Maryborough is one of Queensland's better-preserved heritage towns, set on the Mary River inland from Hervey Bay. It was a busy colonial port before the coast drew most travellers away, and that older role left it with broad streets, civic buildings, warehouses, parks, and a surprisingly strong sense of place.
The town's best sights sit close together around the old port and centre. The Portside Heritage Precinct gives the town its river history, Queens Park is one of the finest old municipal parks in regional Queensland, and the Story Bank turns local author P. L. Travers into more than a statue and photo stop.
Maryborough is not as immediately dramatic as the Fraser Coast beaches, but it is a rewarding day if you like historic towns that still feel lived in. It works especially well as a change of pace from Hervey Bay or as a stop on the inland route north.