Bundaberg to Townsville road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

Bundaberg to Townsville drive: Dingo Beach and Bowen

If skipping Airlie Beach, the next leg of the Bundaberg to Townsville road trip is from Proserpine to Bowen along the Bruce Highway. The main turn-off to consider on this leg is just north of Myrtlevale, where the Dingo Beach Road runs towards chilled-out holiday villages Dingo Beach and Hideaway Bay on Cape Gloucester.

Dingo Beach in Queensland, Australia — Dingo Beach in Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Accommodation here comes mostly in the form of holiday homes.

You’ll drive past the pleasingly daft Big Mango on the way into Bowen. Things to do here include snorkelling at Horseshoe Bay, taking in the views from the Flagstaff Hill Lookout, and visiting the WWII Catalina Flying Boats memorial.

Where to stay in Bowen

The best Bowen accommodation choices are:

For families: Queens Beach Tourist Village.
For great value apartments with kitchens: Palm View Holiday Apartments.
For Horseshoe Bay beachside location: Horseshoe Bay Resort.
For central location, free parking and kitchenettes: Port Denison Motor Inn.

Bowen to Townsville

The Bowen to Townsville leg of the Bundaberg to Townsville drive is 201km long. There are potential but inessential detours to the Flathead Fishing Hole at the Elliot River mouth and Coconut Beach in the Cape Upstart National Park.

Just before crossing the Burdekin River, you can get good view from the Mount Inkerman Scenic Lookout. But the next proper stop is Ayr.

Things to do in Ayr, Queensland, include admiring the mosaics at the Ayr Nature Display and watching movies at the Stardust Drive-In.

The best accommodation in Ayr

The top accommodation picks in Ayr are:

For a family-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Ayr.
For a motel that gets it right: Country Ayr Motel.
For cheap rates and a pool: Ayr Max Motel.

Divers will be more interested in Alva Beach. This is where tours to the SS Yongala shipwreck depart from.

It’s about an hour’s drive from Ayr to Townsville, it’s around an hour’s drive.

6 Townsville experiences to book in advance

Magnetic Island ferry tickets – head over to one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.
SS Yongala wreck dive – sea how coral and marine life have made the shipwreck home.
Great Barrier Reef and Museum of Underwater Art cruise – witness the extraordinary underwater art project up close.
Helicopter ride along the coast – get amazing views from above.
Sunset sailing cruise – watch the colours over the water, with alcoholic drinks included.
Jetski tour to Cape Pallarenda – whizz past beaches and giant boulders.

Things to do in Townsville include going on a cruise to the Museum of Underwater Art, kicking back on a small group sunset cruise and catching the ferry to Magnetic Island. There are great snorkelling spots here, at Arthur Bay and Florence Bay.