Top Hervey Bay Half-day Tours

Travel back in time to the golden era of train travel with a journey on the Mary Valley Heritage Railway. Experience the old world nostalgia as soon as you step into the historic Gympie Station, where you’ll learn about the history of steam locomotives before boarding the Mary Valley Rattler. Enjoy the countryside views as you head out to Amamoor, where the train is turned around for the journey back.

Exploring K’gari’s vast landscapes in a single day can be challenging without the right transport and local knowledge, but this full-day guided tour makes it easy to see the island’s highlights. Depart early in a custom 4WD and spend the day visiting key sites such as Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, Central Station, Wanggoolba Creek, Seventy-Five Mile Beach, and the Maheno shipwreck. With a local leading the way, learn about the island’s unique plant and animal life while enjoying time at its freshwater lakes, rainforest, and coastline.

Maximize your chances of seeing whales off the coast of Hervey Bay with this morning or afternoon half-day cruise. Ride the sheltered waters of Platypus Bay in a stable catamaran that offers superior comfort and clear views of passing marine life, which may also includes dolphins, turtles and seabirds, and perhaps even a dingo on the sandy beach at Fraser Island.

Discover the beauty of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island from the water on this sightseeing and swimming cruise. Leaving from Hervey Bay, you’ll cruise through the turquoise waters of the Great Sandy Strait and along the western coast of Fraser Island (weather dependent), past lush forested islands and secluded beaches. If you fancy, you can even jump in the water and come face-to-face with dolphins and sea turtles in the purpose-built boom-net.

Maximize your chances of spotting whales on this half-day cruise from Hervey Bay. Hop aboard a purpose-built vessel designed for comfort, visibility, and responsible eco-tourism, and listen as the crew guides you through close-up whale encounters and shares insights into their behavior. Listen to whales sing via an onboard hydrophone, and watch for other marine life as you cruise the bay.

Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking on UNESCO-listed K’gari on this full-day trip from Hervey Bay. Spot dolphins, swim with turtles, then discover the island’s wild side on a bush walk. After the included buffet lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon kayaking or snorkeling the island’s beaches and bays. Even look out for migrating humpback whales between mid-July and October.

Get a new perspective on Queensland's Great Sandy Straits Marine Park by cruising through its clear waters in a glass-bottom boat. See an abundance of marine life among the coral reefs, including turtles, dolphins, and possibly a reef shark or dugong. Make several stops along the way for snorkeling and swimming.

The Mary Valley Rattler steam train is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most memorable experiences. Enjoy a more premium adventure on this journey that includes a plate of local cheese, a newspaper, and water. Share a booth with other travelers—unless your booking is for four or more guests, when your own booth is provided. On your return to the station, relax with a 2-course meal and a glass of something.

Set sail for a quintessential Aussie beach adventure with a half-day cruise to beautiful K’gari (Fraser Island). Look out for dolphins and sea turtles as you cruise out across Hervey Bay, then enjoy free time to explore the island. Swim, take a beach walk, or opt to kayak, fish, or snorkel. Back on board, tuck into a BBQ lunch, including fresh Hervey Bay prawns, on the return cruise.

Many whale-watching tours only allow you to see the majestic creatures from a distance, but on this Fraser Island tour you’ll get the chance to swim with them. Visit the more remote parts of the island that many visitors skip, and have fun bushwalking, snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. On board the boat, look out for humpback whales and, if the conditions are right, take a dip in the sea beside them.