Joanna James
Just five and a half hours from bustling Brisbane, the picture-perfect hamlets of Agnes Water and 1770 Town fronting the Great Barrier Reef have a reputation of mesmerising visitors! Here are some unique allurements for every brand of traveller.
These seaside villages have multiple Instagram-worthy beach options, and if you're no longer in the mood for the lively golden sands and turquoise splashing ground of Main Beach, the secretively gorgeous Chinamen's Beach is deliciously off the beaten track. You can roam through its rugged escarpments and capture some jaw-dropping photos or drop in a fishing line and get lost in the dreamy landscape.
If you're keen on spotting majestic mammals resurface out of the blue and blow out geysers of water, hike up to the exhilarating 1770 Headland at sunrise and bring your binoculars if you're there during the peak whale-watching season between July and October. Even minus migrating whales, however, the view is stunning and picnic-perfect, and you're likely to witness dolphins and sea turtles going about their business.
While you'll find many magical hiking trails in the Gladstone region, this Paperbark Forest is straight out of a fairytale, found just off Springs Road in the Agnes Water precincts. This sun-dappled, tree-shadowed oasis consists of adorable wood stepping stones stretching for 400 metres in the lush undergrowth.
The Discovery Coast Rotary Markets is a customised haven for dreamers and doers located at the SES found smack dab in-between Agnes Waters and 1170. Here, you can leisurely browse the quaint little stores selling everything from honey and farm-fresh produce to second-hand books and handcrafted souvenirs. Held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, this is an idyllic family-friendly excursion complete with camel rides, scrumptious food, and a quirky stress-free vibe.
Spy the gorgeous Joseph Banks Conservation area and where Captain Cook landed on this bountiful coast from the ocean, as you serenely kayak into a sunset-painted sky alongside dolphins, sea turtles, and other aquatic friends. If you're looking for hotels in Gladstone QLD proffering prime access to the region's choicest allurements, look no further than Oaks Gladstone Grand Hotel.
A must-have island escapade, you can glean a dazzlingly intimate glimpse into the 1770 Reef through a character-enriching day of exploring picturesque trails and vibrant underwater realms, marvelling at their marine diversity.
The repurposed and strikingly pink amphibious vehicle known as the LARC will grant you the tour of a lifetime if you fancy cruising along oceans of sand to the soundtrack of fascinating history, stopping for iconic lighthouse climbs and pictures at breathtaking estuaries. Not only will you get to hear swashbuckling stories of the pioneering Captian Cook and see all the gorgeous proofs of why he settled on this stretch, but you'll also feel like you're a part of one.
Your stay in Agnes Water and 1770 won't be complete without trying locally crafted delicacies like the barista-made Campos brew, wholesome açai bowls, and decadent vanilla slide with a chilled glass of cold-pressed juice at the Getaway Garden Café.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
