Maryborough accommodation from AU$140

Part of the Fraser Coast, Maryborough is about 255km north of Brisbane. It was founded in 1847 as a wool port and was a main port of entry for immigrants during Australia’s settlement days. The city has several heritage-listed buildings throughout the town. Take a walk to Portside, Maryborough’s impressively preserved historical port, to see old-fashioned looking streets that once housed brothels and opium dens now converted into modern shops, cafes and restaurants. Visit Gatakers Artspace, which is dedicated to exhibiting the work of local artists. Take a look at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, which houses over 5,000 military artefacts. If you really want to dive deep into history, take a tour with a guide in period costume. Or if you’re just feeling hungry, tuck into a seafood meal and a glass of wine by the river.

Avid readers will enjoy checking out the birthplace of P.L Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins books. She was born in 1899 in a bank her father owned, and today you can snap up a photo opportunity outside the now heritage-listed bank with a life-sized statue of the famous nanny. If you come to Maryborough during the June-July school holidays you can even take part in the Mary Poppins Festival, which features live entertainment and vintage fashion. Now that’s worth riding an umbrella to town for!

To experience what shopping was like in the ‘olden days’, visit Brennan & Geraghty’s Store Museum. Opened from 1871 to 1972, it’s one of only three museum stores in the world where the goods have been preserved. Craving something a little spookier? With Maryborough’s heritage, it’s not too hard to imagine ghosts lurking somewhere down its quaint streets. Take a ghost tour on the last Saturday evening of the month for a night-time exploration of the city with spooky tales and maybe a ghoul or two making a cameo appearance if you’re lucky.

Maryborough is on the Bruce Highway and you can reach it by car or a Greyhound bus. Wot are you waiting for? Book your Maryborough hotel with us today for something a little different.

Image credit Stuart Edwards.