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Not many individuals have heard of Agnes Water and 1770, or City of 1770 because it’s typically referred to.
And it’s no shock, Agnes Water has lower than 3,000 residents, and 1770, has lower than 100.
They’re each extraordinarily distant and wild, tucked neatly between the hustle of the Gold Coast and the solitude of the Capricorn Coast. It’s a coastal escape that point — and most vacationers — forgot.
Agnes Water is the sort of place the place flip-flops are formal put on and the tempo of life is measured in waves per minute.
This laid-back hamlet is house to Queensland’s northernmost surf seashore, and is only a seashell’s toss away to City of 1770, named after the 12 months the place Lieutenant James Prepare dinner made his second Australian landfall.
Should you’ve heard of the dual cities of Agnes Water and 1770 and considering of visiting, you’ll discover there are such a lot of issues to do in Agnes Water and 1770 apart from getting aware of the historical past.
Although a small place, there’s a ton of journey and nostalgia to find right here.
A quick historical past of Agnes Water and City of 1770
Earlier than you get sucked into the vacationer points of interest and actions, it’s effectively price clueing your self up on the historical past of those cities so you’ll be able to recognize it higher.
The invention of Australia by Prepare dinner is clearly one I do know effectively.
However, it’s a exhausting one to connect with because the shores of Botany Bay are actually lined with excessive rises, massive highways, and planes flying overhead.
The identical with Sydney Harbour. I attempt to think about what it will need to have seemed like when the First Fleet arrived to begin the penal colony in 1788. It’s a murky visualization as there’s far an excessive amount of concrete now masking the view.
Besides once you get to the City of 1770 and Agnes Water and also you discover the close by seashores and creeks and headlands that Prepare dinner and his crew sailed previous – right here, you’ll be able to actually hook up with the story.
Its pure magnificence has been unchanged for 1000’s of years.
I may think about the surprise they felt assembly furry animals hopping alongside the seashore guided by their tails, stingrays gliding alongside the sandy ground of the river, and dolphins guiding the nostril of the Endeavour right into a secure anchorage.
I may think about Joseph Banks’ confusion and awe as he got here throughout a whole bunch of species of vegetation he’d by no means seen earlier than: pandanus palms, banksias, Eucalypts, hibiscus flowers, and small forested valleys full of lovely blue butterflies.
That is the City of 1770 and Agnes Water.
City of 1770 was the second place that Prepare dinner discovered when he first landed in Australia, and the primary in Queensland. For that cause, it’s thought-about the primary settlement in Queensland.
The longer I stayed, the longer I wished to remain. There’s a magnificence and rawness right here that will get beneath your pores and skin.
It has every thing a traveler will want, but not many enterprise right here.
Issues to do in Agnes Water and 1770
1. Go kayaking with Liquid Adventures
1770 Liquid Adventures is owned by a German and Aussie couple, Janina and Simon, who’re journey vacationers who met diving within the Caribbean.
They completely understood our vibe and what vacationers are actually on the lookout for in an expertise, particularly with youngsters.
We selected the perfect day to kayak on the waterways round Spherical Hill Creek – barely a ripple, crystal clear and the solar was shining down.
We joined Janina for a guided household kayaking journey paddling up the creek to Butterfly Seashore the place we stopped for morning tea, a play with the butterflies, and good previous bubble-busting enjoyable on the seashore.
I beloved how Janina catered for the children with video games and with an superior animal recognizing chart tied to the kayak.
Kalyra beloved figuring out the birds we met alongside the way in which just like the Oyster Catcher and black headed tern.
Each the women beloved paddling and have been disenchanted when the tour ended.
We’re actually eager to return sooner or later to expertise their sundown tour – a paddle up the creek adopted by a glass of wine on the seashore with a powerful sundown.
The time of the day once you’re almost certainly to kayak alongside dolphins. Magic!
2. Go on a City of 1770 LARC Tour
Simply a spotlight of this space was our LARC Paradise Tour. We noticed and skilled so many superb issues in City of 1770, each on the water and on land, and most of these issues we noticed from a tour in one among these iconic pink amphibious automobiles.
Should you solely have a short while to discover City of 1770, then a full-day tour on a LARC is an effective way to see all of the highlights in a single go to.
You’ll go away from Bustard Bay and go the historic Bustard Heads lighthouse, go sandboarding on Center Island, and drive by 4 Nationwide Parks (Deepwater, Eurimbula, Mount Colosseum, and Spherical Hill).
It was a whole lot of enjoyable and Kalyra now has a brand new passion – sand boarding!
This tour is famous down as one among my favourite actions from our 18-month Australia street journey.
3. Cruise to Girl Musgrave Island
It was a tough 75-minute boat trip out and again, however Girl Musgrave Island was price it.
The City of 1770 is on the doorstep of the Southern Nice Barrier Reef, and Girl Musgrave Island is your personal piece of paradise that connects to the coral sea.
We moored up on the floating pontoon and loved a glass backside boat tour and snorkeling within the protected Lagoon.
We went ashore for a guided island stroll and by no means wished to depart!
4. Watch a sundown within the City of 1770
Come early together with your chair, a drink, and a few cheese and dips, and be part of the crowds watching the solar dip under the ocean horizon.
Sundown within the City of 1770 is the place to be. It’s really spectacular, so serene, and actually not too crowded.
The City of 1770 is sleepy and quiet and undeveloped. Only some homes sit on the aspect of the hills with magnificent views of Spherical Hill Creek and the well-known beautiful sunsets.
It’s one among solely three locations on Australia’s east coast the place you’ll be able to see the sundown over the water.
The City of 1770 can also be a protected space so all future constructing has ceased.
It’s virtually within the pristine situation it was in 1770 when Captain Prepare dinner first sailed previous Spherical Hill Headland to relaxation his ship the Endeavour.
5. Or watch the sundown at Agnes Water
In order for you one thing just a little totally different, Agnes Water has a ravishing sundown from the seashore.
You received’t get it setting over the water, however dropping behind the small foliage-filled hill is equally as lovely and the colors within the sky mild up Agnes’ prettiness.
6. Learn to Surf at Agnes Water Major Seashore
Browsing classes in Agnes Waters are among the most cost-effective you’ll discover within the nation.
The waves on the lifesaver-patrolled Agnes Seashore look fairly good to study on, and there’s loads of bodyboarders having fun with the waves right here too.
They have been clear and small once we have been there and there have been just a few newbie surfers nailing the standing-up approach.
In Agnes Water, you’ll discover essentially the most northern surf seashore on the East Coast of Australia, which can also be the place the annual Reef 2 Seashore 1770 Longboard Browsing occasion takes place every March.
The seashores listed here are additionally secure for swimming because it’s a patrolled seashore and has lifeguards throughout peak seasons.
We didn’t have the possibility to take up a lesson right here, however we heard they’re low-cost and a whole lot of enjoyable. Should you don’t know easy methods to surf, then what higher memento to take house with you than a brand new ability!
7. Do the straightforward Paperbark Forest Stroll
We have been alerted to the Paperbark Forest Stroll by one among our Fb neighborhood members. The trailhead is barely about 3 kms south of Agnes, reverse Springs Seashore, and the entire hike is family-friendly and straightforward to do.
The Paperbark Forest Boardwalk Path is a brief 10 minute (400m) out and again hike from Agnes Water. The path takes you thru among the most great nature in Reedy Creek Reserve.
The women beloved pretending they have been witches using on their broomsticks down the picket boardwalk and hopping alongside the stepping pylons above the swamp. It was fairly mystical and magical.
The reserve is house to a well-preserved coastal melaleica forest and is stuffed with paperbark timber. The forest is so inexperienced and wild, it feels such as you’ve stepped right into a jungle.
The forest is one other scorching spot for migrating butterflies and can also be house to many species of native Australian frogs.
The path is very easy and appropriate for younger youngsters, however not for these with mobility points since you’ve gotten just a few water crossings and obstacles to step over.
8. Stroll the 1770 to Spherical Hill Head Stroll
There’s a ravishing 2km stroll from the 1770 campground alongside the headland by the forest to the Spherical Hill Head.
The views alongside the way in which throughout Eurimbula Nationwide Park to Bustard Headway lookout are fairly particular too. Put your binoculars in your backpack if you’re visiting between July and October, as that is whale-watching season. You might simply see a humpback whale breach within the distance.
There’s additionally one part of the forest that’s full of lovely blue tiger butterflies (simply above Butterfly Seashore).
If you wish to see these butterflies correctly, then take the Butterfly Stroll. Yearly, between March and Might, 1000’s of those butterflies are migrating by Agnes Water and the City of 1770.
The Butterfly Strolling Path is situated close to The Captain Prepare dinner Monument and is the place you usually tend to see them, because the stroll is uncovered to the daylight (butterflies love daylight).
9. Go snorkeling on the secluded Pancake Creek
One other lovely spot in Agnes Water is Pancake Creek, which is inaccessible by land and so you need to take a tour to achieve it.
Nevertheless, it’s undeniably price it.
This untouched paradise is the place tropical bushland meets the shoreline. You possibly can snorkel right here, and it’s attainable to identify turtles and dugongs feasting on the seagrass. Then, go for a swim and calm down at ‘Secret Seashore.’
Should you’re on the lookout for your personal slice of paradise, that is it.
10. Go whale-watching
Australia’s East Coast is a scorching spot for humpback whales and dolphins throughout their migration season after giving beginning to their calves (July by to October, typically early November).
Many individuals flock to Hervey Bay to see them, since that is the place they’re most energetic, however you’ll be able to truly see them within the waters from Agnes Water too.
A terrific place to see them is alongside the Discovery Path, which takes you to a number of lookout factors. It’s a beautiful stroll and solely takes round half-hour, although in fact, in case you do see whales you’ll seemingly wish to cease and keep for some time.
The trailhead for the Discovery Path is behind the Agnes Water Museum on Springs Highway in Agnes Water. It’s a loop path, so you’ll end right here too.
11. Loosen up on the secluded Chinaman’s Seashore
In order for you a quieter seashore away from the surf crowds, then Chinamans Seashore is the spot. Yow will discover this seashore by way of a brief hike over rocky escarpments on a bitumen monitor, which is simply off Springs Highway.
This can be a pure seashore with rock swimming pools, light waves, and a well-liked fishing spot for locals.
Convey your fishing rod and a picnic and also you’re ready for an ideal day on the seashore.
It’s best to word that that is an unpatrolled seashore, so keep watch over your youngsters and keep secure.
12. Get pleasure from dwell music on the Agnes Blues Roots and Rock Competition
Yearly in February, Agnes Water turns into the host to the Blues, Roots and Rock Competition.
Over three days, this vibrant pageant brings among the greatest names in Blues and Rock to the stage, in addition to gives meals distributors and markets.
Ticket gross sales elevate funds for over 10 native charities and organisations. Should you’re on the town in February, you should definitely test it out.
13. Dine at The Tree Restaurant, Seventeen Seventy
The Tree Restaurant is situated contained in the 1770 Seashore Lodge, and is just a little on the costly aspect, however the meals is sweet and the views are superb.
Catch the sundown first and have a drink within the Tree Bar earlier than shifting into the restaurant.
The place to remain in Agnes Water
Should you’re considering you’ve been satisfied and are able to make the journey to Agnes Water and City of 1770, then you definitely may be questioning the place to remain.
We stayed on the NRMA Agnes Water Vacation Park, previously often known as Agnes Water Seashore Caravan Park, in a Treetops Chalet. They have been actually cute and if you will get one proper on the seashore you’ll be in for an excellent keep.
They’re just a little small although, so you probably have a big household or want a whole lot of house, you may wish to have a look at a cabin or campsite. We needed to preserve most of our baggage in our automotive.
We most well-liked the placement of this web site to the campground at 1770, which is extra primary and fairly in style for being proper on the bay and entrance row seats for the sundown.
You possibly can view extra locations to remain in Agnes Water and 1770 on this interactive map:
Attending to City of 1770
The City of 1770 and Agnes Water are just a little diversion from the primary freeway between Brisbane and Cairns, so it doesn’t see the excessive quantity of site visitors and vacationers. Subsequently chances are you’ll miss the turning in case you you’re not on the lookout for it!
Agnes Water is roughly 477 kilometers from Brisbane, which takes about 5.5 hours to drive. City of 1770 is one other 6 kilometers north of Agnes Water.
From the Sunshine Coast, it’s a 4.5 hours drive.
They’re situated within the Gladstone area of Queensland. One can find low-cost flights to Bundaberg airport within the south, and from right here it’s a 1.5 hour drive.
What’s the distinction between the City of 1770 and Agnes Water?
I’m glad we weren’t the one ones confused!
Agnes Water is about 6 km south of the City of 1770. Agnes Water is the ocean city the place you’ll discover the surf and a improbable seashore. It additionally has many of the cafes and outlets and room for growth.
The City of 1770 is on the Spherical Hill Creek and is way quieter and smaller. That is the place you bounce in your cruises and do your water excursions and actions.
They every have their distinctive factors, however I feel we barely most well-liked to remain in Agnes Waters close to the seashore and drive into the City of 1770.
Ultimate ideas
Now we don’t wish to ship you there in droves, however we can also’t preserve Agnes Water and 1770 a secret from you. We expect it is best to undoubtedly be pinning it to your Australian Bucket Record.
We first heard of it years in the past from associates who visited and stayed awhile and so they say it’s their favourite place in Australia.
After that, we heard about it a number of occasions from extra travellers who stumbled upon it by chance, and have been amazed at how lovely and magnetic it was.
Each cities have one thing particular and distinctive about them.
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for historic landmarks, adventurous actions, or a lazy day by the seashore, you could find all this and extra right here.
We hope this information helped persuade you to go to these hidden gems in Queensland and gave you some concepts for issues to do so as to add to your itinerary.
Are you planning a go to to City of 1770 and Agnes Water? Tell us what you’re excited for within the feedback!
