From slow-going holiday parks to splashy resort living, the best Hervey Bay accommodation puts travellers right at home.
Steering my campervan into a holiday park a couple of blocks back from the sea, I’m reminded how luxuriously sleepy Hervey Bay is. A Fraser Coast town right off the Coral Sea, it feels secluded as I park under the shade of a eucalypt tree — but the place is fully booked.
That’s the thing about Hervey Bay accommodation. Reprieve from the rat race is always guaranteed as the town’s signature unhurried lifestyle sets the tone. Spanning camping and caravan parks, plus self-contained apartments, my favourite stays embrace Hervey Bay’s signature slow living while keeping you close to the best things to do. Let’s break them all down.
In short
If you can only pick one Hervey Bay accommodation offering, go for Oaks Hervey Bay . It offers the most luxurious rooms in town alongside ultra-contemporary amenities and a day spa.
Hotels
1. Oaks Hervey Bay Resort and Spa
The cream of the crop is Oaks Hervey Bay Resort and Spa, just metres away from the sea. Two huge heated outdoor swimming pools dotted with deck chairs (and good shading) provide further swimming options while the Mineral Earth Wellness Spa is on hand to melt overworked limbs. Inside, however, is what I love the most — multi-bedroom self-contained stays filled with all the mod cons. Choose from one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments with spacious balconies, fully-equipped kitchens, separate laundries and wi-fi. There’s also a gym, and Urangan Pier, a Hervey Bay bucket list to-do, is a short stroll away.
Price: $$$
Address: 569-571 Esplanade, Urangan
2. Mantra Hervey Bay
Live a glam poolside life at Mantra Hervey Bay in the heart of Hervey Bay’s marina precinct. There’s a heated outdoor pool plus a kid-friendly one, as well as a stack of deck chairs and good shaded areas. The rooms are more basic than those at the Oaks, but configurations climb up to three bedrooms so it’s still a great option for groups. Some of them even feature two-person spa baths, so read the fine print when you’re booking online. There’s a gym, a sauna and barbecue facilities once you’re done hanging out at the marina’s bars and eateries.
Price: $$-$$$
Address: Buccaneer Dr, Urangan
3. Akama Resort
Offering modern, airy and spacious apartments, Akana Resort is another slick serviced apartment option. Situated in the bustling marina precinct, the Hervey Bay accommodation can cater to groups of eight, treating you and your loved ones to beautiful views of Great Sandy Strait, the outdoor swimming pool or manicured gardens. Each apartment features a balcony off the lounge with bifold doors, making for dreamy al fresco dinners whipped up in a full-size kitchen.
Price: $$$
Address: 625 Esplanade, Urangan
4. Grand Mercure Allegra Hervey Bay
Grand Mercure Allegra Hervey Bay is in a plum spot right on the Esplanade overlooking Shelly Beach. While a heated outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a sauna offer plenty of in-house play, the real standout at this Hervey Bay accommodation is the front-facing rooms that overlook the pool and the beach. Choose from one- or two-bedroom apartments that offer fast wi-fi, gourmet kitchens, undercover parking and contemporary interiors.
Price: $$$
Address: 468 Esplanade, Torquay
5. Ramada by Wyndham Hervey Bay
Three self-contained apartment styles are available at the always comfortable Ramada by Wyndham Hervey Bay: studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom. The latter two feature full kitchens, laundries and balconies while the studio retains the balcony but ditches the kitchen and laundry. There’s an on-site restaurant, Smokey Joes Cafe, which stages live music in a casual pub setting, plus there’s a central swimming pool to dip into.
Price: $$$
Address: 627 Esplanade, Urangan
6. The Bay Apartments
Another Esplanade hot spot, The Bay Apartments offers one-, two- or three-bedroom stays with all the bells and whistles. Think a 25-metre heated swimming pool and a kids’ pool, a spa, a sauna, a gym and a barbecue area. Meanwhile, the rooms are fabulous, complete with large balconies, full kitchens and laundries. Go for the Outdoor Spa Apartment to level things up as they throw in a private outdoor hot tub.
Price: $$$
Address: 371 Esplanade, Hervey Bay
Camping and caravan parks
7. Discovery Parks — Fraser Street, Hervey Bay
If you successfully wrangled your entire tribe, Discovery Parks — Fraser Street, Hervey Bay is a dream group stay. Kind on the purse strings, the family-friendly pick is situated on eight acres of subtropical gardens, so the holiday vibes flow throughout its powered camping sites and cabins. My pick for instant memory-making is the Deluxe Safari Tent with lake views that sleeps up to four guests, but I also loved my powered concreted campsite right near the amenities block. When it’s time for fun, two swimming pools, a kids’ bouncing pillow, a tennis court and an activity room await.
Price: $-$$
Address: 20 Fraser St, Torquay
8. Ingenia Holidays Hervey Bay
Have dog, must travel with them? The pet-friendly Ingenia Holidays Hervey Bay is a stellar pick for fur parents thanks to several cabins and camp sites allowing four-legged pals. What might throw your plans out the window, however, is this Hervey Bay accommodation’s incredible Bel Air Retro Caravan, which sadly doesn’t allow pets. Straight out of Happy Days, the five-person van teleported from the 1950s with a pop art-decorated interior playing home to one double bed and one triple bunk. There’s even a kitchenette and shower in there, plus a private checkerboard-paved outdoor area with chairs crafted from old oil drums. Unlike anything else in Queensland, let alone Hervey Bay.
Price: $-$$
Address: 105 Truro St, Torquay
Holiday homes and Airbnbs
9. Pantai Indah Cottage
Make cosy memories with up to five other people at Pantai Indah Cottage, a Hervey Bay Airbnb located in Urangan. The three-bedroom, four-bathroom stay is the stuff of group getaway dreams with its pool table, outdoor fire pit, barbecue and proximity to pretty Shelley Beach. The rooms are all comfortable with some featuring built-in wardrobes, while the kitchen features a dishwasher (a non-negotiable while on holiday with friends) and there’s also a laundry.
Price: $$
10. Luxe by the Marina
For something special, Luxe by the Marina is a Hervey Bay accommodation pick straight out of your Pinterest scroll. Sleeping up to 10 guests across five bedrooms, the Hamptons-inspired pick has two entirely separate living rooms plus a kids’ games area and a mammoth backyard with an eight-seater dining table. All your creature comforts are included, including wall-mounted TVs, a walk-in pantry and a lock-up garage plus driveway space for five vehicles (and a boat, if you’re bringing yours). Deluxe and completely untarnished — you can tell it’s a super recent build.
Price: $$$$
11. BreakFree Great Sandy Straits Hervey Bay
Heart set on beach days? BreakFree Great Sandy Straits Hervey Bay offers direct beach access so it’s worth serious consideration. Two outdoor swimming pools, two full-sized tennis courts, a barbecue area, a sauna and a games room are also calling once you’re done with sandy toed frolicking. You can also hire bikes to explore the rest of town, plus it’s within walking distance to the marina, but visitors take note: there’s no free wi-fi at this property.
Price: $$
Address: 17 Buccaneer Dr, Urangan
