A trip to 'Town of 1770'
By:Amy Middleton
| February-1-2010
Humble travellers will find holiday heaven in this historical town.
Town of 1770 (Photo: Jill and Stacey)
1770 sounds more like the price of a mid-range Tassie wine than a coastal town in our nation's north.
In fact, the curious name was only bestowed upon the town, formerly known as Round Hill, in 1970, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook's first landfall in Queensland.
We quizzed Jill and Stacey, recent visitors humbled by the historic seaside village, for their top recommendations.
This place is culturally significant because… twin towns 1770 and Agnus Waters boast coastlines that have been untouched for nearly 240 years. They're believed to be the birthplace of Queensland, because Lieutenant James Cook (he wasn't a captain yet!) and his crew sailed through on the Endeavour in May of 1770.
The landmark to look out for is… the untouched coastlines. The Town of 1770 is the closest mainland point to Lady Musgrave Island, which is unspoiled and has a true coral cay with a unique coral lagoon on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. It's heaven for divers.
The quintessential local we met… was named Macka. He was full of tales of snakes sneaking up through exhaust pipes, spiders hiding under chairs and crocs in the ocean.
But the best part is that every morning, the locals look up from their newspapers and coffee to greet their neighbors and ask after their families.
If you need a place to stay, check out... the Mango Tree Motel. It's steps away from the beach, it has spacious rooms that sleep up to five people with a small kitchenette, clean bathrooms, and parking right outside of your room.
The perfect day trip would involve…Reef to Surf school (lessons are only $15 for four hours) to get the heart racing. After a morning of surfing, go for a picnic lunch in the park, followed by an afternoon scooter ride with Scooteroo. Finish with a sunset view from the dock, and nibble on wedges and sour cream.
Read more about Jill and Stacey's Aussie adventures, including video from Town of 1770, at their website.
See more Australian Geographic maps
Home to a warm climate and the crystal clear waters of the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland is a tropical paradise. Off the coast lies the Great Barrier Reef, a breathtaking coral system abounding in exotic fish and spectacular colours. The lush World Heritage-listed Daintree forest in the far north provide some relief from the heat, while further inland, the Simpson Desert’s earthy red dunes offer a stark change of scene.