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, grunter, eels, spangled perch, mullet, two types of catfish – fork and eel-tailed – and several rare and endangered creatures.
Spot a bottom-breathing turtle
One of the rarest species is the remarkable Mary River turtle which 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
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Fraser Coast Holiday Planner
only found naturally in the Mary River and nearby Burnett River systems.
Tiaro township’s historic past
A 30-minute drive south of Maryborough along the Bruce Highway is the historic township of Tiaro, the location of the Wide Bay region’s first sheep run (Noomoo Woolloo) in 1843 and later an important stop between the Gympie goldfields and the Port of Maryborough in the 1860s. Take time out to visit the local craft galleries and craft shops. Tiaro has several shops, cafés and two historic pubs. Visitors can barbecue, picnic or go fishing along the Mary River. Information about the Queensland lungfish and the endangered Mary River turtle is displayed at the Tiaro Interpretive Centre beside the Visitor Information Centre on Mayne Street. n Petrie Park This park is the perfect shady oasis to rest and refresh on the banks of the Mary River. The park is named after the man who led the first exploration of the Mary River by whaleboat in 1842. n Tiaro War Memorial A digger commemorates wartime and royalty. The statue, unveiled on Anzac Day 1921 to memorialise local lives lost in WWI, now also honours WWII and Boer War veterans and King George V.
