Road Trip Diaries # 9 – Bowen: Murals, Beaches, Gray Nomads and Imelda Marcos
Horseshoe Bay
We checked out of Bowen Caravan Park first thing in the morning, as Charles didn’t want to linger there – although it wasn’t actually too bad, it wasn’t really a place you’d choose to hang out longer than you have to. So around 7:30 in the morning, right after packing up the camper van, we drove straight to Flagstaff Hill for a 360-degree view of “Bowenwood”, a monicker Bowen has been capitalizing on after parts of the movie “Australia” were shot here in lieu of Darwin. They even have a “Bowenwood” spelled out in large letters on a nearby hill, Hollywood style.
Brekky at Flagstaff Hill
The place is a typical small countryside town but it still boasts a nice bay walk near its Marina, a lagoon filled with birdlife and some nice beaches. Bowen isn’t like the usual touristy areas that people flock to in North Queensland, but it was on our way so we reckoned it was worth checking out the attractions it had to offer. A visit to its tourism office the previous day yielded an honest answer from the lady that there isn’t much to see in Bowen aside from what was already on our list.
The Marina
A stretch of beach viewed from Flagstaff Hill
The souvenir shop slash cafe
Butcher Bird
We had our breakfast on top of the hill overlooking a lighthouse in the middle of a small island. Cozy breakfast with a beautiful view minus the price of fancy hotels was one of the things I love about camper vanning. We spotted a few butcherbirds talking to each other in their melodious whistle, a stretch of beach and the beautiful harbour from the hill. From Flagstaff Hill, we stopped by the marina and walked along its wharf. It wasn’t a pretty sight at that time because it was a vast stretch of mud flat at low-tide so we set off to the main attraction of the town – Horseshoe Bay after quick stop here.
The use of the beach was free and the parking was free as well. I was glad that we didn’t skip this place. The beach at the touristy town of Airlie Beach was more packed with tourists but it wasn’t as nice as the beach here. Instead of beautifully tanned backpackers, the beach here was filled with gray nomads lazing on the beach and further wrinkling their skin. It had been windy for a couple of days previously and it was the first time the weather had been nice and sunny which probably brought everyone out from hibernation. But the water was still as cold as the water in the Whitsundays during our snorkelling.
Gray Nomads
I walked towards the end of the beach with an umbrella in one hand and a camera in the other and met some friendly gray nomads who had asked me if I was sick or something. They were curious perhaps why this crazy Asian was carrying an umbrella on the effin beach while they were freaking toasting themselves under the sun. I just told them “Oh I’m done with my tanning for now and I think it will last for a long time with a grin” and it brought a smile to everyone saying, “Lucky you, ours last for a few days only”.
Charles got his snorkel and braved the cold water. It was sunny and all but the water was still cold. I was expecting it to be warmer already since we were getting closer to the northern part of Queensland, which was more like Philippines in terms of temperature. True enough, a few minutes of swimming and Charles was lying on the sand defrosting himself. Not a very encouraging sight for me to brave the waters. Whiling away time under the tree, I met a Kiwi couple who was having breakfast by the beach. They were also on a few months road trip around Australia and just stopping for a side-trip at Bowen.
Of all the people who would make an impression on them, it was Imelda who came to their mind when they learned I was a Pinay. Brilliant isn’t it? And they have heard about the damn shoes too!
The Kiwi couple
After a while, we climbed up the Rotary Lookout through a well-established trail passing some interesting rock formations. A few minutes of walk and the amazing view of Horseshoe Bay unfolded in front of us. It looks spectacular from the lookout. The stretch of the sand was now filled with more sun worshippers while a few more had braved the clear blue waters. After a quick lunch of sandwich in the car park, we went to Rose Bay. The beach was as beautiful as the one in Horseshoe Bay but less crowded. There were only two couples on the beach when we got there. Instead of swimming, Charles headed straight to the rocks and tested some for bouldering, while I looked for a private spot to tan myself (leaving no tan marks ☺)
Trail to the lookout
View of Horseshoe Bay from the lookout
Rose Bay
We were supposed to leave for Townsville around 3 in the afternoon before it got dark. But starting early gave us a lot time to see more sights in the town. We strolled through the shady park near the lagoon and did a bit of bird watching. There were many lorikeets, sea gulls, pewees, and cockatoos, the usual birds species common all over Australia. We also saw some pelicans in the middle of the lagoon and two new birds species we have not seen before. The lagoon is home to hundreds of species of birds and is one of the main attractions of Bowen. After bird-watching, we drove through the main thoroughfares of the town to check out its popular murals .
Some Pelicans and other species of birds at Bowen Lagoon
Joining the royalties for some tea
One of the Murals on the street walls
More murals
The town also claims to be the Mural Capital of Australia. Murals were painted on street walls, government structures and even commercial buildings, mostly about the early times of British occupation and history of the town. After a whole day of exploring, a slice of carrot cake, and ice-cold Bundaberg Ginger Beer in one of the cafés, we hurried on our way to Townsville – our longest drive so far. After a stopover at the town of Home Hill and a unplanned detour to a fishing village after a wrong turn on the road, we finally reached the biggest town in North Queensland. It was already dark when we reached Townsville so we went straight to Rowes Bay Caravan Park and hurriedly set the camp for the night.
