Indulge by the sea at 9 of the best Hervey Bay restaurants

Serving up authentic international flavours and absolute beachfront cocktails, the best Hervey Bay restaurants take you lightyears away from home.

An unassuming corner of calm amid Queensland’s Fraser Coast, Hervey Bay is one of my most long-loved holiday destinations. While whale watching steals the activity spotlight, chilled out waterfront restaurants and sleek diners serving up crafty cocktails have never failed to put me in holiday mood. From institutions that have impressed for decades to the newest kids on the block, here’s my pick of the best Hervey Bay restaurants.

The shortlist

Best for brunch: Enzo’s on the Beach
Fine dining gem: Odyssey Bistro
Casual eats: Maddigan’s

1. Enzo’s on the Beach

a close-up shot of food on the table at Enzo’s on the Beach, Hervey Bay restaurants — Enjoy a sunset dinner overlooking the ocean. (Image: Reuben Nutt/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Can’t get to Fiji this year? Don’t sweat it — idyllic beach hangs over snacks and cocktails is nailed at Enzo’s on the Beach. Featuring a buzzing deck outside and double-height ceiling inside, the timber-panelled Hervey Bay restaurant wouldn’t look out of place on an overseas island. I like every meal of the day at this spot, with breakfast and brunch featuring the legendary Enzo’s Eggs with romesco sauce, plus a chicken waffle benny with chipotle mayo. However, an early sunset dinner by the sand can’t be beat. Nonna’s chicken on creamy polenta is mouth-watering, as are the highball selections on the cocktail menu (go the lychee and mint with vodka for serious out-of-office swagger). My tip? Get there on Sunday for regular live music and early enough to wrangle a bean bag to catch Hervey Bay’s famed sunset spectacular.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Chilled out

Location: 351a Esplanade, Scarness, Hervey Bay

2. The Dock

It’s technically in the Mantra Resort at Hervey Bay’s well-populated marina but I walk into The Dock to find a totally energetic, entirely separate dining destination. The team are friendly, happily chatting to other diners as I slip into a table by the windows overlooking million-dollar catamarans. Within minutes, I’m greeted, and my wine is ordered. What I love about this Hervey Bay restaurant is its generous plating and enormous selection of Spanish-inspired tapas. My garlic and chilli prawns (there are four large bad boys in total) are slathered with a homemade relish while the corn ribs with a side of salsa verde are roasted to poppy perfection (there’s about half a dozen half cob ribs in total, which is plenty for one). The non-negotiable? Rough-cut potatoes with tomato relish, their take on patatas bravas, which is so huge I can’t finish it, but I give it a good nudge. Don’t miss the Baileys panna cotta when you drop in, too — teamed with berry compote and cream, it hits that sweet spot in style.

Cuisine: Spanish tapas

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Lively

Location: Mantra Resort, 2 Buccaneer Dr, Urangan

3. Odyssey Bistro

a full course meal at Odyssey Bistro, Hervey Bay restaurants — Odyssey Bistro dishes up locally sourced dishes.

A smidge fancier than most Hervey Bay restaurants, Odyssey Bistro is the place to book if you’re wanting something special (guests can walk in, but I’d recommend a guaranteed spot as the space can only hold 25 or so). While casual roadside tables encourage laidback bevvy sessions, the dining room is a dimly lit hub of locally charged culinary creativity. Owner and head chef Jason England, who’s worked under Rick Stein in the past, loves seasonal sourcing so expect an evolving collective of knockouts arriving as a three-course set menu. Locals love the Hervey Bay scallop, a mainstay that’s come with smoked capsicum butter and chives in the past, while proteins are plated with similar finesse including the winter 2025 smoked mackerel omelette with XO sauce, dashi and herbs.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Warm

Location: 4/341 Esplanade, Scarness, Hervey Bay

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4. Maddigan’s

See all those people standing out the front of that corner shop? They’re waiting on the best takeaway fish and chips in the region. Maddigan’s, which has fuelled locals for more than 40 years, is adored for its super-crispy fish batter, generous portions and value for money. Depending on the catch of the day, pick between the likes of local coral trout, snapper, barramundi, Pacific dory and whatever else is on the chalkboard menu. Kick it old school with Pluto Pops, banana and pineapple fritters and Chiko Rolls, too. Once your order’s called, a few chairs and tables are scattered around outside but I recommend taking your parcel to that beautiful strip of sand directly opposite, aka Torquay Beach.

