BOWEN & COLLINSVILLE TOURIST GUIDE AND HOLIDAY PLANNER 2019/2020 www.tourismbowen.com.au Whitsunday Coast Airport The Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef DRIVE Townsville Bowen Hydeaway Bay Hayman Island Daydream Island Airlie Beach PORT OF AIRLIE G FERRY Cairns R Hamilton Island E TERMINAL HTI A Proserpine T Long Townsville B A Island R WCA R Whitsunday I E R Collinsville Coast Airport R E E Mackay F DRIVE TIMES FROM WHITSUNDAY COAST AIRPORT (WCA) 1.5 Hrs • WCA - Airlie Beach: 30 mins • WCA - Port of Airlie Ferry Terminal: 35 mins • Port of Airlie Ferry Terminal - Hamilton Island: 55 mins on ferry • WCA - Bowen: 56 mins Brisbane • WCA - Collinsville: 1 hr 56 mins • WCA - Townsville: 3 hrs • WCA - Mackay: 1.5 hrs 2 Hrs 20 Min Sydney Lascelles Avenue, Proserpine QLD 4800 3 Hrs FLY 07 4945 0278 Melbourne Find us on Facebook! Gateway to the Whitsunday Region 8354 - Whitsunday Guide 2018/19.indd 66 10/10/18 2:56 pm Whitsunday Coast Airport 2 Things to do 25 Surrounding area of Bowen map TOWELCOME BOWEN & COLLINSVILLE 4 Beaches & Snorkelling 31 Harbour Map The Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef 6 Walks 32 Bowen Street Map 34 Farming Map As Mayor of the wonderful 8 Our Lookouts 45 Collinsville Street Map Whitsundays, I would like 9 Bowen’s Murals, Regions Quilt to welcome you to the Fishing region. 10 Our unique part of the 13 Feast for the Senses world offers a diverse range 16 Bird Watching of ocean and outback Bowen’s History experiences complemented 17 by many amazing local 18 STAY - Holidaying in Bowen is a unique experience events. 23 Whitsunday Day Trips I encourage you to make the most of your stay in 24 Bowen’s Industries DRIVE tropical and outback north Queensland. 25 All Roads Lead to Here Bowen and Collinsville communities have tremendous spirit and are rich with character and 26 Travel - Air, Rail & Coach services country town hospitality. 27 Health Services From Bowen’s breathtakingly beautiful beaches 29 Community Support and stunning inner reefs to Collinsville’s rural Pamper yourself landscapes and mining heritage, there are many 30 stories waiting to be uncovered! 35 A Scenic Tour Around Tropical Bowen The Bowen community is a proud town and is 36 Business Services Townsville Bowen Hydeaway Bay Hayman Island famous for its diverse industries - mining, fishing 38 Automotive Services and agriculture. Welcome to Collinsville Most visitors are unaware that the vast majority of 40 fresh produce they will consume during winter is 46 Bowen and Collinsville Listings • Jack Collins Daydream Island produced on farms in the Bowen/Gumlu region - paddleboard or kayak at Gray’s Bay, take a sunset Airlie Beach PORT of Bowen, is a popular RV destination as visitors OF AIRLIE the nation’s largest winter growing district. stroll along Queen’s Beach or run with your dogs G FERRY Cairns R Hamilton Island explore the area and discover our rich mining E TERMINAL HTI along King’s Beach. A Proserpine Bowen is most famous for being the birthplace T Long heritage, uncovering tales of the good times, as Townsville B of the Kensington Pride Mango and the popular Situated on a dramatic coastline overlooking A Island well as struggle and strife. R WCA R2E2. The ‘BIG MANGO’ structure was erected the top of the Whitsunday Islands, Bowen hosts R Whitsunday I E Collinsville is the ‘Pit Pony Capital of Australia’ R Collinsville on the 25th May, 2002 to acknowledge and impressive walking trails and lookouts. Head Coast Airport R with the Pit Pony Experience and local murals E consolidate the association the area has with the to Horseshoe Bay and walk the coastal trail or E Mackay F recounting their unique history. fruit. drive to the top of Flagstaff Hill to take in the The Coalface Museum highlights the perils of the DRIVE TIMES FROM WHITSUNDAY COAST AIRPORT (WCA) More than 70 per cent of all tomatoes and magnificent 360-degree views including our 1.5 Hrs mining industry and pays a poignant tribute to • WCA - Airlie Beach: 30 mins capsicums grown in Australia during September historic lighthouse on North Head Island. Keep an • WCA - Port of Airlie Ferry Terminal: 35 mins eye out during winter as whales make their way the miners who lost their lives on the 13th October, • Port of Airlie Ferry Terminal - Hamilton Island: 55 mins on ferry and October come from our area and other crops • WCA - Bowen: 56 mins along the Queensland coast. 