STAY & PLAY
Stay & Play in Bowen, The Whitsundays!
Welcome to Bowen, The Whitsundays, located in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Our region offers the very best holiday experience you can find; from action-packed family adventures and island hopping to barefoot walks on Bowen’s beautiful beaches, diving into the tropical ocean or sailing the 74 island wonders, The Whitsundays is a truly diverse destination.
Tick off the bucket list and take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach. Explore the world-famous Whitsunday Islands on anything from a thrilling jet-ski to a classic sailing vessel enriched with old-world charm. Go on a day tour, or better yet, head for the horizon and sleep under the stars either on an overnight sailing expedition, island camping adventure or on the reef at the floating Reefworld Pontoon. Immerse yourself in the pristine environment, walk the great trails in the national parks and soak up ancient indigenous heritage.
Not to be missed is the myriad of mainland experiences in The Whitsundays. Explore the tropical resort town of Airlie Beach, with its great range of dining and activities. Discover Bowen, home to the most incredible beaches where you can snorkel straight off the bay! Or enjoy country hospitality in the quaint hinterland villages of Collinsville and Proserpine.
Bowen is the northern jewel in The Whitsundays’ crown, located on the shores of Edgecumbe Bay, 45 minutes north of Airlie Beach.
This picturesque seaside town is a relaxed beachcomber’s paradise with award-winning, palm-fringed beaches, beautiful bays and a warm tropical climate.
Largely undiscovered, Bowen offers accommodation ranging from backpackers and caravan parks to 4-star absolute beachfront apartments.
Home to eight incredible beaches surrounding the town, some offering the best walking tracks, and stunning fringing coral reefs, perfect for snorkelling, just a few metres offshore.
How to get here:
By Road –
Bowen, with its beautiful beaches and fringing reefs is an easy 5-minute detour from Queensland’s East Coast drive route, the Bruce Highway (A1). It is 200km south of Townsville and 200km north of Mackay.
By Air –
Access Bowen by air via the Whitsunday Coast Airport located at Proserpine, with direct regular flights from Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney. From the Whitsunday Coast Airport to Bowen is a 1 hour 15 minute drive; hire a car for the short journey or book a transfer via bus charter.
Accommodation:
From self-contained units perfect for families, easy motels, action-packed holiday and caravan parks to luxury resorts and apartments, Bowen offers a collection of holiday accommodation to suit everyone’s needs.
Search by location or type of accommodation on the Tourism Bowen website.
Things to Do:
Bowen is a natural playground of stunning, reef-fringed beaches, outdoor and wildlife adventures, a patchwork of history and heritage and a little bit of outback heart.
Spend hours enjoying the beach and exploring the famed granite outcrops of Horseshoe and Rose Bay or make your way to Kings Beach to experience views over Gloucester, Middle and Stone Islands. Check out Queens Beach for a leisure stroll, at 5km it is the longest beach in Bowen.
One of the best ways to explore Bowen’s attractions and coastal scenery is via the many beautiful walking tracks and lookouts. From the wheelchair and stroller friendly track of Hanson Park to Horseshoe Bay, to the Cape Edgecumbe Walking Trail nature lovers will be impressed by postcard-worthy lookout views of the bays and beaches, whilst having the opportunity to see native wildlife up close.
Check out our Stories for lists of some of our favourite things to do or search through Bowen Tourism’s See and Do page to create an itinerary all of your own.
Be inspired to stay & explore The Whitsundays!
