The area's population growth has exceeded the state average over the past 20 years, and it is forecast to grow to more than 430,000 by 2031.

[2] Wide Bay was the name given by the early European explorer James Cook to a coastal indentation as he was sailing past Double Island Point.

Fraser Island is located along the southern coast of Queensland, approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Brisbane.

The island has rainforests, eucalyptus woodland, mangrove forests, wallum and peat swamps, sand dunes and coastal heaths.

It is made up of sand that has been accumulating for approximately 750,000 years on volcanic bedrock that provides a natural catchment for the sediment which is carried on a strong offshore current northwards along the coast.

Fraser Island is home to a small number of mammal species, as well as a diverse range of birds, reptiles and amphibians, including the occasional saltwater crocodile.

The South Burnett is a peanut growing and wine-producing region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, north of the Darling Downs.

Some of the more notable towns include Bargara, Biggenden, Blackbutt, Burnett Heads, Cherbourg, Childers, Eidsvold, Gayndah, Gin Gin, Howard, Imbil, Kilkivan, Kingaroy, Monto, Mundubbera, Murgon, Nanango, Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and Wondai.

Queensland Rail operates daily high-speed Tilt Train services to Gympie, Maryborough and Bundaberg.

Public transport operated by Wide Bay Transit (Hervey Bay/Maryborough), Polleys Coaches (Gympie) and Duffy's City Buses (Bundaberg) connect at the railway stations.