1954. Brisbane include eggplants, chillies, zucchinis, squash, • WCA - Collinsville: 1 hr 56 mins With a myriad of experiences awaiting you, your • WCA - Townsville: 3 hrs beans, corn, pumpkins and cucumbers. Bowen also has a rich and interesting history, Bowen and Collinsville experience is sure to create • WCA - Mackay: 1.5 hrs Bowen is also renowned for its award-winning depicted in murals throughout the town with the life-long memories. beaches. Take the opportunity to experience feature mural on the Bowen Water Reservoir a 2 Hrs 20 Min beautiful corals and fish while snorkelling at standout. Mayor Andrew Willcox Horseshoe Bay or Rose Bay, go for a stand-up The coal mining town of Collinsville, 85km west We hope you enjoy your visit! Sydney Lascelles Avenue, Proserpine QLD 4800 3 Hrs For more information contact FLY 07 4945 0278 Bowen Visitor Information Centre Melbourne Find us on Facebook! CENTRE Bruce Highway, Mt Gordon Phone +61 7 4786 4222 Email [email protected] DOWNLOAD BOWEN’S The Official Tourism BOOTH Santa Barbara Parade, Bowen FREE APP Organisation Marketing Bowen or write to Bowen Tourism and Business PO Box 810, Bowen Qld 4805 www.tourismbowen.com.au This is a “Bowen Independent” (ABN 64 009 655 690) publication printed and produced for the promotion of the Bowen Region with the assistance of the Whitsunday Regional Council and Bowen Tourism and Business. Cover Photo - Mark Fitz Photography Gateway to the Whitsunday Region WWW.TOURISMBOWEN.COM.AU 1 8354 - Whitsunday Guide 2018/19.indd 66 10/10/18 2:56 pm THINGS TO DO • June Kirk MAJOR EVENTS WHITSUNDAY BOWEN SUPERBOATS FESTIVAL OF MOTORING JULY 19TH-21ST MAY 3RD TO MAY 5TH Bowen will again host the Offshore The Rally Whitsundays promoted Superboat Championships – aka the by Whitsunday Sporting Car Club ‘Fastest Sport on No Wheels’ in 2019. and Round 1 of the 2019 CAMS The Superboat Street Fest will be a Queensland Rally Championship will highlight of the weekend on Saturday be contested on Saturday 4 May 2019 night. Saturday and Sunday the on shire roads, private property and Superboats will battle it out on the within the township of Bowen. Across beautiful Edgecumbe Bay, with great the weekend take in Music, live acts viewing from along the foreshore and Classic Car Parades, Displays and surrounds. Show and Shines and more. • B. Kwaak BOWEN’S BOWEN RIVER RODEO WALK TO THE LIGHTHOUSE AND CAMPDRAFT AUGUST 31ST Once you return to the mainland, 7TH-9TH JUNE The North Head Lighthouse is one join the festivities as the sun sets and The Bowen River Rodeo and of the oldest in Queensland and is raise a toast to celebrate our nature, Campdraft is held annually on the connected to the mainland by a sand history and community. long weekend in June at the rodeo bar, which during the lowest winter grounds behind the Bowen River tides becomes exposed enough for BOWEN FAMILY Hotel. Campsites are available over the annual ‘Walk to the Lighthouse’. FISHING CLASSIC the weekend & there is also plenty of While your feet may get a little SEPTEMBER 21 & 22 live entertainment. wet (wear reef shoes!) you will be The Bowen Family Fishing Classic amazed by the abundance of sea life and Wet Weekend is held every THE BOWEN SHOW in the shallows. Stroll past giant red year on the first weekend of the JUNE 25TH starfish, watch green sea turtles dart September School Holidays. Top All the fun of the fair with rides and away across the sea grass beds and entertainment, family fun and great entertainment plus exhibits of local feather stars uncurling and crawling prizes to be won! produce, cattle, cooking, arts and away. Keep an eye on the horizon, as crafts. migrating whales often breach in the surrounding seas. 2 DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOWEN TOP OF THE WHITSUNDAYS APP Get Outside No matter when you visit, Bowen has outdoor activities for BEACHES, everyone. Beaches are ‘our thing’ – Bowen is a beach-lovers paradise FISHING, with more than 8 amazing beaches SNORKEL, to explore. Snorkelling is a delight, with fringing coral reef found WALKS, straight off our mainland beaches. SAILING Anglers have the choice of reef, beach, estuary and deep-water fishing year-round. and character is likewise a draw card There are many different walks on for keen photographers and is quickly offer, from sandy beaches to trails becoming an Instagram favourite - with elevations that take in views of #visitbowen the bays, to a stroll around a botanical garden enjoying abundant flora and DINING & SHOPPING fauna. The food bowl of the north delivers wonderful fresh produce. Sampling Bowen is beautiful from the ground, is as easy as visiting the range of but even more amazing from above restaurants, pubs and cafes, all – get a thrill and stunning views with in excellent locations most just a skydive over paradise and land on a few minutes’ walk from your sweeping Queens Beach. Discover accommodation. A wander through Bowen’s coastline, scenic islands the main business centre uncovers and hidden beach resorts with a not only great local shopping but also day trip charter or take a ride on a a history lesson as told through the sailing yacht and discover the rich town’s murals! sailing heritage of the region with free Saturday Twilight Sailing at The North GOLF, TENNIS, BOWLS Queensland Cruising Yacht Club.