While stopped in Bowen we take the opportunity to visit some of the coastal towns in the area. A trip down the highway to Airlie Beach shows us a town that is working hard to rebuild after the onslaught of cyclone Debbie earlier in the year.

While the town is returning to everyday life, there is clear evidence of the destruction with numerous buildings undergoing repair and even more concerning, a number of businesses closed or what looks to be abandoned. It’s hard to tell whether the cyclone was the last straw for them or if they were under-insured and the costs to reopen are too much of a stretch.

The town still has an upbeat vibrancy and a walk around tells us that the efforts of the locals are really starting to pay off. Don’t write the town off, it will survive and prosper, it’ll just take a little more time to heal the wounds. The bay itself seems to have recovered quite well while the views from the main street provide that old charm Airlie always had.

We stop into the Deck Bar and Restaurant for a coffee, it’s too early for a drink, but while watching the world go by we notice something we haven’t seen before. They have a series of wines on tap. We didn’t have the chance to taste test to see if the concept was a reasonable replacement for bottles but we will keep an eye out for this in the future and give it a go.

We take the road to Shute Harbour only to find more evidence of Debbie’s visit and an area that is not recovering as well as its neighbour. This was once a thriving sea port that played host to barges and water taxis ferrying holiday makers to the various islands but now seems predominantly focused on business and service related activities. A number of the buildings are damaged and boarded up but its hard to tell if they were vacated before the cyclone or as a result of it.

A drive around the residential area just above the harbour shows us that very few of the homes were left unscathed. There are rebuilding activities happening on most houses and the sheer number of For Sale signs will tell you that many families are not prepared to go through another weather event of that magnitude.

Dingo Beach and Hideaway Bay

While out and about we head to an area above Airlie Beach where Dingo Beach and Hideaway Bay are found. Dingo Beach certainly has that laid back charm about it but its the area of Hideaway Bay that delivers us a gem. Driving into the suburb it would seem that the houses are a mixture of purpose built holiday destinations or retirement investments while others are occupied full-time by their owners. At the end of the bitumen road, where most would turn around and head back to the highway, is a dirt road with a sign saying a resort is beckoning.

After 5Kms of shuddering, corrugated road that takes you past incredible views and through named areas such as “O my God Hill”, we happen upon Montes Reef Resort. The views from the restaurant provide a vista to the beauty of the Whitsundays. Blue water as far as you can see, sandy beaches and a smattering of islands near and far, provide a perfect background for lunch.

To top it off the food was on the money as far as taste and quality. Plus the staff are simply brilliant. Who wouldn’t want to work in these surrounds?

Their fire pit on the beach would also make a great place to while away the warm evenings. A walk on the beach and some “toes in the water” time caps off a nice outing for us.