Top 10 Things to Do in Seventeen Seventy (1770) and Agnes Water, QLD

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‘What’s in a name?’, asked William Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet.

Not a lot according to the Bard, unless your name is also a number and no one can quite agree on how to spell it out. Driving into the Gladstone region on Queensland’s Central Coast, you’ll see signs to ‘Seventeen Seventy’, ‘1770’, ‘The Town of 1770’, and even ‘1770 (The Town of)’. It gets even trickier; the neighbouring twin town of Agnes Water is often landed, incorrectly, with an ‘s’ on the end. Just for the record, the Queensland State Government gazetted the town name of ‘Seventeen Seventy’ in 1936, and Agnes Water is most definitely singular!

Tucked away well off the beaten track (an hour’s drive from the nearest airports at Bundaberg and Gladstone), both Seventeen Seventy and Agnes Water have an understated charm and are often jointly described as Queensland’s best kept secret. It’s one well worth getting in on. There are no crowds, no high rises, no theme parks, no buzz, no hullabaloo; just the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in one of the state’s most beautiful coastal settings.

Call them what you will, here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Seventeen Seventy and Agnes Water.

1. Hit the beach or bay

The toughest decision a first-time visitor will have to make is which of the two towns to stay in. Agnes Water sits on the coast proper, is the larger of the two, has a wider range of accommodation options, and is home to most of the region’s amenities and services. All of that makes it significantly busier than Seventeen Seventy. But if easy access to an oceanfront beach is high on your list of holiday must-haves, then Agnes it is. Agnes Water Beach is almost six kilometres long and patrolled during peak seasons.

Following Captain Cook Drive north from Agnes along the Seventeen Seventy Peninsula — framed by the Coral Sea on one side, and Round Hill Creek and tranquil Bustard Bay on the other — will deliver you to Seventeen Seventy. Less a town, more a state of mind, most of the community is dotted along the peninsula’s western side. That affords views of sunset over the bay, which is one of the big attractions of basing yourself here. The swirling sandbanks and azure water of the creek mouth are stunning to look at, and the beach conditions are gentler here than on the peninsula’s ocean side. That may make Seventeen Seventy a more attractive option for those holidaying with young children.

2. Commemorate Cook’s landing

Originally known as Round Hill, Seventeen Seventy is the site of the second of just a handful of places where Lieutenant James Cook came ashore in 1770 while charting Australia’s east coast. Hence the town’s numeric moniker, which was adopted in honour of that historic happening. There’s a cairn on the peninsula’s bay side commemorating Cook’s landing on 24 May, 1770, and his beach walk is re-enacted around that time each year during the Town of 1770 Festival. It focusses on both Cook’s legacy as a global explorer and the Gooreng Gooreng First People’s perspective of the landing, and they’ve been involved in the organisation of the event since its inception.

3. Learn more local history at Agnes Water Museum

The history lesson continues at the excellent, volunteer-run and not-for-profit Agnes Water Museum — situated on the southern side of Agnes Water (opposite the Visitor Information Centre off Springs Road). The museum holds a vast collection of artefacts and if you want to do it any serious justice, you’ll need to set aside at least a couple of hours. There are displays dedicated to Indigenous life pre-settlement, Cook, the pioneering and pastoral years, shipwrecks, natural disasters, and the list goes on. Browse noteworthy newspaper clippings, marvel at intricate model ships, and stroll down memory lane (depending on your age) while viewing household gadgets of yesteryear.

4. Walk the Discovery Trail

There are great walking trails dotted across the region, and the entrance to one of them is located right behind the museum. Less than a kilometre in length and doable for anyone of a reasonable fitness level, the Discovery Trail winds its way through coastal scrub and pandanus groves to a lookout on the Agnes Water Headland. Soak up sweeping views of the peninsula, town, Agnes Water Beach, and pristine Workman’s Beach below you. Keep your eyes peeled through the winter months as migrating whales can often be spotted from this vantage point.

Other walks to check out during your stay include the 1.2-kilometre Round Hill Creek walking trail through Joseph Banks Conservation Park on the peninsula, and the short-but-sweet Paperbark Forest Boardwalk — situated just a two-minute drive south of the museum.

5. Sample the wares at the 1770 Distillery

Also a short drive from the museum is the 1770 Distillery — a labour of love for owner-and-former-Taswegian John, who has a connection to the legendary distiller Bill Lark. The distillery produces a select range of four fruit liqueurs in a handmade copper pot still — each with a story behind it, which John will be more than happy to share with you over a tasting. The distillery is open Thursday to Sunday (at the time of writing) and its highly unlikely that you’ll walk away without a bottle of the velvety Strawberry Splash.

PS. As you drive around Agnes Water, keep an eye out for the painted power poles that form the Pole Art Trail. There are several along Bicentennial Drive where the distillery is located.

6. Get a great coffee here and there

If you’re swinging back towards the peninsular and in need of a caffeine-fuelled pick-me-up, pull off Captain Cook Drive at the YHA and barrel up to the Here and There Espresso van. The locally roasted coffee is great, the house-baked muffins and banana bread hit the spot, and visiting pooches are made to feel extra special. There’s under cover seating next to the van, and even some merch on offer.

7. Explore the Seventeen Seventy Foreshore

Back in Seventeen Seventy, take a stroll along the Round Hill Creek foreshore, which stretches from the 1770 Camping Ground to the marina precinct. The last section is somewhat underutilised, but the Foreshore Parklands Redevelopment comes complete with a raised wooden boardwalk, picnic shelters, BBQ facilities, and plenty of seating. Take the weight off and gaze out over the impossibly blue waters of the creek and bay, as all manner of leisure vessels cruise by.

8. Do a kayak tour

Feeling energetic and want to get out on the creek yourself? Keep walking towards the marina until you bump into 1770 Liquid Adventures, which hires out kayaks and operates several guided kayak tours. If you’re interested in the latter (including their popular sunset tour), it’s worth booking in advance; we tried to get on a tour at the last minute and had no luck. There are single, double, and triple kayaks available for hire, and they come with paddling vests (which are mandatory for children under the age of 12). Pack a picnic and head out to discover secret coves and sandy inlets. You may spot dolphins, turtles, and other marine dwellers along the way.

9. Tuck into fresh fish and chips at sunset

As mentioned, Seventeen Seventy is renowned for its water sunsets, and feasting on fresh fish and chips in the glow of golden hour is a time-honoured tradition in these parts. Most visitors descend on the marina to hook their feed, which can get a little crowded. Alternatively, head for the 1770 Beach Hotel further around the foreshore, which does takeaway packs of F&C from its bistro for the princely sum of $12.90 per serve (at the time of our visit). You can also purchase a beverage and take it with you across the road to the foreshore park. Watching the sun set doesn’t get any better than this.

10. Bliss out at the 1770 Eco Camp

If you’re camping or caravanning, or you just fancy a night or two under the stars, check out the fabulous 1770 Eco Camp on the inland side of Round Hill — a five-minute drive from the heart of Agnes. The camp is beautifully integrated into its 42 acre bushland setting and birdsong fills the air. It offers powered/unpowered camping sites (with plenty of space between you and your neighbours) and a number of very reasonably priced tepee-style glamping tents, which come complete with a pillow top queen bed. Family tents are also available. The shared amenities are clean and modern, and the state-of-the-art camp kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven will prove a boon for self-caterers.

Those in need of a digital detox will get one here. There’s no phone reception, but Wi-Fi is available in the main pavilion if you get twitchy.

For more travel inspiration, visit www.visitagnes1770.com.au.

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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of top things to do in Seventeen Seventy and Agnes Water? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Cover image: Tourism and Events Queensland