Cruising with Benny: Hervey Bay

By Bobbi Lee Hitchon // 5 May 2010 // Comments: 0 // Related Categories: Benny, drives, hervey bay, photography, relax, Things to do, tour

The Esplanade in Hervey Bay, Queensland offers drivers, bikers, walkers and runners an open and safe roadway with breathtaking views of the coast. People can spend a half day or more traveling this route, taking in the sights and stopping at small cafes for a cup of tea or a bite to eat.

Tired of driving only on Bruce Highway, I took Benny out for a spin on the Esplanade one quiet afternoon. With a bit of guidance and a map from Jumpers at Next Backpackers on Bideford Street, I set out on my drive with no real itinerary or expectations.

Between a soundtrack provided by Jack Johnson and homemade raspberry and white chocolate scones from Homemade Cafe, Gifts and Takeaway, the drive was exciting yet relaxing. But after spending some time walking around the area and learning about its three-meter tides, I might do it a little differently next time.

Most backpackers only seem to spend a day or so in Hervey Bay, using it as a passage way to Fraser Island. For those passing through the area with only a little time, here's a quick, yet relaxing afternoon drive that gives visitors a quick glimpse of the area and some of its most popular sights.

(These times are approximate, check with your hostel or hotel for tide and sunset times.)

Urangan Pier

Departing from Next Backpackers on Bideford Street around 2:30 p.m., make a right on the Esplanade. Drive south for about ten minutes (until you reach a bend in the road) and park on the street. Walk to Urangan Pier. At 868 meters, it's hard to miss.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The pier opened in 1917 to assist the trade of Bundaberg sugar, Burrum coal and Fraser Island timber. Originally stretching 1124 meters out to sea, the Pialba to Urangan Rail Link transported goods from inland towns to ships at the end of pier. The export route closed down in 1985, leaving the pier of little use to businesses in the area.

The head of the pier was dismantled after it shut down. With the possibility of losing the pier completely, a committee petitioned the State Government to keep it open. Hervey Bay City Council took over the pier that same year, preserving the local icon.

Today, people can walk 868 meters out to sea on the old wooden pier. Take a break to sit on benches dedicated to deceased lovers and friends. Ask fishermen along the way what they caught.

It's a great place to watch the sunset, but it's especially interesting at low tide (between 3 or 4 p.m.). At Urangan, people can experience the full affect of Hervey Bay's three-meter tides as even at the very end, water is extremely shallow or even completely gone.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Sit between the pier's rails and watch the sun reflect on small puddles in the sand. Look out for tiny crabs that cover the surface with thousands of tiny balls while creating underground tunnels.

Homemade Cafe, Gifts and Takeaway

Leave the pier, no later than 4 p.m. and drive back towards Brideford. Slow down through Torquay, giving way to pedestrians, but also to check out all the restaurants. Torquay has a pretty vibrant restaurant scene for such a quiet town. People can eat everything from Spanish food at Cafe Tapas, on the Esplanade near Bideford St., to an array of differet animal steaks, including kangaroo and emu, at Raging Bull Stone Grill, on the corner of Esplanade and Crown St.

Once dinner is sorted out, stop at Homemade Cafe, Gifts and Takeaway for a light snack. Located on Esplanade, between Inman and Wattle Streets, the cafe sells an array of teas, meals and homemade baked goods.
Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Park in a sand lot off Esplanade on the water side, across the street from the cafe. After placing your order, sit on its open porch chatting with locals, reading a good book or just watching the trees sway back and forth with the wind.

Besides wonderful food, the lure of this place is that no one knows it's there. It can't be found through google (well I guess it can after this article) and it's easy to miss when driving by. So it almost feels as if, for the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, you've escaped the world.

You may want to spend eternity here, but those that want to catch the sunset should leave by 5 p.m.

Point Vernon

Once past Homemade, the road opens up. Driving on the Esplanade around Point Vernon, people have a clear view of the sea. At this time of day it's especially spectacular as the sun slowly falls down upon royal blue water.

You'll want to stop and you can.

There's a few benches on the ride side of the Esplanade where people can stop and watch the sunset and its visible pretty much everywhere around the area. It may not be the best sunset in the world, but its the perfect ending to a calm day, which is pretty much the norm around Hervey Bay.

Polson Cemetery

But this drive doesn't end when the sun goes down. From Esplanade turn on Corser St., which ever direction is inland and look for Polson Cemetary. While cemetaries are usually better in the dark, make sure to get here while there is still a gleam of sun lighting up the earth.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

No one famous is buried here and the gravestones aren't extremely old, but it's a cemetery people visiting from abroad may not be familiar with. The dead don't just get a plaque at Polson, but rather an above ground cement bed. To add to the large memorials, the beds are not just grey and limestone, but painted orange, yellow and light blue, and sometimes even tiled.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

If you don't like the idea of ending your day at a cemetery, keep your eyes open for kangaroos, which are often spotted in the area. That view may be a bit livelier, but don't get too caught up in the bouncing animals if you plan to eat them at Raging Bull on the way back.

Happy driving!