Rockhampton to Bowen road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The Rockhampton to Bowen drive covers a 524km distance, with a driving time of around 5h40m. The best road trip stops to add to the itinerary are Sarina, Mackay and Airlie Beach.
The drive from Rockhampton to Bowen takes you from the largest city in Central Queensland to the northern end of the Whitsundays region.
Rockhampton offers fascinating history walks and cave tours. To source the best Rockhampton accommodation deals, go here.
For many, this drive is likely to be part of a longer road trip – say from Gladstone to Townsville or Brisbane to Cairns.
Rockhampton to Bowen distance and driving time
The distance from Rockhampton to Bowen in Queensland is 524km. This makes for a driving time to Bowen from Rockhampton of around five hours and 40 minutes.
Top experiences to book in and around Rockhampton
- (Highly recommended ✅) Great Keppel Island day trip – with lunch.
- Cathedral Cave tour at Capricorn Caves. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 90 minute Deep Vault Cave and Flower Pot tour at Capricorn Caves.
- Time Safaris walking tour.
The best stops to add to your road trip itinerary are Mackay and Airlie Beach.
Rockhampton to Bowen road trip: Cape Palmerston and Sarina
On the Rockhampton to Mackay leg, the first good stop is the Capricorn Caves complex, just off the Bruce Highway. They’re open for tours, and the caverns are genuinely impressive.
From there, expect a lot of sugar cane on the way to Clairview and Sarina. Adventurous types may wish to wrangle their 4WD up to Cape Palmerston for excellent fishing. The turn-off is at Ibilibie, before you get to Sarina.
Here, the Sarina Sugar Shed explores the sugar industry that you can hardly have missed on the drive up. But simpler fun in the sun pleasures are available at beautiful Sarina Beach and Grasstree Beach are gorgeous in the tropical sun.
Top Sarina experiences worth booking in advance
- Learn how sugar is grown and processed on a sugar mill tour – with sweet treat tastings.
- Find out how rum is made on a rum distillery tour – with rum sampling.
Best Sarina accommodation options.
The best places to stay in Sarina, Queensland, are:
- For beachside location with an outdoor pool: Sandpiper Motel.
- For air-conditioned caravans and cabins: Sarina Palms Cabins & Caravans.
- For palm trees and beach holiday vibe: Sarina Beach Motel.
Rockhampton to Bowen drive: A stop in Mackay?
Mackay is half an hour north of Sarina. The art deco architecture and Bluewater Lagoon water park are the top attractions in the Whitsundays region’s biggest city.
Other options are the Wildcat snorkelling cruise around the South Cumberland Islands, crocodile-free swimming at Bluewater Lagoon, and the marvellous Blacks Beach.
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.
Click through to the next section: North to Proserpine.