Bowen is a two hour drive south of Townsville and less than an hour north of Airlie Beach.

Blessed with a natural deep water harbour and beaches galore on both its northern and eastern aspects.

It is tropical yet kissed and cooled by year-round breezes.

The appeal of Bowen to the tourism sector has emerged from clouds of secrecy, and Bowen is now part of two very different "booms" for lack of a better word.