About Tuan

Forest features

Tuan is a low-key holiday destination for people who love boating, canoeing and fishing in the Great Sandy Strait and adjacent creeks. The Great Sandy Strait is an important Ramsar site with essential sand flats for both migratory and shorebirds.

Stretching from Kauri Creek to Boonooroo in the coastal lowlands along the Great Sandy Strait, Tuan State Forest contains some of the most extensive exotic pine plantations in Queensland. The forest also has small remnants of eucalypt forest, coastal wallum, melaleuca wetlands and mangrove lined estuaries.

Enjoy the wildflower display during late winter and spring in the wildflower reserve along Tinnanbar Road. There are many opportunities for bird watching in the forest and nearby in Great Sandy Regional Park.

Indigenous people hunted and gathered in the estuary. Dugong rendering, one of the regions first industries, took place here. The Great Sandy Marine Park protects these unique animals, and ‘Go Slow’ zones have helped maintain dugong populations in the area.

The area has been a popular camping and fishing destination for many years. Foresters used the estuary to raft timber from Kauri Creek to Maryborough’s sawmills.

Looking after the forest

You can help protect the forest so it can be enjoyed now and in the future by observing these guidelines:

• Everything in the forest (living or dead) is protected. Do not take or interfere with plants, animals, soil or rocks.
• Stay on the designated tracks to avoid damaging plants and causing erosion. Driving on tidal flats destroys vital wildlife habitat.
• If camping away from facilities, bring a portable toilet. If bush toileting, ensure all faecal matter and toilet paper is properly buried at least 50cm deep and at least 100m from waterways. Bag and carry out all disposable nappies and sanitary items. Watch the video: Bush toileting practices.
• Do not put sanitary products, disposable nappies and cigarette butts in the toilet facilities.
• Take all your rubbish home for appropriate disposal. Do not hang rubbish bags from trees or tents. Don't burn, bury or leave anything.
• When bathing or washing cooking equipment or clothes, always wash at least 100m from streams and lakes. Waterways and the ocean should be kept free of all pollutants including soap, detergents, shampoo, sunscreens and food scraps.
• Do not feed or leave food for animals. Human food can harm wildlife and cause some animals to become aggressive. Store food in lockable boxes. It is illegal to feed dolphins unless specifically indicated.
• Contact the Queensland Government Wildlife Hotline to report: wildlife incidents, marine animal strike, marine stranding or an injured, sick or dead turtle, dolphin or whale.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Forest management

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages Tuan’s native forest areas and estuaries under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Forestry Act 1959 to conserve its natural and cultural values.

Large areas of pine plantation are managed by HQPlantations Queensland.

Tourism information links

Bundaberg Visitor Information Centre
www.bundabergregion.org
36 Avenue Street, Bundaberg QLD 4670
Phone: (07) 4153 8888 or 1300 722 099
Email: info@bundabergregion.org

Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre
www.ourfrasercoast.com.au
227 Maryborough–Hervey Bay Road, Urraween, QLD 4655
Phone: 1800  811 728
Open: Daily 9am–5pm (except Christmas Day)

Gympie Region Visitor Information Centre
www.visitgympieregion.com.au
Lake Alford, Bruce Highway, Gympie QLD 4570
Phone: 1800 444 222
Email: tourism.info@gympie.qld.gov.au

More information about Fraser Island is available on www.visitfrasercoast.com.

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.