Popular whale watching spot on the Fraser Coast in Southern Queensland

 

 

Nestled on the southern side of the boat harbour, Urangan Beach is one of the first beaches people visit when they come to Hervey Bay.

Lying at the easternmost end of the town, it is one of the best known of all the beaches in Hervey Bay. Mainly because it resides in the shadows of the historic Urangan pier.

While the pier should demand a large part of your attention, you should also spend a good amount of time on its golden 500 metre expanse of sand. Sitting on low Dayman Point, it provides superb views east to the Great Sandy Strait and north into Hervey Bay, that you should take the time to soak in while sunbathing.

Facing north-east, Urangan beach runs to the Urangan Boat Harbour. It is flanked by a pleasant foreshore reserve on its north that features plenty of barbecue areas and a big car park to its south, which also services the harbour. This means you shouldn’t have too many issues in finding a parking space when you arrive there.

 

Urangan Pier

One of Hervey Bay’s main attractions is the magnificent Urangan Pier which has dominated the coastline ever since it was constructed in 1913.

Stretching for almost an entire kilometre into the shimmering waters of the Coral Sea, it is one of the longest piers in Australia.

Those who venture to the end of it are treated to spectacular views of the beach and the wider Hervey Bay coastline. They also have the chance to see whales, dolphins, stingrays and vibrant schools of fish from the elevated position.

Aside from taking photos on it, fishing is another very popular activity, with whiting being particularly abundant in the surrounding waters.

It is also a wonderful place to see the sunrise too.

 

Whale Watching

Whale watching is a popular activity in Hervey Bay as it is a great spot to see the annual migration of humpback whales from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Tropical North Queensland.

Generally, this takes place between June and November, with August and September being the best months to see them from the Urangan Pier.

Alternatively, for a closer look, there are several different tours you can choose to go book, leaving from the harbour near Urangan Beach.

 

Other Things To Do at Urangan Beach

Aside from checking out the pier and fishing, there are several other things you can do at Urangan Beach.

The water around the pier offers some of the best conditions for kite and windsurfing while it also can be a decent spot for swimming and learning to surf.

Nearby Pier Park has a children’s playground and is a lovely venue to enjoy fish and chips. Running from it is a scenic cycle and walkway which used to be the rail line that connected the CBD in Pialba with the pier.

If you happen to time your visit to Urangan on a Wednesday or Sunday, you can visit the markets near the pier.

There are also several boutique shops and eateries you can check out away from the shoreline of Urangan Beach.