1770 LARC! Tours · Town of 1770 marina
An amphibious LARC drives you along the Eurimbula National Park coast to the Bustard Head lighthouse, where a volunteer keeper shows you the museum and the tower. On the way back you sandboard the dunes of Middle Island and stop for a swim.
A LARC is an amphibious vehicle: it drives on sand and floats across creeks, which is how this day reaches a stretch of coast with no road in. The Paradise Tour runs along the edge of Eurimbula National Park, over long beaches and four tidal creeks, while the crew tells the story of Town of 1770. Morning tea is at a shaded spot by Jenny Lind Creek, then the LARC climbs Bustard Headland in four-wheel drive.
The lighthouse is the centre of the day. The Bustard Head light was first lit in June 1868 and automated in 1986, according to Australian Geographic, and the listing calls it Queensland's first-built lighthouse and its only operating one open to the public. A volunteer light-keeper takes you through the old keeper's cottage, now a museum, then up the spiral stairs to the balcony for a 360° view, and down to the cemetery behind its nickname, "the Lighthouse of Tragedy". Lunch from 1770 Marina Café comes with billy tea. Then you cross Jenny Lind Creek to the dunes of Middle Island, ride a boogie board down a 35-metre sand hill and cool off with a swim.
It is a mainland trip and does not go to Lady Musgrave Island, which makes it a good second day in 1770 after the island cruise. Groups are up to 26, the listing says it suits all ages, and there is a fee of A$11 per person for Queensland Parks and the Bustard Head Lighthouse Association, paid at check-in. For a shorter taste of the same coast, try the two-hour duck-boat picnic.
Check in at 1770 LARC! Tours, 535 Captain Cook Drive, Seventeen Seventy, and pay the A$11 park and lighthouse fee.
The LARC follows the beaches and creeks along Eurimbula National Park to a shaded picnic spot.
Up the headland in four-wheel drive, then the museum, the spiral stairs to the tower balcony and the cemetery with a volunteer keeper.
Back down the headland for lunch made by 1770 Marina Café, with an optional short forest walk.
Across Jenny Lind Creek to the dunes, down the 35-metre hill on a boogie board, then a swim.
The return run comes with wildlife spotting and local stories.
★★★★★Educational Entertaining Excellent value What a wonderful day. The Lark was fun and more comfortable than I thought. Our guides were brilliant so much knowledge. The lighthouse was a great experience. [...] Chickened out on the sand boarding but enjoyed watching the brave.
★★★★★Probably the best day tour we have ever done. The guide, driver and volunteers at the museum were very knowledgeable in everything from nature and the past. Couldn’t recommend it more.
★★★★★The commentary was both funny & informative. Lunch was delicious. Sandboarding was so much fun. The whole day was great!
★★★★★Perfect in every way. [...] Lighthouse tour excellent n would loved to have spent longer. GF lunch just right [...] Icing on the cake was when we went out to the resident dolphins who were just as inquisitive as we were.
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No. It stays on the mainland: the beaches and creeks of Eurimbula National Park, Bustard Head and the dunes of Middle Island. For the island, book the Lady Musgrave day cruise from the same marina.
A per-person charge for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Bustard Head Lighthouse Association, paid at check-in on the day. It is listed as not included in the price.
Yes, the listing says it suits all ages, and groups are up to 26. Children can try the sandboarding or watch; one guest also found the lighthouse stairs easy to manage.
About 7 hours, with morning tea, the lighthouse, lunch, sandboarding and a swim. If that is too long, the duck-boat picnic takes 2 hours.
Ready to book
An amphibious LARC up the beaches to the Bustard Head lighthouse, with sandboarding and lunch.
Eurimbula Duck Boat Tour with Beach PicnicTwo hours by LARC across the creeks of Eurimbula National Park, with a picnic lunch on a quiet beach.★ 4.8 · 2 hours · from $61
Town of 1770 Afternoon Coastline TourOne hour by amphibious LARC on Round Hill Creek and the 1770 sand bar, with an entertaining commentary.★ 4.6 · 1 hour · from $31
Lady Musgrave Island Day Cruise from 1770The one trip here that lands on Lady Musgrave: lagoon snorkelling, a glass-bottom boat, an island walk and lunch.★ 4.3 · 9 hours · from $225