Agnes Water & Town of 1770
The southernmost gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, with Queensland's northernmost surf beach and Captain Cook's landing site — head out from here to snorkel at uninhabited coral cays.
Agnes Water and the Town of 1770 sit on the central Queensland coast in Australia, in the Gladstone Region, about 500 km from Brisbane and 120 km from Bundaberg. The two towns are about 6 km apart and form the southernmost gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Agnes Water has Queensland's northernmost surf beach, ideal for learning to surf, while the Town of 1770 takes its name from Captain Cook's landing in 1770 and faces a west-facing bay, offering a sunset over the water that is rare on the east coast. Highlights: take a boat from the 1770 marina to Lady Musgrave Island to snorkel with turtles; ride the pink LARC amphibious vehicle to Bustard Head Lighthouse; take a surf lesson on Main Beach; walk the headland and coastal trails to spot whales; and camp at Eurimbula and Deepwater national parks and watch turtles nesting. May–Oct is dry and pleasant and the best time to visit, with whale watching from Jul to Oct; Nov–Mar is turtle nesting and hatching season but hot, humid and wet, and box jellyfish are a hazard. Getting there: most people drive, turning off the Bruce Highway at Miriam Vale for about 60 km; you can also take a long-distance coach, or fly to Bundaberg and hire a car. Plan to stay 2–3 days. There are no large supermarkets in town, and exploring the national parks requires a 4WD and plenty of drinking water.
Top sights
- Lady Musgrave Island – An uninhabited coral island at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, where you can snorkel in the lagoon and often see sea turtles, m…
- Agnes Water Main Beach – Queensland's northernmost surfing beach, with 5 km of golden sand and gentle waves that make it ideal for beginners taking surf lessons.
- 1770 LARC! Tours – Ride a pink retired military amphibious vehicle through a river mouth, then climb to the uninhabited headland and Bustard Head Lighthouse.
- Captain Cook Monument (Cook's Landing Place) – The spot where Captain Cook first landed in Queensland in 1770. The landing also gave the town its name, Seventeen Seventy.
- Joseph Banks Environmental Park (Round Hill Head) – A small reserve at the tip of the 1770 headland, with a short trail to a lookout over the Coral Sea and Bustard Bay.
- 1770 Sunset Point – One of the few places on Australia's east coast where you can watch the sun set over the sea. In the evening, watch it drop into the bay fr…
- Bustard Head Lighthouse – Queensland's first coastal lighthouse (1868), on a remote headland reachable only by amphibious vehicle or boat.
- Eurimbula National Park – A pristine coastal national park across the river mouth from 1770, with mangroves, dunes and the Ganoonga Noonga lookout.
- Deepwater National Park – A wild coastline south of Agnes Water, where Wreck Rock beach is an important nesting site for sea turtles.
- Paperbark Forest Boardwalk – A free timber boardwalk on the edge of Agnes Water, passing through paperbark wetland forest with palms and ferns.
- Springs Beach – A quiet small bay south of Agnes Water, with rock pools at low tide, clear water and few visitors.
- Red Rock Trail – A clifftop trail running along the southern coast of Agnes Water, with red rock walls, sea views and winter whale-watching spots.
- Workmans Beach – A small bay right beside the town centre, with a surf break and a budget seaside campground. Good for watching the sunrise over the sea in…
- Agnes Water Museum – A small volunteer-run community museum telling the story of Captain Cook's voyages, Indigenous culture and lighthouse history.
- Heron Island – A coral cay in the southern Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel with turtles and rays straight off the beach, and watch green turtles…
Where to eat
- Codie's Place – A surf-style restaurant just steps from the main beach, serving café breakfasts by day and Mexican food and cocktails a…
- Drift & Wood Restaurant & Bar – A restaurant and bar beside the Sandcastles resort, where the pizza and local seafood are considered the benchmark in t…
- Agnes Water Tavern – The local hilltop tavern, with a large outdoor area after expansion, affordable pub fare and steak night. It is the liv…
Itineraries
- Brisbane to Cairns East Coast Road Trip – Drive approximately 1,700 km north along the Bruce Highway, connecting sand islands, the Southern Reef, the Whitsundays…