Hervey Bay, located around 190 miles or a 3 ½ hour drive north of Brisbane, is a popular stop off point on the backpacker circuit around Australia. Bordered by 25 miles of beach, it features on the itinerary of most visitors to the region mainly because it is the major access point for Fraser Island, and also because of the famous whale migration that occurs annually (mid July to late October, though numbers peak in early September) when up to 3000 humpback whales pass by on their return from the Antarctic.

Whale watching tours abound during these months – sightings are pretty much guaranteed between 1 August and 1 November – and you can choose between smaller boats taking spotters out on half day excursions to the larger boats running full day trips, which may include a detour to Platypus Bay