About Agnes Water
Agnes Water is a coastal town and beach destination in the Gladstone Region of Queensland, Australia, located about 130 km north of Bundaberg. It is known as the northernmost surf beach on Australia's east coast. The town centres on a long sandy main beach patrolled by surf lifesavers, backed by the Discovery Coast. It serves as the gateway to the Town of 1770 and nearby national parks.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a long, wide sandy beach with consistent surf breaks, bordered by headlands and coastal vegetation. The main beach area includes patrolled swimming zones, foreshore parkland, lookouts and walking tracks. The town has a relaxed coastal settlement with shops, cafes and accommodation. Nearby areas include the 1770 headland, estuaries, paperbark wetlands and national parks offering bushwalking and wildlife viewing.
Key highlights
- 01
Agnes Water Main Beach - long sandy surf beach patrolled by Surf Life Saving Queensland
- 02
Northernmost surf beach on Australia's east coast
- 03
1770 Headland and Bustard Bay lookout nearby
- 04
Paperbark Forest Boardwalk and coastal walking tracks
- 05
Access to Deepwater and Eurimbula National Parks
- 06
Surfing, swimming and stand-up paddleboarding conditions
History of Agnes Water
The town and beach are named after the coastal schooner Agnes which was lost in the area in the 1870s. The district was historically used for timber and grazing before developing as a coastal residential and tourism centre from the 1990s. The adjacent Town of 1770 marks the second landing site of James Cook in Australia in May 1770.
Culture & Context
The Agnes Water and 1770 area lies within the traditional lands of the Gooreng Gooreng and Bailai peoples. The coastline is valued for its natural coastal landscape and surf culture, forming the central beach for the Discovery Coast community.
Route
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