10 Best Free Things to do in Agnes Waters

10 Best FREE Things to do in Agnes Water

 

I’ll let you in on a top tip, Agnes Waters is one of the best backpacker and budget travel destinations in Australia.

Situated in Queensland, just south of the Great Barrier Reef, this tiny little hamlet sits at the end of the track with, well, not much else around!

So if you’re looking for a kick off your shoes, hit the beach, jump on your board and enjoy a sundowner kind of place, Agnes Water is the spot for you!

Yes this place revolves around the sun, sand and the waves and with great year-round temperatures, it’s a perfect stopover if you’re driving Brisbane to Cairns and want a few days of hardcore relaxation!

I loved my time in Agnes (as it’s fondly known), as well as the neighbouring town of 1770 so much on my great budget 4wd adventure around Australia that I kept extending my stay there!

Enchanted by the beautiful natural environment of the area and the super-chilled vibe of the town, I discovered Agnes and 1770 were 2 perfect budget travel spots.

So, if you’re heading that way on a shoestring too, here are the 10 best free things to do in Agnes Waters…

 

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#1 Chill Out!

Forget really partying or seeing the sights here, Agnes is all about winding down.

In fact, there seems to be a joke around town about ‘Agnes time’ being a little more relaxed compared to other places!

The small town sits only metres away from the beach and here, life really does seem to revolve around simple pleasures.

The tight-knit community of locals makes it a very safe, friendly and welcoming destination.

Plus, it’s rarely jammed packed with tourists, making it a top destination to chill out away from the crowds.

 

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#2 Take a Hike

There is a ton of great walking to be enjoyed in the area of Agnes Waters, with lot of information and free maps available from the excellent Visitor Information Centre.

Some of my top picks include:

The Discovery Trail, which leads to a great lookout point on the headland over Agnes and the surrounding bays.  Stroll through bushland to get here and then enjoy the stellar views up and down the coastline.

The Beach Walk which is 8km along the sand from Agnes Main Beach to the 1770 headland. From here, you can then clamber up the headland to the Joseph Banks Conservation Park, before joining the coastal track back down to the 1770 township. The best time to complete this walk is during low tide – to ensure you can make it to the headland.

The Red Rock Walking Trail will take you from Agnes Waters, along cliffs, all the way to the edge of nearby Deepwater National Park. Starting about 2.5km past the library on Springs Road, enjoy gorgeous lookouts on this 2 hour return trail.

LEARN MORE: The Ultimate Budget Travel Guide to Agnes Water

 

#3 Spot a Roo or 2

Each of the walking routes mentioned above will not only provide you with some gorgeous views of coastal Queensland, but the chance to spot some wonderful local wildlife too.

Kangaroos, goannas, wallabies and echidnas are all common sightings in the bushland around Agnes Water and sometimes right in town as well!

There’s also birds and butterflies galore, plus estuary dolphins are regularly seen in Bustard Bay.

From November to March, you also have the opportunity to spot one of the rare and endangered Loggerhead Turtles that come to Agnes Water Beach to lay their eggs each year.

Spotting one of these ancient creatures is definitely one of the best free things to do in Agnes Waters – just remember not to touch, scare or disturb them.

 

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#1 Good Camera – You will be pretty much snapping non-stop in Australia and will need a good camera to do this gorgeous country justice. I highly recommend the Sony A6000, which I use for all my travels and love, not least because it’s light, compact and robust!

#2 Good Walking Shoes – There will be a lot of walking in Australia – from cities to national park! Make sure your feet are comfortable therefore with a pair of New Balance Trainers. Perfect for stylish strollling, I love mine.

#3 Good Guidebook – I’m still a massive fan of the Lonely Planet Guidebooks and do think their Australia edition is well put together.

#4 Good Water Bottle – Travelling in hot old Australia can be thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because tap water is drinkable… and free!

#5 Good Sun Hat – And there’s no denying you’ll need a good sun hat for protection in Australia too. In my opinion you can’t go past this Hello Sunshine one, which is both gorgeous and ideal for keeping the rays off your face.

