Townsville / Bowen Qld 19-21 August 2019

Townsville / Bowen Qld 19-21 August 2019

Two short-run days. One from South Mission Beach to Townsville, where we stayed at the Woodlands Big 4 overnight, right out on the northern fringe of town, and the second from Townsville to Bowen.

Our first stop out of South Mission Beach was Ingham, where we thought we might get a nice coffee overlooking the wetlands. The parking is near the info centre and you walk across bridges spanning the wetland to get to the cafe, but sadly the cafe has closed. We stopped on one bridge to look at the Lotus flowers and scan for birds, of which there were none other than the usual wetland varieties. What we did notice though was that as soon as you stopped on the bridge and looked down, turtles started coming straight toward you, from all over the pond, not one or two but 30 or 40! Obviously these are being fed by someone.

Judy trying to tickle a turtle. Ingham Qld

In Townsville, the park was deserted except for 'tradies' who have picked up work and need to stay, and longterm residents. The park itself has had heaps spent of facilities such as playgrounds, putt-putt, pools, water play areas and they were just putting in more 'drop' slides for the kiddies. We made the obligatory 20km trip over to The Strand, which is the jewel of Townsville, for a stroll and an ice-cream from Juliettes. We tossed up about going back to the park or having a drink and nibbles at Cbar, overlooking the water. No points for guessing where we spent the next hour, mostly watching the local hero on a kite-board, with winged keel.

Wave warrior with winged keel. Townsville Qld

The Woodland van park is right at the on-ramp to the fabulous Townsville By-pass, just pull out and get the hammer down and just 20km or so later you are leaving Townsville, south-bound on the mighty Bruce. But wait. Not so fast. Another 40km of roadworks later and you're finally under way. Going to be great when its done though.

We finally arrived in Bowen, which at first glance always looks deserted, and went straight through to the van park out on the Queens Beach in Greys Bay. We had walked through here last year and it was packed and so never really gave much thought to coming here this year. But as we have found on this trip, a lot of places seem to have vacancies where once they would have been full. Anyhow, our spot was the second row from the beach and the park itself was quiet and pleasant. In Bowen we did the usual round of tourist sights: Horseshoe Bay Beach, Kings Beach, Flagstaff Hill (where the 'interpretive centre and cafe' is still closed following cyclone damage years ago), Catalina Flying Boat base, museum, Woolies. Pretty intense. On the second day we wanted a swim so went to Horseshoe Bay, but the wind was up and howling straight in and up the beach, very unpleasant. We considered our next move over coffee. The obvious thing to do is drive the few hundred metres back around the headland and swim in the completely protected little beach everyone drives past on their way to the 'name' beach. And very pleasant it turned out as well, mind you the water was 'fresh'.

Looking south along Queens Beach from the Big4. Bowen Qld

Horseshoe Bay Beach. Bowen Qld

Early morning walk along Kings Beach. Bowen Qld