Mackay to Bowen road trip: Distance, drive time and best stops
The drive from Mackay to Bowen is all about the road trip detours. Get off the Bruce Highway to explore the likes of Mount Charlton, Conway National Park, Dingo Beach and Cape Gloucester.
There aren’t too many tourists who’ll drive from Mackay to Bowen in Queensland without dropping into Airlie Beach. Mackay is the biggest city in the Whitsundays region, and the embarkation point for a superb Whitsunday Islands cruise which includes paddleboards and snorkelling equipment.
To choose from the best Mackay tours and experiences, head this way. To select the right Mackay accommodation for you, book here.
The best thing to do in Mackay is a snorkelling cruise around the South Cumberland Islands.
Bowen is the most northerly town in the region. But Airlie Beach is the focal hub, as it’s where most Whitsundays cruises depart from.
Mackay to Bowen distance and driving time
But if you are planning to drive the full Mackay to Bowen distance in one stint, it shouldn’t take all that long. Along the Bruce Highway, the Mackay to Bowen drive is 192km long, with a driving time of around two hours and 14 minutes.
Three great Mackay experiences to book in advance
- (Highly recommended ✅) Whitsunday Islands boat cruise – with snorkelling and paddleboarding.
- Cape Hillsborough sunrise tour – meet wallabies on the beach.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finch Hatton Gorge waterfalls tour.
Best Mackay accommodation options
The top places to stay in Mackay are:
- For attractive apartments by Blacks Beach: The Shores Holiday Apartments.
- For a cheap, but surprisingly good, motel: Cool Palms Motel.
- For apartments with kitchenettes by the marina: Mantra Mackay.
- For a holiday park with lot of family-friendly facilities: Big4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park.
- For fully furnished apartments in prime position next to Bluewater Lagoon: Riviera Mackay.
Don’t expect much excitement along the Bruce Highway, however. If you want to turn the Mackay to Bowen drive into a road trip, be prepared add detours to the itinerary.
Click through for the next section: Cape Hillsborough and Airlie Beach.