Despite not being a particularly large town, Bowen has plenty to offer when it comes to eating and drinking. Our first port of call in the morning is usually Meraki Whitsundays for a coffee and if we’re feeling peckish some breakfast from their menu which ranges breakfast classics through to more inventive options. A short walk from the park you’ll find the Queens Beach Hotel, a quintessential coastal Australian pub that is a great spot for a cold drink with a view and also serves up consistent pub fare. The Cove Restaurant is our favourite place for a meal out and has incredible views over the Coral Sea. It’s open for both lunch and dinner as well as operating as a bar, and the menu is made up of Chinese classics.

Bowen has several beaches, each having their own unique charm or attraction. Whilst Queens Beach directly out the front of the Park is great for a swim, our favourite spot is Horseshoe Bay. It has turquoise waters and coral gardens that are easy to swim to, giving it the feel of a nearby Whitsunday Island whilst still being on the mainland. Given its protected location, the still waters are also perfect for Kayaks and SUPs. As we always note in these tropical locations, be careful of stingers, in this case the season is November to May. For some dry-land activity, we highly recommended the Cape Edgecumbe Walking Trail which runs for 2.5 km between Horseshoe Bay and Rose Bay and takes in some spectacular views. Thanks to the varying orientations of each of the beaches in Bowen, there’s spectacular sunrises and sunsets to be had. If you are up early, the sunrise over the ocean at Rose Bay is one of the best we’ve seen. One of the great Australian tourist pastimes is capturing a photo with one of our many “big” things, and at the Bowen Information Centre you’ll find the iconic 10m tall Big Mango.

The park has a beautiful location on Queens Beach, but the township of Bowen where the majority of shops are is roughly 3.5 km away. It’s an easy walk, bike or drive.