Town of 1770 and Agnes Water

Fifty miles east of Bruce Highway, Queensland’s major coastal highway, is Agnes Water a small tourist town and the last stop for surfing on the ride north. Famous, along with the town of 1770, as the first place Captain James Cook landed in Australia. Surrounded by two national parks and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the 1770 and Agnes Water area is one of the most pristine environments in the world and virtually the same as it was when Europeans first arrived.

Agnes Water is six kilometres south of the town of 1770, named after the date when James Cook landed in May 1770. Today, the visitor will find some of Australia’s most treasured natural beauty. The tropical paradise is like a botanical garden with abundant wildlife and a short distance from the Great Barrier Reef.

The southern part of the Great Barrier Reef is just a six hour drive from Brisbane and one and a half hours from the airports at Bundaberg and Gladstone. The diving conditions are crystal clear with hundreds of places for drop-offs, drift dives, wall dives and swim-thrus. There are also many wreck dives just offshore.

The best part is the visitor gets all the amazing beauty of the reef when diving or snorkeling as well as the possibility to surf nearby in 1770 and Agnes Water. Because of the Great Barrier Reef, waves cannot rise to a suitable size for surfing further north.

There are cheap flights from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast. From these airports cars can be hired for the short ride to the towns. Trains and buses are also available for people on a budget. Greyhound Australia goes directly to 1770 and Agnes Water and the Tilt Train goes to Miriam Vale with a connection to 1770 and Agnes Water.

The Great Barrier Reef is just the beginning of all the things to do that promise an active and adventurous holiday. Surf school for beginners, fishing charters and kite surfing along with environmental tours, golf and a driving range are a few more possibilities for those who want to be active, and for those who want to relax.

Scooter cars and bicycles are available for hire to explore the area in a self-guided tour. There are also tours with hired choppers that travel 60 km and see a lot of wildlife including kangaroos and wallabies as well as the gorgeous scenery.