It’s the whale watching capital of the world and home to the largest sand island… but there’s so much more to the Fraser Coast.
From wreck and reef diving to bareboat sailing and indigenous cultural tours, its year-round offerings are the reason why so many choose to holiday at one of the most pristine and protected waterways on Australia’s east coast.
Now no longer Queensland’s ‘best kept secret’ – the Fraser Coast is only 3.5 hours’ drive from Brisbane. And when you get there, you’ll find plenty of operators who can’t wait to show you around. From snorkelling, sailing, jet skiing and scuba diving, there are a variety of experiences you can book for your Marine Mecca experience. Plus, all operators are accredited by Ecotourism Australia.
Here are five facts about the region and why it’s so special:
- Hervey Bay is a stopover site for humpbacks. After their annual migration, they come to the Fraser Coast to stay and play! It was named the world’s first whale heritage site in 2019.
- Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO is rare, but the Fraser Coast (which is within the Great Sandy Biosphere) was awarded that title in 2009, putting it into the same class as the Central Amazon, the Everglades and Uluru.
- The Great Sandy Strait (a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance) is also a marine park, which sits around 6,000 square kilometres – from Baffle Creek in the north to Double Island in the south.
- This protected and pristine body of water is home to 7,558 recorded species of fauna and flora, plus 23 broad habitat types!
- As mentioned above, K’gari (Fraser Island) is the world’s largest sand island. It’s 123km long and about 24kms across at the widest point! It even has its very own national highway, 75 Mile Beach.
Safe to say, Fraser Coast is looking fit for your next holiday!
