Bowen is a coastal town located on the northern end of the Whitsunday passage in beautiful tropical Far North Queensland.
It is a quiet and picturesque destination with lovely beaches and turquoise blue water. It is located approximately 2 hours drive south of Townsville and is affectionately known by locals as “Blowen Bowen” because it is always windy!!
The most reliable winds are from May to September when the trade winds blow predominantly from the SE & ESE however it tends to be windy here all year round. This is great for southerners who are dreaming of a warm sea breeze in the middle of the Aussie winter!
From November to March (summer) daily maximum averages are just over 30 deg C with nighttime average minimums around 24 deg C. In the cooler months average temps drop to around 25 deg C and nighttime average temps around 16 deg C.
Average water temps during summer reach nearly 29 deg C and during winter 22 deg C… so very nice all year round.
Sailing Spot Overview
During winter, the wind generally blows from the SE in the morning and then tends to shift more E after late morning to midday.
There is no large swell or waves here as it is inside the Great Barrier Reef and also protected by surrounding islands. The only waves are locally generated wind swell, chop &waves.
The Front Beach is a safe spot at high tide in a SE to SSE breeze (too much E and it can get a bit patchy). Most people sail here in the morning when it is predominately SE. The water is pretty shallow for a long way out so it is best suited to non-foiling windsurfers & kitesurfers. You can however foil here with a fairly long walk out.
The beautiful Queens Beach faces N to NE and works in any breeze from NW, N & NE (and E at the northern end of the beach at what is known as the “Big Black Pipe”) and offers flat water and small waves in clear blue water. The water depth drops off quickly so it is also ideal for foiling.
Kings Beach faces E is another good option for a SE breeze (with more S than E). There is a small shore break which can be fun for riding. It is suited to windsurfing, wing foiling & kitesurfing.
The Don River Mouth is a favourite for locals, particularly kitesurfers as the water tends to be quite shallow. It would be a great speed strip for windsurfers looking for very flat water. It works in a SE, SSE & E and also NE Breeze.
Bauer’s Landing is another top spot and ideal for those foilers in particular who want to ride the swell. It is also a great windsurfing spot with a perfectly clean cross-shore breeze in a SE. Kiting is possible here but it is more suited to wing foiling & windsurfing.
If you are an advanced windsurfer or kitesurfer, an excursion out to Stone Island (approx. 2 km off the mainland) is an option for the adventurous. The island is a sand cay and the water surrounding it is crystal clear and turquoise blue. It is no good for foiling as there are a lot of shallow reefs surrounding the island. It works in a SE, SSE breeze.
Potential Hazards
Like most beaches in Northern Queensland, there are a number of potential hazards including poisonous (and deadly) jelly fish (prevalent from Oct to end May), crocodiles & sharks (all year round but not quite as prevalent).
During the months of November to April (summer) it is recommended you wear a “stinger suit” which is a lightweight Lycra suit designed to protect you from poisonous jelly fish (which will also protect you from the sun). If only they made these suits to protect against sharks and crocs as well!
The other thing to watch out for here is huge turtles floundering around on the surface.
In general, all of the Bowen sailing spots feel relatively safe compared to many other Northern QLD spots.
Other Activities
Bowen really does have something for everyone with fabulous walking trails, scenic lookouts, sandy beaches (some quite secluded) and turquoise blue water. It is one of the few places in QLD where you can snorkel right from the beach.
Fishing is big in this area as are daily boat trips to the Whitsunday Islands.
If you are a golfer, there is a lovely golf course which runs along the foreshore of Queens Beach.
