Australia Day On The Fraser Coast

Day 1

Brisbane - Ballogie - Hervey Bay
This morning, traverse the D'Aguilar Highway to the scenic South Burnett, stopping for a cuppa along the way. Lunch will surely set the scene for a great Australia Day weekend, with Australian Camp Oven Festival multi-award winners and Champion of Champion winners, The Bait Layers Camp Oven Cooks and Caterers cooking up a delicious meal for us. This afternoon, we'll continue on through agricultural rich farming regions and historic towns before arriving into Hervey Bay for the next three nights.

Day 2

Maryborough - Mary Poppins - Sunset Cruise
Today we make our way to the historic town of Maryborough. Visit the recently renovated Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum for a guided tour of the Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial, followed by morning tea. There will also be time to browse the collection of military and colonial memorabilia, all of historic significance to people of the area. Later we visit The Bond Store, dating back to 1864, and Story Bank House which highlights the magic of Mary Poppins at the birthplace of Helen Lyndon Goff, known to the world as author PL Travers. This afternoon, before returning to Hervey Bay, we'll stop at The Cistern Chapel, public toilets attached to City Hall which have been transformed into a beautiful work of art. Early evening, we will board our sunset cruise before returning to our motel for dinner.

Day 3

Australia Day
Our day begins with visits to the Urangan Pier and the Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, before making our way to the Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum for the Australia Day celebrations. See hands-on experiences and Aussie traditions such as blacksmithing, rope making and splicing, spinners and weavers and log sawing alongside the vintage cars and motorbikes display. Purchase your own morning tea and lunch from one of the food stalls while here; perhaps a sausage sizzle or a piece of damper baked over the fire. This afternoon, stop at Reefworld Aquarium, an all-natural aquarium located on the foreshore of Hervey Bay.

Day 4

Hervey Bay - Gympie - Brisbane
This morning we farewell Hervey Bay as we travel to Howard. Visit Van Cootens Drapery to browse the extensive range of patchwork materials and accessories, haberdashery, curtain fabric, men's and ladies clothing and giftware. Continue on to Brooklyn House, a large historic Queenslander style home built in 1890, now lovingly restored to reflect the best of a bygone era. Enjoy a Devonshire morning tea on the verandah overlooking the gardens, followed by a guided tour of the house. We then begin our journey home, stopping in Gympie for lunch before arriving back into Brisbane where your transfers will be arranged.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner