FRONTIER
Jump aboard this pink, amphibious vehicle on a delightful day tour which will take you along secluded beaches, through four creeks, up steep hills and to the Bustard Head Lighthouse. You can swim, sand board, and learn all about the area’s history and wildlife, as you chug along the 1770 coastline in this fivetonne US Army Larc.
larctours.com.au
Visit remote Bustard Head Lighthouse, the only operating lighthouse in Queensland open to the public, view historical shipping artefacts, pay your respects to previous inhabitants at the small cemetery, and learn how you can apply to be a caretaker and live in a cottage here for a month.
lighthouses.org.au/lights/qld/Bustard %20Head/Bustard%20Head.htm
Lagoons 1770 Resort & Spa is so named for its luscious lagoon which wraps around its interior, boasting rooms with ladders which lead straight into the pool, as well as its upmarket spa. After a swim here, head for breakfast. Their Spanish eggs Benedict with chorizo is a winner.
lagoons1770.com.au
Walk through giant teak Balinese doors and enter another world at Getaway cafe 1770. Amble through luscious gardens adorned with fountains before ordering cake and coffee in these gorgeous surrounds. Try the vanilla slice, reportedly one of the region’s best.
1770getaway.com.au/agnes-water-cafe
Arguably the cheapest surf lessons anywhere in Australia, $25 buys you three hours on one of the country’s tamest waves, ideal for learners, at the north-facing Agnes Water Beach with Reef to Beach Surf School.
https://www.facebook.com/reef-2-beachsurf-school-138839882803792/
Cute but stable stepping stones over wetlands carve through this magical emerald forest lined with tall Paperbark trees. This is a short but spectacular walk which is popular with Instragrammers and nature lovers.
www.visitagnes1770.com.au/places/ paperbark-forest-walk
For some fruity flavours, head to the 1770 Distillery which makes four kinds of liqueurs from as much locally-sourced produce as possible. A popular drop here is the Strawberry Splash.
If beer is more your thing, nearby, Baffle Beer brews 8 drops in traditional German style. While the brewery itself is closed to visitors, you can find this ale in local pubs and restaurant menus. Look out for the 1770 IPA, the Southern Reef Special, and the Capricornia.
1770distillery.com; bafflebeer.com
Chinaman’s Beach is a secret spot off of Springs Road which is not only popular with locals, but turtles during nesting season. Explore the rock pools, but be careful of swimming here as there are strong currents on this unpatrolled beach. It’s also pet-friendly outside of nesting season.
visitagnes1770.com.au/places/chinamansbeach/
This rugged, windswept headland walk is only 250m long but takes you through tussock grasslands, vine thicket and coastal woodland before arriving at several lookouts over Bustard Bay and the ocean. Around May, spot the beautiful blue and black spotted tiger butterflies.
visitagnes1770.com.au/places/1770-headland
If you’re looking for a brew with a view, then plonk yourself down at Holidays cafe. As the name suggests, this laid-back beachfront cafe serves a great organic coffee and fresh juice — try the energising Zingtasia with watermelon — along with some of the best views along Australia’s east coast.
holidayscafe.com.au
Pointing west and overlooking the ocean, the Tree Bar 1770 is a favourite with locals and visitors. Grab a Baffle Beer and some bar snacks, or pull up a perch in the restaurant and order a reef and beef, while watching the sun dip into the ocean.
1770beachhotelcom.au
This cool kayaking tour caters for everyone, from showing the kids the mangroves, to taking adults out into the ocean, looking for dolphins and eagle rays.
Catch your breath on sunny sandbanks and ride the ocean waves back into Butterfly Beach before paddling back into the sunset.
1770liquidadventures.com.au
For absolute oceanfront bliss, hire the Bungalow on the Beach couples’ retreat overlooking Agnes Water Beach.
There’s two of these wooden shacks from which to choose. Select either the room with the four-poster bed, or the two-person soaker bath. There’s also a two-bedroom apartment, studio, and Jeffrey’s House here, all offering ocean views.
agneswaterbeach.com.au
If glamping is more your thing, Agnes Water Beach also offers two types of Safari tents, the Treetops or the Breakers. Both boast private ensuite, airconditioning, flatscreen TV, DVD player, private balcony, ocean views, fridge, microwave, tea and coffee facilities and linen. agneswaterbeach.com.au
At Agnes Water Beach you can also camp like a king in north-facing powered sites, powered tent sites, or unpowered tent sites. Or for absolute beachfront camping, head to the 1770 Camping Ground, from which you can watch the sunset over the ocean and the fishing and sailing boats head out to sea. There’s also great beach barbecues here.
agneswaterbeach.com.au; 1770campingground.com.au
The Agnes Water and Town of 1770 Visitor Information Centre has made a concerted effort to support local products. More than 95 per cent of their goods for sale are made locally and include Tielka teas, jewellery made from skate boards, woodwork and retro postcards. The Visitor Information Centre is also a handy source should you complete this list of 17 things to do, and are looking for another 17.
queensland.com/en-au/information/agneswater-and-town-of-1770-visitor-informationcentre