The Pretty Seaside Town of Bowen

DRIVE: Airlie Beach to Bowen via Hydeaway Bay (132km)

Today we have a leisurely pack up after spending 9 nights at Big 4 Whitsunday Tropical Eco Resort, Airlie. Sad to be leaving as this has been the best caravan park we have stayed at and it’s been a relaxing and peaceful tropical oasis.

It’s always exciting to be moving on though so that we can explore a new destination. We detour to Hydeaway Bay which is a short hop up the coast from Airlie. Hydeaway Bay is picturesque and looks out to the Whitsundays. Most of the properties here are beach houses with great views of the ocean although it does have a caravan park named “Hideaway Caravan Park” with an i, not a y. In fact, there is some dispute over the spelling of the name and the locals insist Hydeaway with a ‘y’ is historically correct.

Further up the coast is the pretty seaside town of Bowen. Looking on my weather report, it’s 28 degrees and sunny here all week long although there are welcome signs that the breeze is cooling the humidity down as winter slowly approaches. Not to worry, winter is a cool 26-27 degrees up here so we are timing our trip to enjoy a change in season.

CAMP: NRMA Bowen Beach Front Caravan Park.
We had pre booked a beach front site a long time ago so that we can chill for 4 days and Bowen seems like the perfect place for it as we look out over Queens Beach.

Bowen is renowned for its award winning beaches and close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also known as the salad bowl of Australia due to its diversity of crops and fresh produce. Home to the Kensington Pride Mango, we passed “The Big Mango” on our way into the town.

Swiftly set up, (we are experts after 58 days), we grab our neglected bikes, not used them for a while and take a relaxing bike ride following the shoreline pathway to Horseshoe Bay catching the sea breeze on the way. No awards for working out why it’s called Horseshoe Bay and we are pleasantly greeted by beige and orange rock formations and boulders surrounding a small but magnificently formed bay. The waves lap in to shore as we traverse some of the rock formations on the south side of the bay.

It’s a little blustery today but on a calm day, these waters are crystal blue with opportunity to snorkel so hopefully we will see the bay at its most vibrant.

We explore a bit and as super hero’s, ”The Un-Incedibles”, we find a large distressed boulder hanging from a ledge that is about to fall. We smell DANGER and quickly move in to support it from the effects of gravity. I have a go first but Jen finds the perfect hands free balancing trick to render the boulder safe... all in a days work and another lizard’s life saved.

Returning on the bike path to camp, it’s definitely time to put the feet up, chill out and watch another sunset. The simple things in life are the best so... sausages and red wine for dinner.Read more