Bowen Queensland is a relaxing beach town at the top of the Whitsundays, known for growing most of the mangos Australia consumes. Bowen is truly a hidden gem in Queensland. Not many tourists stop here, which makes it feel like you’ve stumbled on a secret paradise.
To be honest, 24 hours in Bowen is all you need to see everything in this sleepy town; however, we definitely could have stayed a couple more days to soak in all the relaxing beach vibes! But if you only have a day in Bowen Queensland, follow this itinerary to make the most out of your time here. I cover what to do in Bowen, where to eat, and where to stay, plus much more.
Where is Bowen Queensland
Bowen is located along the east coast of Australia, in Queensland, about 2 hours south of Townsville or 1-hour north of Airlie Beach. Because it’s so close to Airlie Beach, it’s the perfect place to head for 24 hours after 4-days sailing the Whitsundays.
How to Get to Bowen Queensland
To get to here, most people fly into Proserpine Airport and then drive up to Bowen.
In order to get from the airport to Bowen, I would personally recommend renting a car from Proserpine. This way you can stop at beaches or waterfalls along the way! Also, having a car will make it easier to get around Bowen. However, if you don’t want to drive, you can book a transfer or hop on the Greyhound Bus to get you to Bowen without any stress.
Where to Stay: Bowen Accommodation
If you are coming spending 24 hours in Bowen be sure to stay at the Rose Bay Resort. It’s one of the few hotels in the area that’s located right beside the beach, treating you to epic views right from your room. Plus, their rooms are spacious with a dining table, a large bathroom and a kitchenette if you plan to stay for a while. I highly recommend it!
24 Hours in Bowen Queensland
Alright, let’s get into the good stuff – all there is to see and do in Bowen Queensland. We start our itinerary in the afternoon, as we came up to Bowen after disembarking our Whitsunday sailing trip. But depending on your travel plans you can change this itinerary around to suit your time frame.
2:00 PM – The Big Mango
First stop in Bowen, the BIG Mango! If you love all the ‘big things’ across Australia, be sure to stop at the Big Mango for a classic photo-opt. Plus, they even sell mango sorbet (and mangos when they’re in season) in the Visitor Center!
3:00 PM – Horseshoe Bay Beach & Lookout
After checking into our hotel, we headed to Bowen’s most famous beach, Horseshoe Bay! Horseshoe Bay is listed as one of Australia’s top beaches in the country, and I can see why. It’s a calm bay lined with massive boulders and palm trees swaying in the breeze was as pretty as a postcard. And it’s so peaceful! When we first arrived I started whispering to our friends without even realizing it, because it was so calm and quiet.
Before you sit down to relax, be sure to hike up to the Horseshoe Bay lookout. There are some stairs, but overall it’s an easy 30-minutes return walk. And at the top, you’ll be spoiled with stunning views of the area. After you’ve worked up a sweat, come back down to the beach to swim and snorkel the bay. Apparently, there are underwater sculptures below the sea. Unfortunately, we missed it, but we did see some beautiful fish and the water was SO clear!
If you are limited on time and only have one thing you can do in Bowen, make sure it’s this. The views and beach at Horseshoe Bay are a highlight in the area!
Read Next: The Best 3-Day Magnetic Island Travel Guide
5:00 PM – Watch Sunset
Since we visited during the winter months, we headed to Lion’s Park around 5:00 PM. Of course, if you visit in the summer months, you’ll have to adapt this timeline a bit, depending on when the sun goes down.
Lion’s Park is located right on the shoreline, so we sat on a rock with some cold beers and nibbles while we watched the sun sink behind the mountains.
One thing I noticed in this town, was how many picnic tables and benches there were near any park or beach. Clearly Bowen knows their visitors and helps them comfortably enjoy all their beautiful views.
7:00 PM – Dinner in Bowen
That evening we were spoiled with some of the best fish & chips we’ve ever eaten from Bird’s Fish Bar! We grabbed it for takeout (due to COVID regulations at the time), but if you can, I highly suggest sitting on the back patio. Out here you can watch the fishing boats roll in and deliver their catches of the day! This is a sure sign that this restaurant has some of the freshest seafood around. If there is one place you eat at in Bowen, make it Bird’s Fish Bar. This restaurant is truly a hidden gem in Queensland.
9:00 PM – Cards, Read & Bedtime
After dinner, we came back to Rose Bay Resort and played a couple of games of Monopoly Deal, a new card version of the old game that takes 20-minutes to play. Needless to say, we’re absolutely hooked and love it for travelling or a relaxed night in.
After a couple of games of cards and reading a chapter of my book, it was time for bed. And with belly’s full and the soothing sound of waves lapping against the shore, we fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
Morning in Bowen Queensland
6:00 AM – Sunrise
The next morning we rolled out of bed and watched a spectacular sunrise right from our hotel balcony. I’m not an early riser, but because of the incredible view from our hotel patio, I knew the early wake-up call would be worth it. So I set an alarm for 6 am, and went out to watch the sunrise in my pyjamas. I have to admit, there is something so peaceful and rewarding about getting up for sunrise, that it makes me want to be more of a morning person. But since I’m unfortunately not, after the sun came up, I dove back into our warm bed for another hour of sleep before officially waking up for the day!
8:00 AM – Coffee at the Beach
After getting out of bed for the second time, we made up some coffee in our room and brought it down to enjoy at Rose Bay Beach. This was followed by a refreshing dip in the ocean and a quick walk across the bay. What a fantastic way to start the day!
Since checkout was at 10 am, we headed back to our room to shower and pack up.
9:00 AM – Breakfast
By now, our tummies were starting to rumble, so we drove to the adorable ‘Le Sorelle Sisters Cafe’. I ordered the eggs benny wrap and a flat white. Ben got the eggs and bacon wrap, and my friend Danielle got a classic avocado toast. We all agreed the food was sensational. They also have incredible fudge. So if you go, be sure to try some!
10:00 AM – Travel Home
Depending on your travel plans, this is when our 24-hours in Bowen wraps up. This is when you drive home, to the airport. Or follow in our footsteps and drive 2-hours to Magnetic Island for more fun!
My Advice if you Go to Bowen Queensland
Spend an extra day in Bowen relaxing at their beautiful beaches, reading a book, snorkelling the calm bays, and chilling out. Although we saw everything we came for, after 24 hours in Bowen we realized we could have easily stayed longer and explored more of its beautiful beaches and coastline. Plus, if you stay a couple more days you’ll return home feeling rejuvenated and not exhausted from your holiday.
Have More Time?
After this trip, we continued driving up the coast for 2-hours toward Townsville to spend two nights on Magnetic Island. If you are interested to see what there is to see and do in Townsville and on Magnetic Island, read my blog post here.
Shop my Bowen Packing List
Hope you guys enjoyed this itinerary for 24 hours in Bowen! If you use it, please make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you enjoyed most.
Read Next:
3-Day Itinerary Sailing the Whitsundays
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