Join the Journey to Hervey Bay – World Whale Conference and Whale Heritage Site Summit 2019
Co-hosted by Fraser Coast Tourism and Events the conference and summit will be the first in Oceania and promote Hervey Bay as a destination leading the way in responsible whale and dolphin watching tourism and marine conservation.
Our theme ‘Journeys that inspire change’ will be reflected in a dynamic week long program that will highlight the Power of Whales to to make Human Behaviour Change.
In this article we explore more about Hervey Bay and its surrounds:
The iconic Australian east coast humpback whale’s natural curiosity towards whale watchers and their spectacular acrobatic displays are a magical spectacle not to be missed in Hervey Bay.
Its hard to believe that this population of whales were taken to the brink of extinction due to whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries and reduced to a little over 100 individuals.
Their incredible recovery to around an estimated number of 33,000, has been in part because of, and continues to contribute to, the rapid growth of Australia’s whale watching industry.
Hervey Bay is one of the worlds leading whale watching destinations where travellers and locals alike can experience these iconic whales like no where else in the world.
In our journey to Hervey Bay we will be ‘Welcomed to Country’ by one of the oldest indigenous cultures on the planet, dating back to an estimated 50,000 years. The Butchulla people are the traditional owners of K’gari the World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the largest and most pristine island of sand on the planet.
Fraser Island stretches 123 km long and 23 km wide and is the only place where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 metres. Fraser Island is home to an estimated 25-30 packs of the purest native Dingo population in Australia who’s conservation is of national significance. There are over 1,000 freshwater lakes, and a 75 mile National ‘beach’ Highway on the eastern side of Fraser Island where 4 wheel drives and spectacular ‘joy flight’ aeroplanes alike share the sandy speedway! Lady Eliott Island too is only a 45 minute flight from Hervey Bay. LEI is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Situated within a highly protected ’Green Zone’ the island is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life and is known for its abundance of manta rays, turtles, amazing array of spectacular marine life and unspoilt coral reef.
For divers, visibility is over 20 metres for much of the year with PADI recently naming LEI as one of the ‘Top 5’ locations in the world to go diving with Manta Rays. There are regular close encounters with whales in the months of May right through to October.
A short boat trip away, down the Mary River (or drive if you prefer) is the historical town of Maryborough, home of P.L Travers author of Mary Poppins. Explore its stories from the past through striking art, statues, heritage buildings, memorials and museums surrounding what was once one of Australia’s largest ports. A short stroll through heritage-listed Queens Park will lead you to Cherry Tree Lane and the statue of Mary Poppins perched next to the 136-year-old building where P.L Travers was born in 1889.
REFS:
http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/publications/humpback-whales-eastern-australia
https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/fraser/butchulla/
https://www.visitfrasercoast.com/Experiences/Great-Barrier-Reef
https://www.ladyelliot.com.au/dive
Images: Fraser Coast Tourism and Events
There’s so much to see and do and something for everyone in Hervey Bay, get inspired and join us 6-12 October 2019.
Watch this space, for ticketing and travel information coming soon!
