Australian, US and Japanese military forces have successfully landed the largest beach Australian-led invasion since World War II. This time though, it is a drill.

Key points: The amphibious landing in Shoalwater Bay has been 18 months in the pipeline and is the largest the Talisman Sabre exercise has seen

The amphibious landing in Shoalwater Bay has been 18 months in the pipeline and is the largest the Talisman Sabre exercise has seen This year hosts the most countries ever to participate in the task, and a first for Japanese troops

This year hosts the most countries ever to participate in the task, and a first for Japanese troops Beijing has dispatched a so-called spy ship to Queensland to monitor the joint military exercises

Around 34,000 troops are playing out high-end war games for Talisman Sabre, a biennial training exercise between the Australian and US armies.

The exercise stretches 1,500 kilometres along the Queensland and New South Wales coasts, but the majority of training is at Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland.

While the event has drawn attention from a Chinese spy ship watching on, the troops are getting on with the drill.

Exercise director Commodore Allison Norris said an Australian Army troop from Queensland was acting as the enemy and spent the last few days setting up on the ground.

"We have forces pre-positioned so both blue and red … have a destination and a target they need to meet," she said.

"Blue force will be trying to manoeuvre through Legais, which is our fictitious ally, and the red force brigade will be trying to stop them from achieving their outcome."

While the Queensland troop is holding its ground, another combined force aims to take it.

"We have an enemy force that's occupied the area, which is called Legais," Australian Major General Jake Ellwood said.

"Once we've secured the beach and they expand a little further out we will then bring on follow-on forces, and we'll then conduct joint land combat to clear the enemy out of the area."

Major General Ellwood said working against an enemy was crucial to the exercise.

Australian, US and Japanese troops 'invaded' Stanage Bay as part of an amphibious landing exercise for Talisman Sabre. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

"It provides a scenario where our soldiers, sailors, air men and women have to contemplate complex issues," he said.

"Doing this without enemy is difficult and doing it with it combating against you is much more difficult so it's really important to have all aspects covered."

Exercise strengthens alliance forces for real deal

The amphibious landing has been 18 months in the pipeline and is the largest the exercise has seen with more than 2,000 personnel descending upon the shores of Stanage Bay.

Amphibious assault vehicles were used in a beach attack as part of Australian US military training exercise Talisman Sabre. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

It hosts the most countries ever to participate in the task, and a first for Japanese troops. British and New Zealand troops are also taking part.

"It's the first time we've put them together with the US and Australia in the same amphibious objective area," US Marine Colonel Matthew Sieber said.

The aim, he said, is "to walk away having strengthened that relationship and to demonstrate to our would-be partners or adversaries the strength of that alliance".

"What we're trying to look at is combat readiness and interoperability between the coalition forces," the US Marine Colonel said.

34,000 troops from six countries are taking part Talisman Sabre, the largest military training exercise in the Pacific. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

Local residents play spectator to exercise

Private land at Stanage Bay is being used for the war games during Talisman Sabre.

Ivonne and Fred Burns own the beach used in an amphibious landing for Talisman Sabre and watched the exercise. ( ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee )

Ivonne and Fred Burns own the beach and some of the land used for the amphibious landing and invited their friends and family over to watch the exercise play out.

Sprawled across their backyard were about 30 people sunning themselves on deck chairs, watching the military vehicles land on the shore and make their way up the beach.

"It's incredible just to watch it all … to see it all happening before your eyes, in your own backyard," Ms Burns said.

"We're just so happy to be able to facilitate some of their war games."

Editor's note 18/07/2019: This story has been updated from its original publication date of 17/07/2019 to include new information about the exercise.