Located just ten kilometres from the Town of 1770, one and a half hours drive north from Bundaberg, the region marks Captain Cook's first landfall on Queensland shores on his journey of discovery in May 1770.

1770 and its neighbouring Agnes Water have been well-guarded hideaways for fishermen and surfers for a number of years.  One of Sunrise at 1770's six pristine beaches, Springs Beach is known to local surfers as being the last north facing surf break on Australia's east coast, with Queensland's remaining northern coastline protected by the Great Barrier Reef National Park.

Before the site was earmarked for Australia 's leading ecologically sustainable coastal development, the land had a sand mining lease assigned to it.  In an Australian first, the sand mining leases were sterilised to enable the site to be protected and conserved in perpetuity.  Rather than being mined, the land now houses a planned coastal community development with the gentlest ecological footprint on the whole of Australia's east coast through embracing ecologically sustainable development (ESD) practices.

A gentle ecological footprint means that the development will consume the least possible amount of resources in building and the least possible material resources to maintain it. 

The only footprints visible at Sunrise will be the ones made in the sand.