Bowen

The Northern Jewel in The Whitsundays Crown

With award-winning, palm-fringed beaches, beautiful bays and a warm tropical climate, Bowen is situated on the shores of Edgecumbe Bay, 45 minutes north of Airlie Beach, this picturesque seaside town is a relaxed beachcomber’s paradise. Largely undiscovered, Bowen offers accommodation ranging from backpackers and caravan parks, to 4 star absolute beachfront apartments.

When heading north to Bowen, keep an eye out for the Big Mango, on the Bruce Highway just before you enter the town of Bowen. The Big Mango marks the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, a knowledgeable, friendly place to book all your Bowen accommodation and activities and an excellent source of information if you are planning to continue further north on your journey. Make sure to try out the local mango sorbet and grab your Big Mango souvenir along with your information.

Accommodation in Bowen

Things to Do

Accommodation

Getting to Bowen is Easy!

Situated halfway between the major North Queensland regional centres of Townsville, Bowen is an ideal stopover for travellers.

Drive

Bowen, with it's beautiful beaches and fringing reef are an easy 5 minute detour from Queensland's East Coast drive route, the Bruce Highway. Situated at the Top of the Whitsundays, halfway between the major North Queensland regional centres of Townsville, Bowen is an ideal stopover for travelers. Daytrips from Airlie Beach are a scenic 45-minute drive.

Click here for our drive itineraries which will give you the best tips for places to visit along the way.

Air

Access to Bowen by air via the Whitsunday Coast Airport located at Proserpine, with direct regular flights from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. From the airport to Bowen is a 50-minute drive; hire a car for the short journey or book a transfer via bus charter.

Train

People travelling south from Cairns and north from Brisbane to Bowen can take the ‘Spirit of Queensland’ train with services departing Brisbane and Cairns for Bowen several times weekly.

Bowen Beaches & Lookouts

Bowen is home to many the best beaches of The Whitsundays; eight incredible sandy tropical beaches surround the town, some with the best fringing reefs of the Queensland coast lying just a few metres offshore, the area attracts snorkellers and divers keen to explore the colourful coral gardens without the need to jump on-board a boat.

Spend hours enjoying the beach and exploring the famed granite outcrops of Horseshoe and Rose Bay, the Front Beach foreshore in Bowen has been developed with fun family activities in mind, the water park, and playgrounds are a favourite amongst visitors.

The top of Flagstaff Hill will offer panoramic 360-degree views across the surrounding bays, and some islands of The Whitsundays.

History & Heritage

Holding the title of North Queensland’s oldest town, Bowen has a long, colourful history. Officially declared a town in 1861, the region’s history predates that by many years. Aboriginal people inhabited the Bowen region long before the first white settlers sailed by.

Bowen Historical Museum is rated as one of the best museums in Queensland. The regions rich history starting with our traditional owners and the industrial growth is recorded here. Memorabilia and rare artifacts including shipwreck relics paint quite a story of the adventures of the town and its people. Follow the famous mural trail through this historic Queensland town, and visit the various locations used in the blockbuster Baz Luhrmann film ‘Australia’.

Fruits & Vegetables

The region is also known for its abundant fruit and vegetables. Nicknamed the ‘salad bowl of the north’, Bowen and the surrounding districts produce mangoes, tomatoes, corn, capsicum, melons, beans, pumpkin, and limes. There is also a plentiful supply of wild-caught seafood, available fresh every day off the boats as they come into the marina.