Mangos and Footy Heros: From Bowen to Townsville

It's a delicious sight driving into the small coastal town of Bowen, famous most obviously for their Kensington Pride Mangos (affectionately known as the Bowen special). First the mango groves and then the BIG mango itself, but it was the local mango sorbet (pure mango frozen and whipped) that we sampled at the Tourist Information Centre that really sent the kids a little 'fruity'.

A small-ish town at the top of the Whitsundays Coast, Bowen is sometimes referred to as the 'salad bowl' of Australia because of the diversity of fruits and vegetables farmed in the area. Fishing is another big local industry so the Bowen residents may just be completely set in life - especially if relaxing at hidden beaches, enclosed by the distinctively Bowen boulders is a prerequisite for the good life! We spent three slow and relaxing days here, with the kids climbing rocks, hunting for washed up coral and shells at Horseshoe Bay and swimming in the warm ocean waters (surprisingly despite the rest of the northern QLD coast wrapping up in stinger suits to swim, no one at Bowen wore suits - same ocean right? The locals said the stingers stay away from their little cove...hmmm)

    

The rock climbing in and around our caravan park on the point proved a hit for the kids and they wore themselves out each day from all the exploring and salty air. We still have our daily 'rest' time  whilst on the road, mostly to give Bastian a chance to sleep in peace but also so the other two can catch up and stop for a minute - spending nearly all of our time outdoors each day, its nice to chill out with a movie in the van or some quiet craft to recharge the batteries...

Even though the Horseshoe Bay caravan park seems like it hasn't had a makeover in quite a while, and the ammenities are old but very clean, it's still our pick of the places to stay. The only park right out on the point, its a stone's throw from the water's edge in both directions, has direct access to the Rotary lookout walk which is beautiful and it has a terrific little cafe right next door which serves great coffee but even better hot chips!!

After waving goodbye to the peacocks and boulders, we left Bowen and drove another two and a half hours up the coast to Townsville, where we pulled up stumps for three nights. We haven't had to book anywhere in advance just yet, simply rocking up as we arrive and always managing to get a site, but at Townsville, our pick of the caravan parks on the foreshore and closest to town was unexpected chockas! We managed to squeeze in but couldn't work out why all these people were dressed in long pants and puffer jackets and waiting out the front on the road... later we discovered that the town was buzzing because there was a NRL Footy game on that night between the Broncos and the Townsville Cowboys. Of course!?!? But after we admitted to some shocked locals that footy wasn't really our thing, we hit up the local Sizzler for a trip down memory lane... and yes, the cheesy bread is just as good as you remember!!  

We spent our days exploring the city and were very impressed with the Far North Queensland Museum in the main drag - we spent the entire morning here and with a new Lego exhibition in full swing, the kids could have easily spent the day.

Milkshakes at one of the terrific little cafes about town and an afternoon washing the caravan, and Townsville was a top little stop over and the biggest taste we have had of 'city' life for a good few weeks!