Trip to Hervy Bay and Town of 1770 September 2025

First we travelled to the Glasshouse Mountains Lookout for a magnificent view of the coastline, forests and mountains.  We continued to the Q Camel farm where Lauren told us there were as many as 100 females and juvenile camels and a couple of males.  The camels were very clean and friendly and enjoyed being hand fed fresh fruit and vegetables – and we enjoyed the experience. 

We visited the wonderful Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum where the display focused on the discovery of alluvial gold by James Nash in 1867.  It told of the olden days of the area: agriculture, food processing, education, health, communications, policing, transport, and featured the cottage of Andrew Fisher, second labour Prime Minister of Australia. 

We continued our trip to Urangan , Hervey Bay.  We boarded our Whalesong boat for what turned out to be an exceptional display by the featured artists – the whales of Hervy Bay.  We had whales come up to the boat, cavorting, rolling, putting their heads up almost into our hands!!  It was an amazing display by these huge gentle animals.

The third day involved a visit to K’gari – Fraser Island – the largest sand island in the world.  We drove along the beach as far as the wreck of the Maheno and walked along Eli Creek.  Later, we went to Central Station, Wanggoolba Creek and a viewing of the pine trees planted some years previously, and visited the beautiful fresh water Lake Mackenzie.

We travelled to Bundaberg   and sampled the wares of the Bundaberg Ginger Beer Factory, then onto the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens and Fairymead House. The latter was a walk back in time to the early years of sugar growing around Bundaberg. We also visited the Hinkler Museum where we viewed many artefacts, photos and stories of the aviator Bert Hinkler.  This was followed by the bus trip to The town of 1770.

Another early start for a really great trip up the coastline through Eurimbula National Park to Bustard Heads Lighthouse.  We were transported in the amphibious  Larc (Lighter Amphibioius Resupply Cargo), and enjoyed seeing many birds.

Our next stop was  Maryborough.  Here some of us visited the Mary Poppins’ author, PL Travers’s (aka Helen Lyndon Goff) birthplace while others spent an enjoyable time exploring the gardens and war memorial park.  We also enjoyed an historical drive around Maryborough visiting many old homes and places of interest.    We drove to Noosa for our last overnight stay of the trip.

Our last morning was an early rise again to Elanda Point and the Everglades Eco Safari cruise through Lake Cootharabar and the only everglades in Australia. This was a delightful, quiet trip along the waterways of the Noosa area where we viewed unique vegetation and saw much birdlife as well as visiting Harrys Hut.  We arrived back in Brisbane tired but exhilarated by the places we had been, the sights we had seen and the companionship of fellow Probians. 

At Bustard Heads lighthouse

The LARC on way to Bustard Heads

Fossicking on the beach

TAringa Probus members at Bustard Heads

A whale of a performance in Hervy Bay