(This is part of our 6-week North Queensland Road Trip Series, which took place July- August 2010)
Australian Road Trip: A Vantastic Beginning
Road Trip Diaries # 1 – Misty Mountain: An Encounter with the Strangest Animal in the World
Road Trip Diaries # 2 – Eungella National Park: Of Strangler Figs, Leeches and Long Holidays
Road Trip Diaries # 3 - Exploring Finch Hatton Gorge
Road Trip Diaries # 4 – Cape Hillsborough: On Bush Walks Beach Strolls and Star Gazing
Road Trip Diaries # 5 – Cape Hillsborough: Sunrise and Wild Kangaroos
Road Trip Diaries # 6 – Airlie Beach: Beaches Babes and Backpackers
tan, eh? hahaha…
imelda’s incredulous shoe collection must have made an impression even to the land down under.
Even mum ni Charles dalawa lang alam sa Philippines dati, si Imelda at yung isang notorious na Pinay sa Oz
What an Imeldific trip! LOL
True! Good thing I don’t share her obsession with shoes
I haven’t been down to Airlie and Bowen for years ! Some great pictures Claire . as for Imelda , well she was rather larger than life lol , and she made a mark both in The Philippines and elsewhere lol . Loved Carlos Celdrans Living La Vida Imelda tour in Manila !
Oh I guess it’s about time, it’s just near Cairns. How did you learn about Carlos Celdran by the way?
I was surfing the net a few years ago , actually looking for things to do in Manila lol , and came across his site . From that moment on I followed his post and made a promise to take a tour . The first I took was in 2009 through Intramuros , Since my very first visit to The Philippines Intramuros has been one of my very favourite places and remains so to this day …I love to wander it’s streets and wonder at what tales it could tell lol , and try to place scenes from The Noli .
Oh well, I hope you stayed long enough to get to know Manila well, the good, the bad and the beautiful
Oh I have seen the good the bad and the ugly . I fell in love with it from the moment I stepped off the plane way back in !@#$ lol. And lived in Pasay City for a while .
ganda ng beach, horse nga! at parang ang sarap tumakbo sa trail
yep masarap din tumakbo sa beach
ang ganda naman ng murals! sana may ganyan din sa pilipinas… but less victorian =))
Tama instead of vandals, advertisement of pictures of actors, mas ok murals lalo na pag magaling yung mga artists
Nice blog…i like the fhotos
Thank you for dropping by to my site Baracea
Using an umbrella in a beach does get quite a reaction from those who sunbathe – it’s amusing how we are on different ends of the vanity spectrum eh? But that’s how it is, we Pinoys are the last people on earth to be seen roasting ourselves under the sun (as if we haven’t been already).
hahaha, we overheard a conversation as well while watching a concert in Sydney, one woman said to another,”You know, when one is carrying an umbrella here and it’s not raining, she is Asian”
actually kaya gusto kong makapunta sa mga foreign beaches kasi gusto ko makita ng HOT foreigners. bwahaha. yun na. lumabas na ang tunay na motibo.lol
naku magsasawa ka nyan sa Bondi at Manly Beach, kahit sa park lang merong naka-bra naglalakad
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your diary Claire! What an amazing trail you had at Bowenwood! It’s a good thing you keep with you a diary of your adventures… How long are you going to stay there in Australia, btw? I’m feeling envious about your escapades now because I so love it there in Aussie. I’m planning to really go back there one day…
Happy exploring and explore more because there are many more possibilities open for you ..:D
Thanks Jorie, yeah I wouldn’t be able to recall the details of my trip without a diary. I will be going home soon and start exploring Philippines again. I think these are the two places I will call home from now on
hahahah!
pareho tayo Claire, kahit nasa beach may payong ako! walang pakealaman! ^_^
yes yes, sure sa 12. gulatan lang yung pag-yes kong pumunta sa pyro last saturday, hahah
Nung una lang yan nagpapayong pa hanggang sa Outback mega payong, pero dito sa Sydney medyo nahihiya na lola mo, isang gigantic hat na lang dala ko lagi hahaha
Great trip Claire!!!Keeping on posting ..Its time for u to explore India ??
I know, I would love to visit India soon! I’ll give a buzz perhaps
maganda talaga ang kulay ng Filipinos! I’m pretty sure they will never get the same tan na parang sayo,. Your color is beautiful, by the way. I love the beach so much, and the photos look amazing. I’ll tell my friend ( a relative of I.M.) about your story. To be honest, i’ve talked to a Colombian dude and all he could ever say about the Philippines is how gorgeous the former first lady is.
Thank you Jerik, kayumanging kaligatan rocks!
at wow ha, my Colombian admirer na din si Madam .
What’s with the naughty smile heading to the nude beach? Haha. The place is stunning.
Syempre alam na
Good Job, Claire! Grabe, these kind of photos could only be seen in Natgeo or Discovery channel! Ang cool naman nung photo sa Bowen Lagoon, huling kita ko yata ng Pelicans at different specie ng birds ay sa Manila Zoo pa! hehehe!
Thanks Jomi, ako naman first time ko lang makita sila sa lagoon
fantastic shot of the cove!
Thanks Benj, nice to see you here
ang ganda ng top view ng beach Claire!
at natuwa ako sa pelicans, i hve yet to see one.
see you soon!
Yep excited na ko