River Heads, located 15 minutes from Hervey Bay on Queensland's Fraser Coast region, is a major departure point for vehicles and walk-on passengers to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, and it offers spectacular views of Fraser Island, the Great Sandy Strait, and the Mary River estuary. The boat ramp can accommodate a wide range of craft, and there is ample car and trailer parking. Rock fishing at this point will provide you with a good opportunity to land an impressive catch while also allowing you to observe the dolphins, turtles, and dugongs that pass by frequently. Every day, barges depart from River Heads for the world's largest sand island (Fraser Island) and Wanggoolba Creek. Book River Head accommodation today on Search and Stay.
What to do in River Heads
Visiting the beautiful Fraser Island is included on this list, but River Heads also has its own excitement! Even though this location is not the largest (only about 74.35km squared), there are a few must-see spots before heading over to the island
Visit the River Heads Queensland Reserve
The pet-friendly naturalistic foreshore area provides guests with a peaceful and spacious setting for strolling, jogging, running, and other activities. The reserve is well-known for the rare native species that border the grassy paths.
Efforts are constantly made to add additional flora to this reserve in order to provide a beautiful sight for everyone walking along its trails. A walk around the reserve's 16.2 hectares is really calming, and it's great to see all of the efforts being done to preserve the land!
Fishing at River Heads, Queensland
Fishing is by far the best thing to do in this seaside town. It is well renowned for its rock fishing, and with the Mary River running close and emptying into the seas of the Great Sandy Strait, there is enough to explore!
Barramundi, cod, mulloways, mackerel, whiting, flatheads, and even blue and king threadfin salmon are frequent catches in the River Heads area. There are more fish in the water, but these are the most prevalent. The fishing prospects in this town will appeal to both seasoned and novice anglers!
Enter The River Heads Waters By Boat
The River Heads public boat ramp is great for individuals who enjoy a day on the water. Boating is the ideal way to spend time fishing, sunbathing, and relaxing with family or friends.
This boat ramp offers plenty of parking and welcomes guests to bring any size boat. The town's southernmost point, where barges embark for the island, is directly in the Great Sandy Strait, which divides the mainland from Fraser Island.
Views of Marine Life Can Be Found At River Heads
There is a possibility to view dolphins and sea turtles when rock fishing, which is most popular at this point, or boating. Dugongs are also reported to cross via the strait.
Dugongs are fascinating species that are related to the manatee family. There's something very spectacular about taking in nature's splendor while spending the day on the lake.
Visit Fraser Island in Queensland
Fraser Island is one of the most apparent spots to visit when in the River Heads area. Fraser Island is definitely the peak of exotic scenery and fauna to discover. There are numerous tours available on the island that provide exclusive access to famous locations such as Lake McKenzie and Rainbow Beach.
The major barge terminal for crossing the Great Sandy Strait to the island is at River Heads. These barge ferries sail from the coastal town to the island every day. While there are alternative boat options from Inskip Point, the River Heads ferries are popular with visitors. Fraser Island also provides return trips to River Heads, precisely three.
Take a Trip to Urangan Pier in Hervey Bay, Queensland
The Urangan Pier is merely a 16.9-kilometer drive from River Heads. This place is widely renowned for its fishing tournaments as well as seeing whales that migrate to the bay region.
The Hervey Bay region is highly recognized for its whales and is the world's whale viewing capital! When at Hervey Bay, you may have a great glimpse of these wonderful creatures. An excursion to see the whales should be on the itinerary of each tourist staying in a seaside town!
The ideal time to observe them is between mid-July and mid-November. During their journey, the whales pause at the bay to relax and may be seen playing and swimming in the gorgeous seas.
Where to eat in River Heads
River Heads IGA Express, River Heads has only one shop. Providing warm, individualized service to our neighborhood and a diverse assortment of items ranging from grocery to takeout food. Their most well known takeaway food are burgers, suppli, pies, fish and chips and fishes.
VK'S Cafe & Takeaway in River Heads offers stunning views as well as delicious meals prepared daily on-site. They offer vegetarian friendly food, eggs benedict, granola, salads, devonshire tea, coffee, tea and their most famous big breakfast that people either admire or despise, which varies in price and location. A typical Big Breakfast includes two rashers of bacon, two sausages, fried bread, two eggs any manner, grilled tomatoes, and/or baked beans. Toast or buttered bread will also be available.
