If you’re the type of traveller who’s drawn to the water (and usually armed with a fishing rod, to boot!), then Queensland’s coastal town of Hervey Bay is a cracking destination to consider. Hey – you don’t even need a boat to wet a line!
Century-old Urangan Pier stretches out into the ocean for close to a kilometre. And – on any given day – you’ll find schools of fishermen and women lining the edges of the pier, looking for that next elusive bite.
There’s a good chance Dane Radosevic from Fishos Tackle World in Hervey Bay is among the parade of anglers.
“This is a hotspot,” says Dane. “You see a lot of young kids out here fishing… we call them Jetty Rats… getting their addiction for the spot. Then you’ve got old-timers out here, still going.”
Dane recalls being a ‘jetty rat’ himself in his youth.
“Back in the day, this is where we used to wet a line. We didn’t have boat licences or car licences, so we’d ride our ‘pushies’ out here and we’d be here every weekend.”
‘Jetty Rat’ or not, there are days when the Gods of Fishing are not smiling upon you – but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on a feed of fresh seafood.
Café Balanea overlooks the Great Sandy Straits Marina.
It’s a family-run restaurant that prides itself on friendly service and delicious food, fresh from the ocean. And ‘fresh’ truly means ‘fresh’ in this instance. We’re talking trawler-caught seafood, plucked from the ocean about 3 nautical miles offshore.
If the siren sound of the sea is ringing in your ears, Hervey Bay is the perfect place for a sand-and-salt spray escape.
How about unwinding at Pialba Beachfront Tourist Park? It’s the largest of the bay’s popular beachside caravan parks – and a short walk from shops, cafes, cinemas and Hervey Bay’s RSL Club.
Down the road at Ingenia Holidays Hervey Bay, it’s all about fun for the whole family – including four-legged members.
The park has caravan sites, campgrounds and cabin accommodation – all just a stroll away from Torquay Beach.
And the kids will love the playground, games room and resort-style pool.
If a super-relaxed seaside town is your idea of holiday heaven, then Fraser Coast’s Hervey Bay could be just what you’re looking for.