Cuisine: Fish and chips

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: In and out

Location: 401 Esplanade, Torquay

5. Aquavue

avo on toast at Aquavue, Hervey Bay restaurants — Avo on toast at Aquavue. (Image: Jacinta Shackleton/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Speaking of the sand, Aquavue is another unmissable beachfront spot. While the Hervey Bay restaurant feels super casual, the views from its water-fronting deck are sensational. When I drop in, I even spot K’gari, a sight made even more magical when my pizza paddle and chicken wings combo lands. I go for the Pesto Chicken pizza because it’s got camembert, before washing it down with a Your Mates pale ale, brewed in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, because, well, holidays. Visitors should note that once the sun sinks, it’s lights out at this place, so time your visit to lunch during the week and sunset from Friday to Sunday.

Cuisine: Pub grub

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 415a Esplanade, Torquay

6. Olive

Unveiled in July 2025, Olive is one of Hervey Bay’s newer restaurants and a much-welcomed foray into Turkish cuisine. Before we scan the food, however, we need to talk about Marta, Olive’s belly dancer and a total showstopper. She isn’t there every night but I highly recommend staying across the restaurant’s socials and Marta’s own Facebook page to time your visit to her hypnotising performances. Now, the food. The banquets take decision-making off your plate, arriving in $45 and $65 per person varieties and including dips with Turkish bread plus traditional dishes like a falafel and zucchini fritter platter and chargrilled meats with rice. A shot of Raki, Turkey’s famed cloudy spirit, washes everything down in true international sojourn style.

Cuisine: Turkish

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: 1/470 Esplanade, Torquay

7. Banksia

cotton candy sky at sunset in Banksia, Hervey Bay restaurants — Banksia channels coastal charm.

You’re visiting the sea, so it’s high time for seafood. Banksia is a good-time go-to made for long lunching. It’s Hamptons-white with nautical-inspired interiors so I arrive in heels (quite un-Hervey Bay of me) to embrace its special occasion aesthetic. I know I’ve made the right choice when the team’s Flagship Seafood Platter arrives — a showstopping extravaganza you’ve got to lock in 24 hours prior. Once I snap its towering awesomeness of fresh oysters, crab claws, prawns and fresh fruit (the team stack it high for maximised photo-ready decadence), I sit back and soak up the shimmering beach right across the road. It’s a gorgeous meandering affair at this Hervey Bay restaurant, so clear your afternoon to make the most of it.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Festive

Location: Shop 4/381 Esplanade, Hervey Bay

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8. Cody’s Coffee Shack

Some of Hervey Bay’s best coffee is found at Cody’s Coffee Shack, a local institution. Character-filled from toe to tip, this Hervey Bay restaurant is built with a timber-lined patio dotted with beachy paraphernalia to instantly endear. A hollowed-out VW campervan, meanwhile, has also been fashioned into additional seating. But first, coffee, right? Wrap your lips around a cup of creamy Dimattina beans, roasted in Melbourne, before taking your pick from light meals like Dutch pancakes with whipped cream, toasties, savoury pastries, muffins, slices, scones and more.

Cuisine: Cafe classics

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Local

Location: 400 Esplanade, Torquay

9. Thyme @ the Vinyard

dining at Thyme @ the Vinyard, Hervey Bay restaurants — Thyme @ the Vinyard celebrates local produce.

Across the road and down a bit from the famed Urangan Pier, one of the best things to explore in Hervey Bay, Thyme @ the Vinyard is a peaceful spot plating up elegant dishes that lean into local produce. It opened in August 2024, so it’s one of town’s newest dining destinations, taking total advantage of a waterfront location on the main strip. Grab a seat right by the expansive windows to spy soothing blue vistas as seafood, like local scallops with Nduja cream, starts you off and mains span grain-fed sirloin steaks, blackened chicken, barramundi with brown butter dashi and prawn linguini with lemon and herbs.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Location: 552 Esplanade, Urangan

Discover the best things to do in Hervey Bay

There’s more to Australia’s Garden City than meets the eye.

