The Great Sandy Biosphere

The Great Sandy Biosphere Take it easy and reconnect with nature

Disconnect from the hustle and bustle and find an easier way of life and a slower pace in the Great Sandy Strait. Its calm, clear turquoise waters and varied countryside lay the foundation for a laid-back getaway.

The strait is part of the Great Sandy Biosphere which covers 874,000 hectares of land between Gympie and Bundaberg and 540,000 hectares of marine park, incorporating Fraser Island and Ramsar-listed wetlands. It was designated by UNESCO in 2009 as a reserve of cultural and ecological significance and is in the same class as the Galapagos Islands, the Central Amazon and Uluru.

The waters of the biosphere, sheltered by Fraser Island and Hervey Bay, rival the Whitsundays, providing unique sailing conditions and stunning scenery. They are home to dugongs, turtles and rare IndoPacific humpback dolphins.

Sail away

You can sail this marine sanctuary and explore the remote western side of Fraser Island, fish and dive to your heart’s content or stop off at the small islands and sand banks that dot the strait – a favourite is the quaint heritage-listed lighthouses on Woody Island.

The Roy Rufus, Simpson and Hardie artificial reefs at the northern point of the strait, sustaining a wide variety of marine life, are sheltered from ocean currents and offer exciting fishing and diving opportunities.

When heading out to explore, fish or even water-ski, a stopover at Pelican Bank is a highlight. You can swim in the shallow turquoise waters or walk along the sparkling white sands of this isolated gem.

The Great Sandy Biosphere contains almost half of all Australia’s bird species and is a critical habitat for more than 7000 species of flora and fauna, some of which are rare or endangered.

Bundaberg

G R E A T S A N D Y B I O S P H E R E

HERVEY BAY

FRASER Sa nd y G r ea t ISLAND

MARYBOROUGH

TIARO

Maaroom Boonooroo

Tuan

Poona St r a i t

Tinnanbar

Rainbow Beach

LEGEND

Great Sandy Biosphere Regional Boundary National Park GYMPIE

Put your feet up

The coastal villages of Maaroom, Boonooroo, Poona, Tuan and Tinnanbar are at the heart of the southern section of the biosphere and can be accessed via the Maryborough-Cooloola Road. They offer caravan and villa accommodation and are made for relaxing and fishing – from the shore or from mangrove-lined creeks and sheltered waterways. Yachts, catamarans (pre-bookings required) or even the humble tinny can be hired in Hervey Bay.

An exceptional birdwatching habitat

The diverse habitats of the Fraser Coast provide exceptional birdwatching, from the low tide mud flats of Hervey Bay to areas on Fraser Island, the Great Sandy Strait, Howard and Maryborough.

The area is recognised as among the most important roosting sites for migratory shorebirds visiting Australia and at least 40,000 come from as far away as Japan, Alaska and Siberia. The region is recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. More than 250 species of bird life have been identified and the region is also home to several threatened and endangered specials including the little tern.

Popular birdwatching areas: Hervey Bay

Dolphin Waters, Burrum Heads: From Burrum Heads Road turn into Ivor Drive, then right into Traviston Way. Migratory waders and beach birds can be seen at lower tides. More than 100 species have been identified in this area.

Arkarra Lagoons, Dundowran: Located on Panorama Drive, these diverse habitats suit a wide range of bird species. Waterbirds, mistletoe birds, reed warblers and fairy wrens are safe from cats and foxes in tangled undergrowth.

Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, Urangan: Located on Elizabeth Street, the gardens feature easy walking tracks with picnic facilities, toilets and carpark available. 100 bird species have been identified.

Fraser Island

Kingfisher Bay: Within the area surrounding Kingfisher Bay Resort, 147 species have been identified including white-checked, dusky and scarlet honeyeaters and eastern whipbirds.

Maryborough

Teddington Weir: Drive 11km south of Maryborough to the Teddington Weir picnic area. Black-breasted button quails are occasionally seen. As a bonus, koalas are also often spotted in this area.

Fay Smith Wetlands: Between Neptune and Victory streets, a 4ha paperbark swamp with some dry clay pans, once a traditional Butchulla area valued as a source of fresh water. There are a series of walking bridges and trails which allow visitors to enjoy the abundant bird life.

Poona Palms Caravan Park

P: 4129 8167 | enquiries@poonapalms.com.au | www.poonapalms.com.au

Situated right on the waterfront and surrounded by 100,000 ha of forestry in beautiful Poona is the Poona Palms Caravan Park. Our park features new waterfront villas, holiday units and large powered sites. Each site has its own dump point. There is a well-stocked shop on site, a boat ramp right in front of the park and full digital TV reception to all sites.

Pet Friendly

Camp Kitchen/BBQ

Dog Wash Swimming Pool With Waterslide Cabins/Villas Dump Point Tour Bookings Wifi Fully Disabled Pet Friendly Waterfront Villa Accessible Facilities Kids’ Pedal Car Hire