5 FREE things to do with kids in Hervey Bay
We understand that travelling with children can be a costly exercise. You've found great affordable family friendly accommodation, now let us show you some of our favourite places to visit with the kids that are FREE.
Take a walk along the beach
Hervey Bay have some of the most beautiful beaches for the family to enjoy. Gorgeous white sand and turquoise water protected by K'gari (Fraser Island) so you don't get the big waves like other beaches along our coastline. One of the best beaches is only 300m from our front gate, so its within easy walking distance from your holiday cabin. Pack your towels and your bathers, hats, glasses and sunscreen. There are plenty of lovely shady parks along the Esplanade as well if you'd like to have a picnic lunch too. Fly kites, build sandcastles, search for little crabs and other interesting sea creatures that may have washed up on the beach. Lots of entertainment for the family for hours.
Go fishing on the Urangan Pier
A must see attraction at Queensland’s Fraser Coast is Hervey Bay’s famous and historic Urangan Pier – it’s one of the longest in Australia and stretches for almost one kilometre into the ocean. A place where the Oil ships would dock and unload onto the train waiting for the shipment. A walk to the end will reward with spectacular views of Hervey Bay and the chance to see schools of fish, stingrays or pods of dolphin just metres out to sea. The Pier is located approx 1km for Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, so its a great outing for the whole family.
Walk through the Botanic Gardens
The Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens and Orchid House, are situated on Elizabeth Street, Urangan and are accessible from the back gate at our Retreat. The Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens was established in 1974. These beautiful gardens are situated on 6,000 year old foreshore dunes spanning 26 hectares.
Today the gardens boast established plants of the Wide Bay and Great Sandy regions in a mixture of natural bushland, formal gardens, rain forest and wetlands.
Walking tracks meander through the gardens, an attractive and educational environment - one in which the science of botany can be interpreted for the benefit and enjoyment of the community.
Explore the rock pools at Gatakers Bay
Take a short drive to Point Vernon and locate the Boat Ramp at Gataker's Bay. At low tide you will find one of the best places to explore rock pools, looking for fish and crustaceans and all things ocean. It's one of our favourite places to visit. Make sure you take your cameras, your hat and your sunscreen though, because you can get so lost in the moment, you will forget how long you have been there. Its a great place for a picnic lunch and to burn off a bit of energy.
Enjoy Wetside Water Park
Located at 267 Esplanade Pialba.
Open during the Queensland school holidays, daily from 10am to 5pm. During the school term, they are open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. They are closed for the cooler months from May until early September.
This park offers free entry, but if you are more of a daredevil, they have 2 large water slides, $5.00 for 10 rides, with ticket sales closing at 4pm daily, and $6 for the FlipSide Board Rider.
Every Saturday night, during their open season, they have a Fountain Light Show from 7pm. This is free for everyone.
Love staying here. Our cabin is always spotless, with all mod cons. The lake and wildlife are a pleasant distraction from the usual reading or watching TV. We have stayed here 3 times, and intend to keep doing so.
