Arrive in Maryborough to begin your itinerary in the Portside Heritage area centred around Wharf Street. Visit the wonderfully presented heritage sites that tell the story of Maryborough's past as a port and point of immigration into Australia for thousands of immigrants. Customs House and the Bond Store offer a glimpse into the history of Maryborough and tell stories about life in the early times. The Military and Colonial Museum is said to be the best in Australia outside of Canberra to connect with the nation's military past. It covers all conflicts involving Australian personnel, from the Boer War to Afghanistan. The museum's focus is on personal stories, sacrifice and memorabilia from war, rather than weaponry or battles. Nearby Queens Park is just a short walk away. Here you will find the Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial, which is a major installation along the edge of the park. Your experience begins with the statue of Duncan Chapman, a Maryborough local known as the first Allied soldier to set foot on the beach at Gallipoli in 1915. From this statue, the story of the ANZACS unfolds with written and spoken words blending with the sound of marching soldiers and images putting a raw personal perspective into the historical frame. Visitors may download the QR code app and link to illuminating vignettes for an enriched experience. Take a brief walk to see Mary Poppins standing outside the Story Bank housed in the building where the author of Mary Poppins was born. "As you cross the threshold, you will enter a world where fantasy and fact intertwine. Tales and yarns, myths and legends, memories and stories – share in their retelling and their creation." Take a drive around Maryborough to see some of the stately old Queenslander homes or drop into Brennan and Geraghty's Store Museum run by the National Trust. Brennan and Geraghty's Store was an 1870s store that was left largely intact when the owners retired. Drive the short distance to Hervey Bay for dinner and overnight.