 

#4 Toast the Sunset

Right next to Agnes Waters, the nearby town of 1770 is also one of only a few places on the east coast of Australia where you can watch the sunset, as well as rise, over the water.

Join the locals and head down to the 1770 Marina with your sundowners to relish this spectacle or head to the 1770 headland for a more secluded affair.

 

#5 Hit the Agnes Water Beach

Sunbathing and swimming at the world-class Agnes Water beach are 2 of the best free and delightful things to enjoy in this great town.

Lifeguards are on duty at the main beach in town and the area is patrolled with flags.

If you prefer a bit of privacy, then check out the more low-key cove of Workman’s instead or head north to the 1770 Beach where you’re likely to remain undisturbed!

 

#6 Throw in a Line

Known for having some of the best fishing on Australia’s east coast, throwing in a line is definitely one of the best free things to do in Agnes Water.

Rock fishing, SUP fishing, estuary and reef fishing are all popular here, so just ask a friendly local for the best spots!

 

Best Agnes Water Budget Accommodation

Agnes Waters is ideal for budget travellers with lots of cheap accommodation on offer. Here’s my pick of the bunch:

Agnes Water Backpackers: Take your pick from 1 of 4 hostels in town, all of which great excellent reviews. My favourite has to be Cool Bananas Hostel for the hammocks, friendly staff, free tea / coffee, big kitchen and the cleanliness.

Agnes Water Camping: Another great option for budget travellers is the cheap camping available at Workman’s Beach. This awesome spot is run by the local council and costs only $7 AUD pppn. I stayed here and absolutely loved it! Just make sure to get there early in the day as spots are administered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Agnes Water Caravan Park: The Reef Caravan Park is the best option as it’s reasonably priced and set a little out of town, making it nice and peaceful. There’s a camp kitchen, wifi, loads of wildlife and facilities are really clean. Only a 5 minute walk to town too!

 

#7 Discover Agnes Waters History

Ok so the Agnes Water Museum isn’t totally free, but it’s only $3 AUD, meaning it may as well be!

This is an awesome place to discover tons of info about the history of the area and the landing of Captain Cook.

If you prefer to stick to the free stuff then venturing round to the Captain Cook Monument and snapping a selfie is another way to get your historical fix in Agnes!

You can also walk in Cooks’ footsteps along the 1770 foreshore if you’re really keen!

 

#8 Check out the Markets

The community markets of Agnes Water are held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, so if you’re here during this time, checking them out is certainly one of the best free things to do in Agnes Waters.

With tons of fruits and veggies, local arts and crafts and second-hand goodies, enjoy people watching or shopping in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere between 8am-12pm.

Located at the SES Grounds between 1770 and Agnes Water, the markets are easy to find and well worth a look.

 

#9 4wd Through National Parks

There are 2 National Parks near Agnes Waters – one to the north and one to the south. Both are free to enter and make for a great day trip:

Deepwater National Park to the south of the town is generally only accessible by 4wd, but offers those who make the journey some great walking opportunities in one of the last undisturbed coastal freshwater ecosystems in Queensland.

Eurimbula National Park is to the north of Agnes Waters and is accessed by turning off Round Hill Road which connects the town with the highway. Again, only accessible by 4wd, the diversity of different vegetation in the area is quite astounding, with coastal mangrove swamps, sitting alongside eucalyptus forests, rainforest pine trees and freshwater paperbark swamps.

 

#10 Skate it Up

A super one for the whole family, grabbing your blades, board or bike and heading to the free skate park on Springs Road is an awesome free thing to do in Agnes Waters.

After that, why not stock up on supplies and make use of one of the free BBQ’s which are located in all the Agnes Water and 1770 parks.

 

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So here’s my list of the 10 best free things to do in Agnes Waters, Queensland.

Have you visited this cute little town?

What did you enjoy doing the most when you were there?

 

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