Bowen - Thurs 19th to Sun 22nd November.

Prior to reaching Bowen we did spend two nights in Townsville. We weren't doing the tourist thing, just shopping for needed camping equipment and making some essential repairs.


The pace of living is so much slower here at Bowen, more to our liking. The Tropical Beach CP had been recommended to us but when we arrived there we were greeted with a strong odour emanating from the sea. We moved on to The Harbour Lights CP directly opposite the Boat Harbour. We later learned that the foul odour we encountered on our arrival was from coral spawn. The spawn was clearly evident in the water and currents carried it away by the next day.

You can just make out the coral spawn in this shot from Flagstaff Hill. Look from the left point of the island back towards the mainland.

From the same vantage point, Bowen Town looking over the boat harbour.

Next visit we will stay in either Horseshoe Bay CP or Wangaratta CP which are located either end of Queens Bay.

This is Queens Beach looking around Queens Bay towards Horseshoe Bay at the far end. Wangaratta CP is located here in Queens Beach.

Some of the park alongside Queens Beach.

Sunday Market at Queens Bay, 2nd and 4th Sundays each month.

The fishing must be OK here as there are many boats going out from the harbour. The boat ramp is visible from our camp site. The foreshore in the town area has been newly redeveloped since we were here last at a cost of $11.4 million and in fact was only officially opened the weekend prior to our arrival.

View to the south of Port Denison.

View back towards Boat Harbour.

A memorial to the Catalina  Squadrons that were based here during WW 11.

Memorials to all theatres of war that Australian Servicemen and Women went to and did not return.

Also part of the development is this Visitor Information Centre and behind it a Sound Shell.

This weekend the foreshore development has been hugely popular with many families pic-nicing and having BBQs over the Saturday and Sunday.

Another great area in town is Mullers Lagoon. The parkland is 23 hectares in total with half that area taken by the lagoon.

Mullers Lagoon is centrally located in Bowen with residences evident here.