Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens

Urangan, Australia, Australia

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Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, located in Urangan on Elizabeth Street, is a stunning 26-hectare heritage-listed garden established in 1974 that sits on ancient 6,000-year-old foreshore dunes and showcases plants from the Wide Bay and Great Sandy regions.

The gardens feature a diverse mix of natural bushland, formal gardens, rainforest, and wetlands, with meandering walking tracks through an educational and attractive environment that reflects the site's close proximity to the World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island). Visitors can explore The Valley with its expansive lush lawns, large shady trees, and a lagoon with a fountain, viewing platforms, and an overwater bridge for close-up wildlife viewing; the rustic Bush Chapel rainforest site with an adjoining arbour walk.

The Federation-style Orchid House atrium filled with beautiful flowering orchids and foliage plants year-round; a Chinese-inspired formal garden with tranquil reflective water features, a moon gate, and a secret Zen Garden; an Australian bush tucker garden representing the Butchulla people, the land's original owners; and a nature play garden for children. With over 100 bird species identified in the gardens, expansive lawns perfect for picnics, and free admission, the gardens are open daily from 6 am to 7 pm (or 6:30 am to 8:30 pm according to some sources), just a few minutes' walk from Hervey Bay's city centre with street parking available.