Bowen Discovery-Top of the Whitsundays
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Get excited to discover Bowen-Top of the
Whitsundays. This lesser-known coastal
gem is bursting with beauty, beaches, history, flora, and surprises. Be
enraptured on a fascinating day of pure discovery as we uncover Bowen’s
breathtaking beaches, lookouts, landscapes, geological marvels and rich stories
past. Wander where the crowds don’t go and soak in the diversity of panoramic
coastal views, see where ‘Australia’ was filmed, get your photo at The Big
Mango, visit the Catalina display and relax with a mouthwatering lunch dockside.
Touring in Bowen since 2022, your experienced expert local guide uncovers the magic
of Bowen and listen to remarkable stories about local indigenous, shipwrecks, explorers
and space rockets.
Just one hour Bowen—a sun-soaked coastal gem bursting with natural beauty, rich history, and unforgettable local flavours. Join Driftwood Tours on a full-day adventure to explore this laid-back tropical paradise where postcard-perfect beaches meet rugged granite landscapes and fascinating stories of the past.
Start your journey with Bowen’s beach bounty—from the soft white sands of Horseshoe Bay to the hidden coves of Grey’s Bay and Murray Bay, each offering its own slice of secluded paradise. A short walk to the Rotary Lookout rewards you with sweeping views over Queens Beach, the islands beyond, and the mountain-fringed coastline—a true visual feast for nature lovers and photographers alike.
Delve into Bowen’s rich heritage, where charming streets are lined with historic buildings and tales of shipwrecks, pioneers, and port-town legends. Our knowledgeable guides bring the past to life as you walk in the footsteps of early settlers and uncover the town’s fascinating connection to Queensland’s wider story.
Of course, no visit to Bowen is complete without a stop at the legendary Birds Fish Bar. Tuck into the freshest local seafood, served right on the waterfront with a view of the colourful fishing boats bobbing in the bay—it’s coastal dining at its best.
To cap off your day, we’ll ascend to Flagstaff Hill Lookout for breathtaking panoramic views over the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands. It’s the perfect moment to pause, snap a few stunning photos, and soak in the raw beauty of this unspoiled corner of North Queensland.
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We had the best day, really looked after and absolutely loved it!
Thank you Driftwood Tours and Cherene x

Not only is Cherene knowledgeable and authentic, but she went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time and that we learnt about the history, nature and the area.
She had the car all set up with blankets and pillows for the ride to the national park (which was early to make it there in time for sunrise) making us feel very comfortable for a little snooze on the way there, and we had a great breakfast set up after the sunrise. As a cherry on top we also did a beautiful hike to a viewpoint after breakfast, and stop at local bakery to buy some pastries on the way back to Airlie.
Highly recommend Cherene’s Driftwood Tours, an incredible independent tour operator if you’re staying in Airlie Beach.







Charlene is a fantastic driver & guide who took us all over Airlie & Shute Harbour. The tour was informative and helpful as we were able to work out restaurants etc to visit. She took us to great private & public viewing points so we could admire the beauty of this special place.
Charlene always went out of her way to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed our experience!





Really had a blast - and am sure all their other tours are equally fun!







I even licked an ant !!
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone as she was so amazing
We wanted to bring her back to Canada






Cherene I will be back next year, with all my family!









She is very friendly and knowledgeable; showing and sharing many fascinating places and stories of the area.
We would highly recommend Driftwood Tours
We will definitely be doing another Driftwood tour again.
Eden & Gidget????????????


Cherene is a wealth of knowledge, lovely and friendly, makes you feel at ease.


Cherene is so knowledgeable about the area and is passionate about what she does - great commentary throughout the tour. She is very engaging, established a great rapport with us very quickly (we were celebrating our 30th anniversary and the other couple, their 40th).
Cherene is an amazing guide and took us to some places many visitors never see or know about.
Highly recommend this lively and lovely lady and her small business.

You are truly a people’s person. You are thoughtful towards your customers needs. You go out of your way to provide the best tour esp when young children are on board. We wouldn’t have been able to see the places we saw had it not been for you! I would certainly book next time we come back to Airlie Beach. All the best.
Your knowledge of the area and the place you took us were amazing.
It's having a local mate show you around.




Cherene was such a fun, enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable guide, I would recommend Driftwood above all for an amazing Airlie Beach experience.


She is a fantastic guide, we learnt a lot but also had a fun day out, so much so we booked the Falls tour the following day
Highly recommend Cherene from Driftwood tours.
Look forward to our next visit




We will definitely be return customers.
