Whitsundays

Perhaps one of the best kept secrets on the mainland in the Whitsunday region is Hydeaway Bay. It's not hard to understand why locals have kept this place to themselves for many years. Even now, Hydeaway Bay is a tiny village situated at the end of Dingo Beach Road, accessible only from Gregory-Cannon Valley Road, which branches off the main thoroughfare Shute Harbour Road. There is no access through to Bowen from Hydeaway Bay. Although Hydeaway Bay residents have built right up to the beachfront, there are still five public access ways to the beach.

Boat access to the bay is very limited, but a public boat ramp at Dingo Beach is available. Nonetheless, locals say that anglers could catch a whole gamut of fish from anywhere along the beach, in a boat on the bay or by the rocks at the ends of the beach. However, wily locals say that the best thing to catch in Hydeaway Bay is peace and quiet or fresh air.

The word is that the only break to peace and quiet is the times dugong, dolphins, whales or turtles break the surface by your boat.