Location: Agnes Water/Seventeen Seventy, Queensland
Weather: Apparently – Very Queensland. Started with sun then the wind increased then we had rain and now we’re back to sun again! 29°c

Having lived in a coastal village in South Africa for a number of years I love the sound of the waves crashing onto the coastline and can think of no better way of falling asleep but having the Great Barrier Reef to protect Hamilton Island from the incoming swell has taken this away!

So when I arrived in Agnes Water, the most northerly surf break along this coastline, hearing the near-constantly breaking waves outside my balcony felt good again and like home once more. My girlfriend Bre had taken the overnight coach down to meet me in Bundaberg and once we’d met up Trevor from Tourism Queensland drove us north and up the coast to the famous outcrop of land where Captain Cook made his first landfall in Queensland – 1770.

We’re here for three days so instead of the usual hotel to stay in we’ve a fantastic Mantra Pavilions Mirage on 1770 apartment right on the beach in Agnes Water. There’s a couple of bedrooms, open-plan lounge and kitchen, jacuzzi bath and vast balcony overlooking the sandy beach together with a real ocean noise!

The LARC

Our first activity when we arrive is the LARC – a bright pink amphibious vehicle! These things are huge, powerful and a real eye-catcher with the tourists offering tours on and around the surrounding waterways. Neil one of the co-owners and driver invites us on board and there’s no hesitation at all.

The LARC

Originally designed for the U.S. Military in 1960 as resupply vehicles, the pink-fleet have been redesigned to house the sort of passengers who all up for an educational tour and a good laugh at the same time. As the beast of a engine roars into life we take off down the slipway and enter the water…

At 63 feet long the LARC has some serious presence both on the road and in the water, as we leave the far bank of the river, climbing up the steep sad dune, a flock of pelicans and boobies take to the air wondering what-on-earth this bizarre pink machine is all about.

We take to the water again, sending a plume of spray up from the huge sand tyres as we enter the surf. As the water comes over the height of the wheels the propellor kicks up powering us out into open water where a challenge is given to me…catch a fish and the rod and reel are mine! Up for the challenge I take to the rook of the beast, casting into a shoal of baitfish surfacing just off the side…ten minutes later….nothing…we have to leave and I fail in the mission.

After an hour we stop to watch the sun set over the horizon and make for home, Neil lets me jump up front with him and drive the monster for a few minutes – this thing has some serious power but surprisingly only drinks a litre of fuel every km – maybe I’ll get one to drive around Australia instead of a Land Rover?!

Scooter Roos!!!

I’d heard a huge amount of great stories and reports all about these mad little things long before I knew it was even on the itinerary so it came as a great delight when we pulled into the driveway of Rod’s thriving business on the outskirts of town. Being met by a collection of signs, memorabilia and mini-scooters hung on the fence and trees gives you an idea of the sort of entertainment you’re in for!

The fleet of 60 customised scooters look the dogs-danglies! They all have extended handlebars, flame paint-jobs, look like mini Harley-Davidson’s and are a simple to ride as they’re semi-automatic and best of all only require a normal car license to drive them. People literally queue up to do this, it’s a really cheap activity that takes place over three hours and represents one of THE most economical, exhilarating afternoons that I’ve had in a long time.

I lead the group of riders out of the Scooteroo yard, Rod has prepared me a special machine for the afternoons ride with flaming mirrors and bright red paint job….I feel like a mini Hell’s Angel and pull up around 200 metres down the road to have the once-over briefing which makes sure everybody is feeling confident before we head off around the town for real.

The wind in the hair feeling of riding a bike in convoy is something I’ve never done before and I loved it, looking back in the mirrors the trail of headlights disappeared into the distance and the easy-to-ride machines feel great to ride. We wind our way through the countryside around Agnes Water and 1770 stopping off to watch some of the local Kangaroos chomping away on their evening meal in the neighbourhood gardens.

As the sun starts to set once again the convoy makes its way back into the outer confines of the sleepy seaside community, I wonder what the locals think about the daily invasion through the town – all of them seem pretty happy actually, with smiles and waves wherever we go even though half the fleet are almost constantly on their horns! Awaiting us on arrival are the infamous potato wedges which each rider has to replace the energy lost through the adrenalin-filled activities of the afternoon.

Everyone, and I mean everyone looks like they’ve had the time of their lives – from the young to the old, male and female this is a sure fire winner. Having chatted to a few others it materialises that loads of people are actually having their second day on the trot it’s so good.

Now the question is after Best Job do I travel around Australia by Land Rover or motorbike….my mum would kill me here so I’d better say Land Rover!

End of day location: Agnes Water, Queensland

Distance covered: 60kms