HERVEY BAY, AUSTRALIA| . |
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To visit the Hervey Coast, you take the Bruce Highway (driving north from Brisbane) until you reach the town of Gympie, where you take the road to Maryborough (photo). This small town has kept its' marvellous architecture from the beginning of the 1800's, with many gorgeous Victorian and historical constructions. There are not only houses, but some public buildings as well. One of the best examples is the Post Office. During recent years, many of these buildings have been restored and today you will find pharmacies, bakeries, law offices, and many other commercial buildings restored to the same way they were 200 years ago. It has became a big tourist attraction, especially for those who like to see what Australia looked like at that time.
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The Queenslanders (photo) as they are called, were the common housing style used in the beginning of the 1890's. They are houses surrounded by big verandas to keep their owners' cool during the hot summer months. They are making a come back in Australia, with some new homes being built in the same way. They are wonderful for space and comfort, with huge rooms, living areas, gardens and equipped with modern spas, swimming pools, huge garages, work shops. They are also largely available in Maryborough.
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Driving past Maryborough and not taking the route back to the Bruce Highway, you will reach the town of Hervey Bay (photo). The town is one of the best points to make your plans to explore Fraser Island. Hervey Bay is a small town, which has a tourism based economy. Lately, the town has become very much in demand by retirees because of reasonable house prices. Hundreds of thousands of tourists every year spend some time in town to see one of the towns' top attractions; Whale watching. Every year these mammals migrate from the low latitude areas to procreate in the warm waters of the bay. Not only is it exciting to spot whales; the area is well known for its excellent fishing year round. The Jetty right in front of the town is one of the longest in Australia, and has good fishing too. From the jetty it is possible to spot dolphin and dugongs. There's plenty of accommodation available to suit every budget. Caravan Parks and Camping grounds abound in front of the beach. Hervey Bay is also excellent for boating because the bay is protected by Fraser Island. Beaches are clean and beautiful, perfect for families with young children because of its calm waters.
