Bowen is about 45 minutes drive north of Airlie Beach and Proserpine in the Whitsundays Coast. Bowen is famous for it's mangoes, a wonderfull fruit that almost everyone loves !

Unfortunately, the mangoes are only in season for a short time once a year, but this does open the employment opportunities for travellers wanting to pick up a little extra cash fruit picking. Bowen is more a working town and is a little off the usual 'backpacker' travel plans, which is a shame. The town has some very pretty areas and presents more of the Australian culture than you'll find in most 'resort' towns

Bowen actually hides some of the Whitsundays most beautiful Mainland Beaches. Places like Rose Bay and Queens Beach are stunning beaches and rarely crowded. The beaches are safe for swimming all year round (With the right protection and attention paid to the normal 'nasties of the sea', and particularly 'Stinger Season'). No surf here though ! As with all beaches within the Great Barrier Reef, surf is non existent. Here we dive, snorkel and laze around !