Hayden's Hut Bowen

30/07/2026

Have you spotted the red water around Bowen? 👀

If you’ve noticed patches of red, brown or rusty-looking water around Bowen and the Whitsundays, you might be wondering what’s going on!

As we were watching the whales splashing on the horizon today we noticed the algae close to shore.

It's known as “sea sawdust”, a natural Trichodesmium algae bloom which can occur in tropical Queensland waters.

Is it dangerous?
Usually, no.

It isn't generally considered harmful to people.

It can have a fishy odour and reduces visibility in the water.

These blooms can also create some pretty spectacular colours along the coastline.

Lucky for us, the whales 🐋 in the water are taking up most of our attention 👀

30/07/2026

Whales are officially in Bowen!!!! 🐋
Spotted at Murray Bay today.

My apologies for the terrible quality of the video but the excitement was too much 😁😁😁

Whale season in Bowen at the top of the Whitsundays 🐋🐋🐋

29/07/2026

What a cracker of a morning in Bowen today!

Get out and enjoy this beautiful winter weather.

29/07/2026

Where's your favourite spot to grab a meal in Bowen?

29/07/2026

Looking for a quiet Bowen beach? Then Rose Bay might be the one you've been searching for.

Rose Bay is a beautiful alternative to some of Bowen’s more popular bays.

It has that laid-back, tropical North Queensland feel, with plenty of space to slow down, enjoy the scenery and escape the busier beach crowds.

If Horseshoe Bay is your go to for the famous boulders...

And Front Beach is where you head for a bit of action...

Rose Bay is the place to go when you simply want to breathe, relax and enjoy Bowen at a slower pace.

29/07/2026

Instead of a gondola from Flagstaff Hill how about a slide from here to Murray Bay?

Kids said that would be a great way to end a hike 😁😁😁

This is the incredible view from the World War II Radar Site lookout in Bowen.

29/07/2026

One of those iconic views on Bowen's famous hiking trail - right before all those stairs 😁

Put it on your Whitsundays Bucket List.

29/07/2026

29/07/2026

Bowen's the island vacation you can drive to.

📍 BOWEN, NORTH QUEENSLAND

5 reasons to put Bowen into your GPS

1️⃣ BEAUTIFUL BEACHES WITHOUT THE ISLAND PRICE TAG 🌊

Think turquoise water, white sand, rocky coves and palm-fringed bays.

All without needing to catch a ferry.

2️⃣ THAT “WE’RE ON HOLIDAY” FEEL ☀️

Bowen is relaxed, tropical and wonderfully laid-back.

Slow mornings, beach days and sunsets are all part of the experience.

3️⃣ SO MANY BEACHES TO EXPLORE 🏝️

From Horseshoe Bay to Rose Bay, Murray Bay, Grays Bay and beyond, there’s always another little corner of coastline to discover.

4️⃣ TROPICAL ADVENTURE 🐚

Snorkel, swim, hike, explore rocky headlands or simply find your own patch of paradise.

Bowen gives you that island escape feeling while staying on the mainland.

5️⃣ IT’S THE WHITSUNDAYS… WITHOUT THE CROWDS OF AIRLIE BEACH 😎

Airlie Beach is on everyone's bucket list but Bowen offers a slower, more relaxed and authentic coastal getaway.

Be sure to explore both!

The beauty of the Whitsundays region is that there's SO MUCH natural beauty to explore.

28/07/2026

Add this to your calendar! The Great Barrier Reef Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this weekend.

From July 31 – August 2 2026 get ready to party with a special silver-themed celebration at Airlie Beach.

Expect the return of crowd favourites, including:

🪸 The Street Parade

🐚 Revvin’ The Reef Car Show

⭐️ Spectacular FIreworks

And plenty of fun things to do!