With Victorian-era and traditional Queenslander buildings, an abundance of manicured gardens and the famous Carnival of Flowers painting the streets in vibrant colours each spring, Toowoomba is one of the most charming regional cities in Queensland Country.

While its beauty alone is reason enough to visit, there are lesser-known sides to Toowoomba that locals love most, from its burgeoning culinary scene to its artistic flair. Located just a 90-minute drive from Brisbane (or a direct flight from Sydney), it’s all too easy to discover on a long weekend away.

1. There’s an awesome local arts scene

tour group walking in front of toowoomba street art — Find incredible works of art around Toowoomba’s streets. (Credit: Nathan McNeil)

Australia’s second largest inland city is a flourishing arts and culture hub waiting to be discovered. Over 100 vibrant street art murals and graffiti works decorate the city, and they’re best viewed along Bank Lane and Searles Walk.

Regional Queensland’s oldest public art gallery can also be found in Toowoomba – it’s home to 20th-century Australian works created by Queensland artists and those connected to the Toowoomba region.

2. It has world-class farm-to-table dining

rosalie house aerial toowoomba secrets — Stop into Rosalie House to wine and dine.

As a regional city, Toowoomba has direct access to incredibly fresh produce that’s shaping its culinary scene. At sunset, head to the verandah at Rosalie House Cellar Door Restaurant for a grazing-style dining experience and to discover Queensland’s underrated wine scene. Indulge in dishes such as Warilba lamb rump and roasted pumpkin with ginger-roasted potatoes and lime yoghurt, paired with their delicious cool-climate wines.

For a more relaxed affair, sweet tooths should make a beeline for award-winning The Baker’s Duck. Be sure to try their cult favourite strawberry cheesecake danish; you’ll learn why 35,000 of these treats are sold annually.

3. Small bars are doing big work

table spread at Uno Más small bar in toowoomba secrets — Pop into small bars like Uno Más.

Toowoomba doesn’t disappoint with fantastic pubs, but discerning drinkers can take happy hour to the next level at one of the city’s impressive small bars. Savour Spanish-style bites paired with a thoughtful line-up of wines at the newly opened Uno Más Tapas & Wine Bar. On Thursdays, head to Cork & Lever to tap your feet to live music over creative cocktails made with their all-Australian gin collection. And enjoy elevated toasties and premium drops at the cosy Press’d Coffee & Wine. Or try newly opened The Book Pour.

4. There’s no shortage of fabulous stays

Whether you prefer the buzz of the city centre or retreating to the hinterland, there are stylish stays aplenty to settle into in this idyllic corner of the world. Apartment-style living can be found at Quest Toowoomba; partly housed in a heritage church building in the city, it’s a comfortable and convenient base. And at The Arbour Boutique Apartments, spacious rooms are injected with old-world charm.

In the hinterland, enjoy bucolic bliss at the boutique Bunnyconnellen, where an 1880s farmhouse and self-contained cottage are backdropped by rolling hills. And at the secluded Ravensbourne Escape, one-bedroom studios, two-bedroom chalets and three-bedroom holiday homes overlook Ravensbourne National Park and the Brisbane and Lockyer Valleys.

5. It’s a nature-lovers paradise

extinct volcanic peak Table Top Mountain — Tackle Table Top Mountain. (Credit: Ariana Potamianakis)

Toowoomba is hugged by national parks, making it a haven for nature lovers. On its doorstep you’ll find the extinct volcanic peak Table Top Mountain, where keen hikers can tackle the challenging two-kilometre return trail which rewards them with 360° views of the Lockyer Valley and surrounds.

For a more gentle experience, Ravensbourne National Park offers peaceful walking trails within lush rainforest. It’s a top spot for bird watching as there are over 110 bird species that call the area home, including the paradise riflebird. Crows Nest National Park is home to platypus and koalas, and its refreshing natural swimming spots, like Kauyoo Pool, are a great place to beat the heat.

