Bowen & Airlie Beach, Queensland

Today was an early start - partly planned, mostly 'cos we were all up early. Chris was again the driver and we were heading to Bowen to visit the area that Lizi lived for 2 - 3 months when she was working on The Queensland music festival production, 'Behind the Cane'. We had a long drive as Bowen is situated 189 km north of Mackay. However, our cases etc were loaded into the car as we were coming back via Proserpine Airport in the evening, rather than Mackay, so Chris and Barbara would drop us off on the way home.
Bowen sits on a square peninsula, with the Coral Sea to the north, east, and south. To the south-east is Port Denison. On the western side, where the peninsula connects with the mainland, the Don River's alluvial plain provides fertile soil that supports a prosperous farming industry.
As you come into Bowen you come across The Big Mango - costing $90,000 to create, it was erected in 2002 as a tourist attraction at the Bowen Tourist Information Centre. In February 2014, the 10-metre high, seven-tonne fibreglass structure was stolen in an overnight operation. The mango was found the next day and it was later revealed that the theft had been a publicity stunt. There is now a second smaller Mango on the wharf by the outdoor stage that was given to Bowen by the publicity company after it's use for an advert in Sydney.
During World War 2 Bowen hosted an air force base, flying PBY Catalina flying boats to search for enemy ships and submarines. The concrete aprons and ramp are still present, and silhouettes of two aircraft have been painted in.
Bowen is on a peninsula, with ocean on three sides. This gives eight beaches surrounding the town, namely Kings Beach, Queens Beach, Horseshoe Bay, Murrays Bay, Greys Bay, Rose Bay, and the Front Beach. Kings Beach offers views of nearby Gloucester Island.
We drove round the bays and stopped at Horseshoe bay, a beautifully secluded bay with amenities and a cafe. We needed the space to stretch our legs and have a coffee.
In December 2006, it was announced that Bowen was chosen as a filming location for a third of the production of Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, portraying the look of Darwin. The production moved to Bowen on 14 May 2007.
When it was announced that Australia was to be filmed in Bowen, locals painted a large "Bowenwood" sign on an old water tank on top of a hill, in a parody of the world-famous Hollywood sign, which is still there.
The Pub / hotel used for the film is still there though has had a major makeover. The campsite and lagoon where she cycled to work were also seen and it was a 3 pelican day!
On the wharf we stood on the stage where the production took place, read the information on the filming of Australia and talked to the local tradies! The Pie shop that Lizi frequented that did the best pies was our lunchtime stop - Bowen specials with peas, Steak and Kidney with peas and a Jackman hunky beef pie for Sarah - this Lizi raved about.
After lunch it was on to Airlie beach, again a favourite of Lizi's. Barbara decided to go past and head to Shute Harbour first, so we went through Airlie and out the other side. Shute Harbour is a port facility for the transfer of visitors to the Whitsunday Islands and resort destinations. Unfortunately now that Airlie Port and the marina has taken a lot of its traffic it is looking a little dejected! It commands outstanding views from most locations. A selection of holiday homes, some quite posh and one small hotel situated right on the crest of a hill take in some of the best. These also took the brunt of the cyclone that visited the area - the hotel is now derelict and many of the beautiful houses are either damaged, derelict or being sold! There are though new houses also being built. The port is used to ship goods to the islands including building materials and machinery. The port was one of the busiest small vessel facilities in Australia, A public boat ramp is available, with limited trailer parking, for launching of small private vessels. The public fishing jetty is an excellent spot to dangle a line and try your luck at catching some of the famed tropical Whitsunday fish and squid species.
To get to Shute Harbour, we drove east for ten pleasantly winding kilometres through Conway National Park from Airlie Beach. after having a drive round this headland we headed back to spend time in Airlie. Airlie Beach is a tourist destination, popular with backpackers. Its beach is small and the sea is inhabited by marine stingers, the box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) from November to May. In order to provide somewhere for the visitors tourists to swim, the local council, has built a medium-sized swimming lagoon on the foreshore.
The Great Barrier Reef is somewhat accessible from Airlie Beach, with an array of different types of tours available. Majority of these tours depart from Abell Point Marina but a few depart from the recently completed Port of Airlie.
After having a wander around the shops and a cold drink, Trev and I walked around the headland to Abell point Marina via the Bicentennial Walkway to have a look at the yachts and boats moored there. On the way back a call from Barbara and Sarah alerted us to the fact that if we were ready to go earlier they were sitting in the cool by the lagoon. So on our return they suggested we might drive round to the marina before heading to Proserpine! Imagine their surprise when we said we had walked there. Anyway, Chris fancied seeing the boats so a quick drive and gaze at those in the marina was needed and then on to Proserpine for tea and a biscuit. Proserpine was named by the explorer George Dalrymple, after Persephone the Greek goddess of fertility, recognising the fertile qualities in the region. The town's Main Street is a reminder of how life used to be – particularly the 'art deco' period evident in the shop architecture which has been well preserved. Old-fashioned courtesies still survive in Proserpine, particularly at many of the charming retail outlets and country-style hotels, but NOT after 4.pm - it seems the main town closes at this point! We did notice a road sign to 'Colour me Crazy', which Barbara said she had been trying to get to for a while so we had a wander round this Alladin's cave of a store - large, colourful, packed with beads, clothes, unicorns, gems, dream-catchers and anything in between!
So, onto Proserpine airport and Barbara's navigation which Chris did not necessarily have faith in! We got there after waiting for a long train to cross our path and the distraction of a race track along the road to the airport. Chris was really pleased though because as we entered the airport grounds there were wallabies / kangaroos hopping around! Also Bunnies on their way home.
Thanks guys for a great holiday and tour of Mackay and its surrounding areas!Read more