Gladstone to Agnes Water: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Gladstone to Agnes Water drive covers a 124km distance, with a driving time of around 1h26m. The route goes via Benaraby, Miriam Vale and the Fingerboard Roadhouse.

The drive from Gladstone to Agnes Water takes you from an industrial port city on the Queensland coast to one of Australia’s most appealing, underrated holiday towns.

Gladstone is best used as the jumping-off point for the Heron Island ferry to Heron Island and Wilson Island.

Agnes Water, and twin town 1770, however, have plenty to offer. Top Agnes Water and 1770 experiences include sunset cruises, amphibious vehicle tours to Eurimbula National Park and Great Barrier Reef day tours to Lady Musgrave Island.

Gladstone to Agnes Water distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Gladstone to Agnes Water is 124km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 26 minutes.

What to book in 1770/ Agnes Water before you arrive

See the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef – on a Lady Musgrave Island day tour.
Hire a scooter – and pootle around the back lanes looking for kangaroos.
Kick back with sparkling wine on a sunset cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Travel on land and water, and try sandboarding – on a quirky full day amphibious vehicle tour.
Or take a shorter wildlife-spotting coastline tour, with lunch.
Get the best deals on your accommodation.

The drive starts of down the Gladstone-Benaraby Road, running east of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands. It joins the Bruce Highway at Benaraby and continues south.

It’s an uneventful drive towards Miriam Vale, where you need to branch off along Fingerboard Road.

This leads past the shooting complex at Mount Tom, towards the Fingerboard Roadhouse at the junction with Round Hill Road.

Gladstone to Agnes Water drive: Round Hill Road

Turn left and head north here, and it’s a short drive into Agnes Water.

Before arriving at your Agnes Water accommodation, you may wish to stop at the Bush Heritage Paperbark Forest Boardwalk or Agnes Water main beach. The latter is the most northerly surf beach in Queensland.

Five reasons why a day tour to Lady Musgrave Island should top your wish list

A Lady Musgrave Island day trip is usually the highlight of a visit to 1770/ Agnes Water. Here’s why it’s so special.

The Great Barrier Reef is in excellent condition here – it hasn’t received the bleaching damage that other spots further north have.
This is stinger and crocodile-free territory – perfect for a summer trip.
Lady Musgrave has the only navigable lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef – the water colours are extraordinary.
That lagoon makes the water really, really calm for swimming and snorkelling.
You’re almost certainly going to see turtles.

Book your Lady Musgrave Island day trip over here.

Five reasons why a day tour to Lady Musgrave Island should top your wish list

A Lady Musgrave Island day trip is usually the highlight of a visit to 1770/ Agnes Water. Here’s why it’s so special.

The Great Barrier Reef is in excellent condition here – it hasn’t received the bleaching damage that other spots further north have.
This is stinger and crocodile-free territory – perfect for a summer trip.
Lady Musgrave has the only navigable lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef – the water colours are extraordinary.
That lagoon makes the water really, really calm for swimming and snorkelling.
You’re almost certainly going to see turtles.

Book your Lady Musgrave Island day trip over here.

Good places to stay with pools include the 1770 Lagoons Central Apartments Resort, the Sandcastles 1770 Motel and the Agnes Water Beach Club.