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The best Hervey Bay accommodation for an unforgettable coastal getaway

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

a huge outdoor pool at Oaks Hervey Bay Resort and Spa
Take a refreshing dip in one of the two heated outdoor swimming pools. (Image: 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

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2. Mantra Hervey Bay

a spacious suite with a balcony with marina views at Mantra Hervey Bay
Book a stay right off the vibrant marina precinct. (Image: 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

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3. Akama Resort

an apartment stay with balcony at Akama Resort, Hervey Bay
Take in idyllic views of Great Sandy Strait from your balcony. (Image: 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

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4. Grand Mercure Allegra Hervey Bay

the pool at Grand Mercure Allegra Hervey Bay
Soak in the warm heated lagoon pool. (Image: 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

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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

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6. The Bay Apartments

the bedroom at The Bay Apartments
Bed down at The Bay Apartments near the Esplanade.

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

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Camping and caravan parks

7. Discovery Parks — Fraser Street, Hervey Bay

Exterior view of the Deluxe Safari Tent at Discovery Parks Hervey Bay Fraser Street
The Deluxe Safari Tents at Discovery Parks Hervey Bay offer lush waterfront views. (Image: Supplied)

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

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8. Ingenia Holidays Hervey Bay

the living room and bedroom in Ingenia Holidays Hervey Bay
This Hervey Bay accommodation offers a budget-friendly stay for families.

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

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Holiday homes and Airbnbs

9. Pantai Indah Cottage

outdoor chairs set around the bonfire at Pantai Indah Cottage, Hervey Bay
Gather around the outdoor fire pit. (Image: 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: $$

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10. Luxe by the Marina

a whitewashed bedroom at Luxe by the Marina, Hervey Bay
An Instagrammable accommodation straight out of your Pinterest feed. (Image: 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: $$$$

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11. BreakFree Great Sandy Straits Hervey Bay

the pool and beach as seen from above, BreakFree Great Sandy Straits Hervey Bay
The waterfront resort offers direct beach access.

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

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Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Exploding supernovas & gold fever: discover the past at this outback Qld town

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn.

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters, Four Mile, Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings. To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting. They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum. Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services. Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs. The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.