Agnes Water

Agnes Water is a small town on the Discovery Coast of central Queensland, about 480 kilometres north of Brisbane and 130 kilometres south of Gladstone. Together with the neighbouring settlement of Town of 1770 (also known simply as Seventeen Seventy), it sits on a headland at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef coast. Agnes Water's main beach faces east and catches the south-east swells, making it the most northerly reliable surf break on the Queensland coast. North of here, the reef shelters the coastline from open ocean swell.

The Town of 1770 takes its name from the date of Lieutenant James Cook's second landing in Australia (after Botany Bay), which occurred on the headland on 24 May 1770. The settlement is tiny - essentially a boat ramp, a camping ground and a handful of houses - but its historical significance and beautiful setting on a narrow peninsula between Bustard Bay and Round Hill Creek give it a distinctive character.

Lady Musgrave Island, one of the finest coral cays on the southern Great Barrier Reef, is accessible by day trip boat from the 1770 marina. The island has a protected lagoon that is one of the best snorkelling sites on the reef, with clear water, abundant coral and regular turtle and ray sightings. Camping is permitted on the island by permit, and overnight stays allow time for the spectacular night sky that comes with being 80 kilometres offshore.

Agnes Water has a growing but still relaxed food and accommodation scene. The main street has a couple of good cafes, a surf shop and a general store. The Paperbark Forest Boardwalk, just behind the town, is a short walk through a coastal paperbark wetland that supports a surprising diversity of birdlife including brahminy kites, sea eagles and honeyeaters.

The area is pleasant year-round but is at its best from April to November when the weather is dry and the water is still warm enough for swimming and snorkelling. Summer brings heat, humidity and the occasional cyclone threat. The drive from Brisbane takes about six hours on the Bruce Highway with a turn-off at Miriam Vale. There is a small airstrip at Agnes Water but no scheduled commercial flights.