6. Wellness enthusiasts are well looked after

Toowoomba’s cool and calm energy lends itself to a wellness-focused getaway. Slated to open in August 2026, soak in the serenity at Vikasati Toowoomba, a bathhouse oasis with outdoor hot and cold magnesium pools, ice baths and Finnish saunas. Rest and recharge at City Cave Toowoomba, which offers float therapy, infrared sauna and massage services, or visit Kalm Springs for LED therapy, cryotherapy and float therapy.

7. It’s preserved its 19th-century charm

inside Queensland Museum Cobb + Co — Learn all about the history of Cobb+Co.

History buffs can step back in time at Toowoomba’s fascinating cultural and historical museums.

Explore 50,000 years of Darling Downs and Toowoomba history at the Queensland Museum Cobb+Co; it’s known for its impressive National Carriage Collection of 47 restored horse-drawn vehicles, which were put to use for Queensland’s urban expansion. Visitors can also try their hand at blacksmithing or leadlighting in heritage workshops, refuelling with traditional scones at the onsite cafe.

Train enthusiasts can celebrate the golden era of rail travel on a heritage steam locomotive thanks to the volunteer-driven, community-led organisation DownsSteam Toowoomba. Vintage train rides range from a two-hour journey between Toowoomba Station and DownsSteam Railway Museum to an overnight adventure from Toowoomba to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt

8. There are vintage gems waiting to be found

Whether it’s to pick up a unique piece for your home or a one-of-a-kind accessory for a loved one, you’re guaranteed to find something special in one of Toowoomba’s antique and vintage stores. Range Antiques sells everything from furniture, rugs and lamps to fine porcelain, jewellery and art, while Toowoomba Antiques & Collectables is a treasure trove of Art Deco, farmhouse, retro and mid-century modern pieces.

Start planning your weekender of a lifetime in Queensland Country region at queenslandcountrytourism.com.au.

Indulge by the sea at 9 of the best Hervey Bay restaurants

Serving up authentic international flavours and absolute beachfront cocktails, the best Hervey Bay restaurants take you lightyears away from home.

The shortlist

1. Enzo’s on the Beach

2. The Dock

3. Odyssey Bistro

4. Maddigan’s

5. Aquavue

6. Olive

7. Banksia

8. Cody’s Coffee Shack

9. Thyme @ the Vinyard

A local’s cheat sheet to the most sensational Hervey Bay camping

This Aussie town is the whale watching capital of the world

The best Hervey Bay accommodation for an unforgettable coastal getaway

11 of the best sun-drenched things to do in Hervey Bay

Wine, dine and vintage gems: 8 things you didn’t know about Toowoomba

There’s more to Australia’s Garden City than meets the eye.

1. There’s an awesome local arts scene

2. It has world-class farm-to-table dining

3. Small bars are doing big work

4. There’s no shortage of fabulous stays

5. It’s a nature-lovers paradise

6. Wellness enthusiasts are well looked after

7. It’s preserved its 19th-century charm

8. There are vintage gems waiting to be found

Serving up authentic international flavours and absolute beachfront cocktails, the best Hervey Bay restaurants take you lightyears away from home.

The shortlist

1. Enzo’s on the Beach

2. The Dock

3. Odyssey Bistro

AI Prompt

4. Maddigan’s

5. Aquavue

6. Olive

7. Banksia

8. Cody’s Coffee Shack

9. Thyme @ the Vinyard

A local’s cheat sheet to the most sensational Hervey Bay camping

This Aussie town is the whale watching capital of the world

The best Hervey Bay accommodation for an unforgettable coastal getaway

11 of the best sun-drenched things to do in Hervey Bay

There’s more to Australia’s Garden City than meets the eye.

1. There’s an awesome local arts scene

2. It has world-class farm-to-table dining

3. Small bars are doing big work

4. There’s no shortage of fabulous stays

5. It’s a nature-lovers paradise

6. Wellness enthusiasts are well looked after

7. It’s preserved its 19th-century charm

8. There are vintage gems waiting to be found