Burrum Heads - courtesy of author 2019
Mainly known for tourism and agriculture, the
Wide Bay-Burnett Region definitely has many little towns and hidden gems in its large coastal area. Geographically I can clarify this a little further by saying
Wide Bay-Burnett is from Moore Park Beach in the north of Bundaberg as far south as Inskip Point, near the popular Rainbow Beach. Even though it can be as far south as Noosa, I am reviewing within the stated boundaries because I would normally see Noosa as a place on the Sunshine Coast and not Wide Bay. However, being fairly close to Noosa, these places are ideal for a Brisbane getaway (especially to find a slower pace and less stress). I'm exploring its coastal townships and places yet only summing up a few of many, so there's plenty for others to answer using local knowledge or experiences as a tourist. I've been near these sleepy towns, as seen in my
Burrum Heads review, and the region does indeed help one slow down and relax. They are a slow-paced, yet fun tropical getaway.
Moore Park Beach to Inskip Point has a 150 kilometre flying distance, yet the towns are fairly inhabitable. Being the best hidden gem is actually quite difficult and I thought (although debatable) that towns such as Burrum Heads, Point Vernon and Burnett Heads were hidden gems to a certain degree, and are fine answers, but I just was keen to zoom in and be detailed in approach. I haven't explored them in this article along with places such as Bargara, which is quite well known for turtle watching. Nevertheless, there are still many interesting spots in this area which definitely local residents know well, and would make ideal places to promote. In fact, many of these places are ideal for this - with nice fishing, climate, greenery and beaches.
River Heads
A twenty minute drive from
Pialba Stockland -
River Heads is a small seaside town facing Fraser Island at the mouth of the
Mary River. Accommodation options are limited but indeed possible as it is where the barge leaves to
Kingfisher Bay Resort. Accommodation would be mainly in the Hervey Bay urban area.
Detailed further information about the town can be found at
Riverheads.org.au.
Barge at River Heads - source Wikipedia.
At the mouth of the small Elliot River is
Elliot Heads. The little town has a store, a bowls club and some short stays options with access from Bundaberg. It is heavily tied to the Bundaberg tourist industry as seen
at this link at
Bundabergregion.org. Some parts of the coast around the river are quite Instagrammable and overall, for the serenely charming and spacious feel, is a great alternative to Bargara, at just a few more kilometres of inland driving from Bundaberg. With a surf beach and
surf lifesaving club, the waves are a bit more lively than in nearby Hervey Bay. For further photos and activities see
Beachesofaustralia.com.
Elliot Heads - source: Wikipedia.
Just north of Hervey Bay urban area,
Toogoom is a small town on the beach, with lush white sand and a calm bay for swimming yet also great for birdlife. Being close to Hervey Bay urban area, it makes an ideal stop-off, half-day trip or for longer stays, try
coco palms retreat which is a pleasant house accommodation ideal for groups, families and couples. That is one example of several short stays on offer - getting its visitors reacquainted with 'doing nothing' or indeed very little (except relaxing).
Toogoom Beach - source: Wikipedia
is very sleepy and isolable and very hidden. It is mainly accessible by car or an expensive (due to the kilometres) shuttle bus trip from Bundaberg or Childers.
Reasons to visit are the good weather along with the virtually deserted, swimmable beach on the calm waters and the feeling of being far away from stress. I can also mention, to help get one's bearings, Woodgate Beach is only a forty-five minute drive from the Bundaberg Rum Distillery.
There is
some detailed further information from the
Bundabergregion.org about the many reasons to visit this hidden gem along with
some useful background information at
Australias.guide.
There are too many other places of note in the Wide Bay-Burnett region and you can even name inland ones, such as within 20 km from the coast and obviously many have not been included, with the few above being a sample or a concept on what is on offer. If I had to answer, I would say a tie between Elliot Heads and Woodgate, however, there are so many more answers to
where is Wide Bay's best coastal hidden gem?
The first image is by author and the second and third images are sourced from
Wikipedia.org.
