The Fraser Coast is proud of its heritage. The Butchella Aborigines first made their home on Fraser Island almost 600,000 years ago.
Captain Cook sailed its coast in 1770, but Matthew Flinders arrived to map the area in 1799. Maryborough is one of Queensland's oldest cities and was a major port of immigration in the lead up to Federation.
The Fraser Coast's fascinating history lives on in the region's colonial buildings and old Queenslander homes, heritage streetscapes and its remarkable collection of museums.
You can follow a trail around the Fraser Coast's museums, which includes details on the region's impressive range of museums and historical collections.
Heading north along the Bruce Highway you will come to Gympie, an old gold mining town. There are some interesting places to visit in Gympie, where you can find out about the gold mining history.
From Gympie you can head East towards Rainbow Beach, which offers 4WD access to Noosa, or continue north towards Bundaberg.
On the way to Rainbow Beach you can also stop at the small Tin Can Bay. It is a very pretty spot, with its main attraction being the dolphin feeding.
Continuing north along the highway, you will reach Maryborough. Maryborough is situated along the Mary River, and hosts some impressive Victorian buildings along Wharf Street and around the town.
Turning off towards the coast from Maryborough, you can travel along the Fraser Coast Tourist Drive to get to popular Hervey Bay. From Hervey Bay there are a number of trips out to Fraser Island, including sightseeing tours and whale watching cruises.
The Fraser Coast is a haven for golf courses. Several golf courses include the Burrum District Golf Club, Craignish Golf Course, Fraser Lakes Golf Course, and the Hervey Bay Day/Night Golf Driving Range.
Continuing along the Fraser Coast Tourist Drive you will pass several golf courses, vineyards, museums and historic buildings. You can also enjoy activities such as horse riding, go karting and simply relaxing in the numerous picnic areas.
Along the Fraser Coast Tourist Drive you can turn off towards several small coastal towns along the way. Both Burrum Heads and Toogoom are pretty little fishing villages, which feature beautiful views and great fishing.
Both Burrum Heads and Toogoom offer picnic and BBQ facilities, as well as waterfront cafes where you can enjoy the local catch. It is well worth stopping at the small places along the Fraser Coast Tourist Drive, as you get to experience a wide range of diverse environments along the way.
The Fraser Coast Tourist Drive ends at the small township of Howard, which is set within an old coal mining area. The quaint Howard Post Office is in the centre of town, along with a War Memorial. You can find out about the history of Howard at the Howard Museum.
More Victorian buildings can be found at the small town of Childers, which is a good place to stop for fruit picking. North again along the coast is Bundaberg which also offers plenty of fruit picking work, as well as trips out to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Fraser Coast is a must-see location in Queensland, it is full of amazing attractions and it has stunning scenery and views.
Featured Fraser Coast Activities
TOUR NAME
LOCATION
RATES (AUD) from
Fraser Island Beauty Spots Tour(EX2053) (Bushwalking, Nature & Wildlife) Our guides are locals who live and love the island and their local knowledge will make your day’s touring the island's beauty spots an absolute breeze.
We'll do the hard work managing tides, tr...
Full Day Personalised Fraser Island Tour(EX2054) (Bushwalking, Nature & Wildlife) With approximately 1500km of tracks on Fraser Island, there’s plenty of wilderness to enjoy and plenty of spots waiting to be discovered. You can pre-plan your Fraser Island experience, with input f...
Whale Watching Cruise(EX2055) (Dolphin Swim & Whale Watch) On this great morning out, you’ll see southern humpbacks rest and play in the warm, calm waters of the Great Sandy Strait. A whale watching trip aboard Quick Cat II is likely to be a family affair.
...
Queensland DVD (Queenslands South East - Land of Scenic Wonder)
Purchase the DVD that portrays Queensland's South East including footage of Fraser Island, Glass House Mountains, Blackall Range, Montville, Mount Tamborine and Springbrook's unforgettable rock bridge.
Taking you through the tree tops in Lamington where the thick, green roof shades; the mysterious underworld of the forest floor. On to Noosa, a haven of stunning national parks and brilliant waterways. Plus the amazing coloured sands of Teewah and Rainbow Beach.
PLEASE NOTE: The Queensland travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for Queensland Holidays can be found on the main Queensland Holidays location guide.
