Review: 1770 LARC Tours with the Amphibious Vehicle

If you’re visiting Agnes Water and the Town of 1770, chances are you’ve already heard about the famous LARC tours, those bright pink amphibious vehicles that can travel both on land and across the water.

But as a first-time visitor, you might be wondering: what exactly are the tours like? How long do they take, what will you see, and with different options available it can feel overwhelming to know which one is best for you.

We loved our experience on the LARC vehicle, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our trip. In this review, I’ll walk you through what to expect on a LARC tour, the different options available, and my honest take on whether it’s worth adding to your Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy itinerary.

This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Please read my disclaimer, T&C’s & privacy policy here.

My Review of the 1770 LARC Tours

My Overall experience!

Overall, we thought the 1770 LARC Tour was worth it, and I would recommend it to anyone for something different to do in town. Honestly, the full day tour seems to be plugged as the best, but I was glad we only decided to do the 1-hour tour and found it gave me enough of the highlights.

In the end, I learned enough in the one hour about the vehicle, what it can do and how much fun it was running over the sand bars. However, I know I don’t have anything to compare against and some people might think the full day tours are better!

➡  Find all the LARC Tours HERE with GYG, or HERE with Viator.

Where does it leave from?

The Tours leave from the Marina along Captain Cook Drive (please see location map here). This is a little shopping complex with several cafes and restaurants. In addition to this, it’s also where you’ll find the office and boat to get to the Lady Musgrave Island and a small grocery store.

The Town of 1770 is along the Queensland coast and 6 hours north of the capital, Brisbane and It tends to be explored along with the beautiful Agnes Water. Both are only 10 kilometres apart, and if you have your own vehicle, it’s easy to go back and forth from each.

Before the tour started

We were asked to check in about 30 minutes before our tour time but found this way too much time sitting around. Some people didn’t show up until 5 minutes before, so expecting this isn’t a hard lock time.

Both the safety briefing and orientation were quick, organised, and over in five minutes. They even had a pre-done seating plan ( Which I’m not a fan of), but I was glad I managed to get a good seat for my video footage and photo’s.

Seems they try to keep the bookings seated together while maximising the area being used. There are only about 20 seats on board, with 4 on each row, so not a massive amount.

What to expect of the 1 Hour Afternoon tour!

Since you’re at the Marina, there is a quick drive to the boat ramp and straight into the water. However, I’m not sure I found it any different from being on a boat, just cruising around the water for views.

The Guide was very knowledgeable on the vehicle, as well as the 1770 area. He had lots to say about things to do and history in the area. Not only that, but his delivery was entertaining and made things fun.

The bit everyone waits for is the fast driving in and out of the water and you can see that here watching my You Tube video. Therefore, the driver found a sand bar where we could do this several times.

This is also where we stopped for ten minutes to get out and explore on our own. This was a great spot to take photos. With all of that done, we boarded again, had one last quick entry into the water, and returned to the 1770 Marina.

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

The different Tours & Cost?

From what I could see, there are a couple of different tours to choose from and all with different lengths. Alternatively, if you have a large group, they can customize a tour for you.

➡  Find LARC Tours HERE with GYG, or HERE with Viator.

Prices for the 1770 LARC tours starts with:

• The 1 Hour Afternoon cruise for $45AUD,
• and up to $179AUD for the full day Paradise Tours.

1. Afternoon Cruise

The Afternoon Cruise tour is what we picked, and perfect is you only have one day in Agnes or limited for time – (it only ran for 1 hour). I was on the understanding that it was a sunset cruise, but this isn’t the case.

It looks like they set times based on customer demands and could start anytime after lunch. Once a tour fills up, they start on the next tour time.

2. LARC & Lunch

This Tour goes for a little longer at 2 hours and runs over the Lunchtime period. This would include all the excitement of the 1-hour tour mentioned above. Along with parking on a secluded beach with a provided picnic lunch.

Times for this tour would ordinarily run from 11am to 1pm daily.

3. Paradise Tours

I have been told the Paradise Full Day Tours are the more popular one ( at least this is what’s advertised on their website)and takes the most amount of time. It’s a lot more expensive, but it covered more area to discover the region, including Bustard Head.

Additionally, Lunch is provided, along with visiting a lighthouse and trying out some sand tobogganing. The departure time on this one will depend on the tide times for a Full day tour, but you can find this out a day or two before your ride.

What does LARC stand for?

It stands for Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo. This vehicle is an aluminium-constructed craft that can propel itself through the water and over the land. An ideal all-terrain vehicle and its design allows water to land transition or reverse.

This can happen on a range of shorelines, often needing little or no preparation. Large balloon tyres provide suspension and also aid in flotation in the water.

Where to Stay?

When it comes to accommodation, you’ll find that both Agnes Water and 1770 are within a short 5–10 minute drive of each other, making it easy to explore the attractions in both towns no matter where you base yourself.

The main choice usually comes down to whether you prefer staying in the slightly livelier Agnes Water with its cafes, shops, and surf beach, or the quieter seaside village of 1770 with its calm bay and stunning sunsets.

➡  Check prices for Stays Agnes HERE, or in 1770 HERE with Booking.com

On my own trips, I’ve stayed at Sandcastles 1770 Motel & Resort as well as the NRMA Agnes Water Holiday Park, and both were clean, comfortable, and perfectly located.

If you’re after something a little more upscale, Pavillions on 1770 is a beachfront apartment complex with spacious rooms, a pool, and direct access to Agnes Water Main Beach.

Another highly rated option is Edge on Beaches, which offers self-contained units just a short walk from the water, making it a great balance of convenience and value.

Other Things to do Nearby?

If you’re planning a trip to Queensland’s Discovery Coast, you’ll love the relaxed charm of Agnes Water & 1770, two small towns packed with big adventures. Below are some of the best things to do in Agnes Water & 1770:

• Surf Lessons – Agnes Water is the most northern surf beach on the east coast, and its gentle waves make it perfect for beginners.
• Lady Musgrave Island Day Tours – Snorkel or dive the southern Great Barrier Reef with crystal-clear water, coral gardens, and colourful marine life.

• 1770 Sunset Watching – One of the few spots on the east coast where you can watch the sun set over the ocean, best enjoyed with a picnic or drink in hand.
• Paperbark Forest Walk – A short but magical trail through a dense forest of towering paperbark trees and steppingstone paths.

• Red Rock Walking Trail – A two-hour coastal hike with stunning views, rock formations, and the chance to spot turtles or dolphins offshore.
• Bustard Bay Lookout – A short walk that rewards you with panoramic views over the bay, plus the historic Russell Anchor nearby.

• 1770 Headland & Rock Fishing – Try your luck catching bream, tailor, or mackerel, or simply enjoy the rugged coastal scenery.
• Workman’s Beach Lookout Walk – A quick, free loop trail leading to a scenic lookout with views of one of Agnes Water’s most beautiful beaches.
• Chinamans Beach – A quiet, unpatrolled swimming spot where you can relax, fish, or explore rock pools in peace.

Wrap up!

Thanks for reading this blog post today on my Review of the 1770 LARC tours in 1770/Agnes Water. I hope you found the information you were looking for, but if you’re still researching, please locate more Queensland tips and tricks HERE for inspiration and planned.

• Things to see on a Brisbane to Cairns Road trip
• Things to do in Rainbow Beach
• Best Place to Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
• Is Bundaberg Worth visiting & the best things to do?
• Exposing the Downsides to a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Tour
• Tips to know BEFORE planning a Queensland Road Trip
• Carnival Encounter Cruise Review & Best Tips
• Reasons Yeppoon is Worth Visiting?