Moving to Bowen QLD??

I've spent a couple of weeks there and it's a great place, at least during the "Dry" I hear it's the wettest place in Aus.

There is some extra reading for you here from the locals.

Living in Bowen

G'Day Phil,
If you have a 4x4 there is some great 4wd tracks in the mountains a bit inland from there.
Eungulla NP & Finch Hatton has some nice walks & some formal camp areas if your into that.
If your into overnight walks then the THORSBORNE track on Hinchinbrook Island is great. Only 32 km long but we took a planned 7 days & did lots of great side trips which made the trip really enjoyable. It's a few hundred kays to the Island from Bowen but well worth it if you get some time off.
Enjoy

Cheers
Stu

We've only been visitors there on two occasions but we really liked it.

Great little harbour if you're in to boating.

Gossip last visit was that big things were planned for the port, I guess that's why you're going there.

Phiol,
I just drove threw Bowan this morning and have spent a bit of time there.

Will answer with short sentences.
Fishing and Harbour - Good.

Town - Clean and tidy with some great murals.

Beaches - Good with Horseshoe baty being the pick. Swimming there all year
round is the norm. Lovely bay.
Four wheel driving. Good. Many areas to go from there.

River. The Don has flowed all year for the last 2 years but is normally dry after
the wet. In folood it is the fastest flowing river in Australia due to the
amount of fall.

Ocean. Water is blue all year round unless a big blow is encounted. Also has a good marina and yacht club.

Temps. Hot in summer and great in winter.

Council. Good.

Large supermarket - yes

Hope you enjoy Bowen,
RA.

Hi All

Thanks for all your info. Yes im a boatie, yes ive got a 4x4 and a caravan, so it sounds like paradise. Were getting out of hedland as the realestate advised the rent will go up at the end of our lease to $2500/wk with 6 monthly rises. The most expensive ive seen is $3200/wk. This joint is a joke!!!

Now just to convince the Tug company in Bowen that they need more skippers!!

regards
Phil

Living just down the road in the whitsundays, Bowen is another small town we visit often (as it has the closest Cinema to the main Whitsundays other than Mackay in the other direction for school holiday entertainment lol).

Bowen is a town that is still finding itself IMO as it is feeling the mining rental impact being so close to Abbot Point and the mines at Collinsville etc. It is an old town that is being developed over time with good parks, good beaches (though very different to what southerners are used to).

The climate is one of the best for a tropical environment imo as it very pleasant in winter and bearable in summer.

You can swim at the beaches though it is stinger environment (as is all of NQ). Shopping is on par with a small town (10000+), with limited facilities for furniture, electrical clothing etc. With Townsville a 2 hour drive up the road, or Mackay 2 hours south, shopping can be achievable.

I find the town "old" though that is just my opinion.

Go for a google "streetview" drive through the town to check it out ;)

Hope that helps.

Andrew

Probably the biggest thing you would notice compared to Port Headland are the better facilities with two 80 000+ population towns about 2 hours either side of it.
It probably has a far more permanent population than Port Headland and perhaps a greater community feel to it.
Not sure of the boating conditions at Port Headland, but the large tidal range at Bowen, tidal currents combined with strong trade winds in winter can make for rough going for power boats. Wonderful sailing conditions though provided your yacht is 30ft or more.

Hey,

Hedland is a big town.
Small towns dont have Maccas, Kmart or Harvey Norman.

Have fun