The Gateway to Fraser Island is River Heads Cafe & Take Away Restaurant. Sit on their terrace and enjoy the view of Fraser Island while eating their famous pizzas, hot and cold drinks, breakfast meals, burgers, sandwiches and others.
The Dock Bar & Restaurant is Hervey Bay's renowned urban industrial styled bar, with a cool fun feel decked out with creative furniture and eccentric elements, as well as a superb cocktail menu, gigantic beer list, wicked wine list, and Tapas style food menu. There is no better area to chill out with a view of the marina.
The Aegean Waters French Restaurant Hervey Bay on Torquay's Esplanade is currently the town's oldest restaurant. The original proprietors and chef have been delighting Hervey Bay diners, residents and visitors alike, with beautiful food and unique dining experiences for over 25 years.
The Aegean Waters French Restaurant serves a la carte meals and has an amazing cocktail bar. This is where you can enjoy a combination of French-Cosmopolitan food in a delicate sophisticated setting. The Aegean Waters French Restaurant is well-known for its distinct design and personalised, professional but approachable service.
A broad variety of seafood and premium grade meat dishes are part of the culinary revolution. Desserts that are mouthwatering, handmade, and traditional are heavily featured. Christian's famed chocolate soufflé, mousse, Grand Marnier parfait, profiteroles, and blazing Bombe Alaska are among them.
Finish your meal with delicious coffee and handcrafted petit fours delivered ceremoniously in a cloud of smoking vapours.
River Heads Holiday Rentals and Homes
Choose from any Search and Stay holiday home listings located in River Heads, Queensland to make your holiday home searching easier and to make your River Heads adventure more enjoyable!
If ever a holiday home deserved the title ‘Gateway to Fraser Island’ the extensively renovated Crab Cooker Cottage is it.
The cottage has three enormous bedrooms, all with king beds and ensuites, two vast living areas downstairs, multiple air conditioning units, and a vista that is entirely green and blue.
The boat ramp and barge on Fraser Island are roughly 800 meters apart, while the small businesses are 400 meters away. The distance between Hervey Bay airport and the town itself is 12-20 minutes by automobile, depending on your destination. There is plenty of off-road parking for your boat or RV, and your pet is welcome.
Crab Cottages provides the best pet-friendly accommodation in Hervey Bay, with locations in Urangan and River Heads!
Crab Cottages by the Seafront in Urangan, located at 650 Esplanade, offers two magnificent free standing two bedroom, two bathroom holiday cottages and one one bedroom alternative. The nearest commercial mall and supermarket are 1.5 km away, while the Marina with bars, restaurants, the Hervey Bay Boat Club, and a huge boat ramp are around 600 yards away. Both are close enough yet also far enough apart. Almost all Whale Watch and Fraser excursion cruises depart at the Hervey Bay Marina, and the iconic Urangan Pier is a 25-30 minute walk away.
The Cottages are incredibly well equipped throughout, with air conditioning and fans, and are enclosed so that your authorized pet may enjoy their vacation with you. Each has a complete kitchen, private laundry, and complimentary WiFi. Please keep in mind that wifi in our small part of the earth might be unpredictable, so if you need it guaranteed, make your own arrangements. The three Crab Cottages all have king beds throughout, with inside living rooms that extend out to very spacious patios. For days when the breeze is off the land rather than the normal south east, those decks have ceiling fans. The site has been properly planted, with hundreds of native plants and bushes adding to the wonderful atmosphere.
The lovely cottage is located immediately across the street from the beach and park. This one-bedroom cottage is elegantly decorated, with a full-size kitchen equipped with standard appliances as well as a coffee maker, rice cooker, microwave, and dishwasher. It is the third and smallest of the three cottages, yet it is big, airy, and charming, making it ideal for a romantic trip! It has a big verandah, which is ideal for sitting with a book or a drink of wine.
Brand new cottage across the street from the beach and park. This two-bedroom cottage is elegantly equipped, with a super king bed and two huge singles, as well as a full-size kitchen with standard appliances including a coffee maker, rice cooker, microwave, filtered water, and dishwasher. The expansive front verandah is ideal for relaxing with a book, taking in the views of the leafy green park and beach across the peaceful street, or hosting a BBQ with friends. The deck features a gate for youngsters or pups, as well as a spacious grassed and walled area where your pooch can observe the family on the deck.