The Fraser Coast - Fraser Island & The Great Sandy Strait
The Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay is our charter yacht playground. Located approximately 300 kilometres, or 3½ hours drive, north of Brisbane it includes the towships of Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough, the adjacent coast to the landward side of Fraser Island and as far south as Tin Can Bay, as well as Fraser Island itself.
Fraser Island
The largest sand island in the world, Fraser is home to crystal clear freshwater lakes, ancient rainforests, beautiful meandering creeks and miles of fabulous beaches. Water and sand are the most abundant elements on Fraser Island and this combination has created the towering rainforests and the mirror-surface lakes throughout the island. Explore this World Heritage island from the comfort of your own private yacht chartered with us. Dine at some of Australia’s leading resort restaurants or sail along the sheltered inside stretches of this magnificent island.
Over 325 species of birds and several species of wallaby, possums, flying foxes, echidnas and eastern Australia's purest population of dingo can be found on Fraser Island. A unique species of tortoise can be found in many of the freshwater lakes. The warm waters surrounding the island attract dugong, dolphins and turtles. The magnificent humpback whales, with their young, pass on the western side of the island between late July and early November.
Fishing, snorkeling, beach walking....these are just some of the many, many relaxing activities ready for you on the long wide white beaches on Fraser Island.
Hervey Bay
Bordered by 40 kilometres of pristine beaches, Hervey Bay offers access to islands, adventure, wildlife and a beautiful safe aquatic playground for visitors to the Fraser Coast.
Hervey Bay City, boasting one of the fastest growing populations in Australia, is renowned for its Whale Watching and as the gateway to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. The foreshore of the City offers fourteen kilometres of shared pedestrian, wheelchair and bicycle pathways. Along the length of the foreshore are numerous areas for picnics and barbecues, as well as children's play areas, beach hire and public shower and toilet facilities.
The north-facing sheltered waters of Hervey Bay are protected by Fraser Island and offer visitors a perfect swimming and fishing environment.
Lazy days cruising the calm, blue waters of Hervey Bay, cool drink in hand, going....well, nowhere in particular really! Holidays don't get much better than this...while most of our guests come with full itineraries for their trip, most are quickly abandoned for a good amount of jus' cruisin' time! The stresses and worries of work and city life are left far behind in the tranquil waters and spectacular scenery of our cruising area.
The Great Sandy Strait
In and along the tranquil waterways of the Great Sandy Strait nature abounds. Fish, dugong, turtles, dolphins, mangroves, sea grass pastures, wild flowers and bird life are plentiful.
Dotted along the mainland of the Great Sandy Strait lie the seaside townships of Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay, Tinnanbar, Poona, Tuan, Boonooroo and Maaroom. Providing a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, the Great Sandy Strait offers holidaymakers a great place to 'take time out'.
These townships are a fisherman's paradise, either on shore or from a small motorboat, explore the mangrove lined creeks or the sheltered waters of the Great Sandy Strait. A great variety of fish including bream, whiting, flathead, mackerel, tailor and mangrove jack inhabit the waters, along with sand and mud crabs.
Bush walking not only provides a great form of excercise, but also allows you to enjoy the splendour of the wildflowers in season. The Great Sandy Strait is a declared wetland of International importance. Here shorebirds from as far as Siberia and Japan rest and feed over summer. The fantastic variety of bird life will keep the keenest ornithologist busy for hours. When fishing and boating in this area, take care not to disturb these birds or their roosting sites and ensure dogs do not chase them.
Whale Watching: (July-Oct)
Renowned as the Whale Watching capital of the world, the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay offer your family and friends the unique opportunity to see these magnificent creatures at play...giant humpbacks taking a 'breather' on their annual migration south after calving in the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef. For 4 months each year from July to October they stop here to feed and play with their calves.
Fraser Island Escape offer you the opportunity to experience this unforgetable sight from your 'own' spacious and luxurious yacht. These pictures were taken from our boats on a recent trip to the whales winter home in Hervey Bay.
The Oceania project is one of Australia’s foremost ocean research organisations, we would recommend a detour to their site for fascinating information about their work with whales, dolphins and ocean research.
Our yacht, Moon Dancer, is the charter boat of choice for the Oceania project who rent her each year during whale watching season as their live- aboard base for the scientific research expeditions in the Hervey Bay area.
If you are looking for just a day trip to see the whales, we highly recommend the friendly people at Shayla Cruises, a great way to get ‘up close and personal’ if you are only here for the day.
