaberg (L) Small area just off the road to Bundaberg. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S24 53.001 E152 14.582... Find out more

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Gin Gin Rest Area 99 km

2 km N of Gin Gin (R) or 97 km S of Miriam Vale (L) Large area just off the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S24 58.456 E151 56.760... Find out more

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Landsborough Park Area 141 km

83 km N of Brisbane (L) or 85 km S of Gympie (R) Small area located 500 metres off the highway via Landsborough exit. Good shade. GPS: S26 46.409 E153 02.252... Find out more

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Granite Creek Rest Area 146 km

63 km N of Gin Gin (R) or 36 km S of Miriam Vale (L) Large area just off the highway around some large trees. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S24 36.923 E151 40.098... Find out more

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