Hinterland Adventures Delight in the country hospitality
Discover wonderful bushland, quaint towns, hotels from bygone eras and even the ancestral home of the macadamia nut. The Fraser Coast hinterland is the place for exploring with hidden gems well off the typical tourist routes. The mighty Mary River defines the southern hinterland and provides many brilliant spots for picnics, camping, fishing and canoeing. The river is the southernmost natural habitat of barramundi and they can be found in the ponded area above the barrage with the nearest boat ramp at Tiaro’s Petrie Park. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh, clean air and listen for the bird calls. The river also hosts Australian bass, bream, bar, grunter, eels, spangled perch, mullet, two types of catfish – fork and eeltailed – and several rare and endangered creatures.
Spot a bottom-breathing turtle
The remarkable Mary River turtle has a distinctively long tail and can use its backside to suck in water and extract oxygen. Sold as a tiny ‘penny turtle’ in pet shops during the 1960s and 70s, it is now one of the most endangered turtles in the world. The ancient Queensland lungfish, which makes a sound like a small bellows when it chooses to breathe on the surface, is also only found naturally in the Mary River and nearby Burnett River systems.
Tiaro township’s historic past
First occupied as the head station of the Noomoo Woolloo sheep run set up in late 1842 and settled permanently in 1867, Tiaro township began life as an overnight stopping point for coaches transporting gold from the Gympie goldfields to the Port of Maryborough. Today the Tiaro Visitor Information Centre and Craft Cottage is a mandatory stop for all those visiting the area for the first time. A trip to Tiaro would also not be complete without sampling old fashioned pub fare at one of its two historic hotels, built in the late 1800s.
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Fraser Coast Holiday Planner
