Cape Edgecumbe Walking Track Guide – A Must for Hiking Lovers!

Can a beautiful place get even more stunning? In Bowen, yes it can!

At the end of last month, I finally completed the full Cape Edgecumbe walking track in Bowen. If you love the ocean, rocky landscapes, and hiking, this is one adventure you absolutely can’t miss. Every time I come here, I fall in love all over again with this quiet little gem of Queensland.

Bowen is a charming coastal town where you can both snorkel and hike. If you’re only here for one or two days, I suggest starting with Horseshoe Bay (check out the article here)—it’s like a compact version of Bowen’s best sea-and-land experiences.

But if you’re planning to spend a few days exploring Bowen at a slower pace, and you love hiking and stunning views, today’s guide is for you! The best part? This track can be broken into three sections, with different entry and exit points. You don’t have to walk the entire route—just pick the part that excites you most.

Highlights

Here’s the route I took, with the order of the key sights:

• Starting Point: Horseshoe Bay (parking, toilets available)

  • Rotary Lookout Recommended

  • World War II Radar Site

  • Coastal Path Highly Recommended

• Midpoint: Murray Bay (parking available)

  • Mother Beddock Recommended

• End Point: Rose Bay (parking, toilets)

⏱️ One way: about 1.5–2 hours

My route:

Horseshoe Bay ⭢ Rotary Lookout ⭢ WWII Radar Site ⭢ Coastal Path ⭢ Murray Bay ⭢ Mother Beddock ⭢ Rose Bay

You can follow my direction or walk it the other way around. Since all three bays have parking areas, you can also choose to start at Murray Bay and explore in both directions. (Note: parking at Murray Bay is more limited.)

This article focuses on the scenic highlights. If you’d like to walk the whole trail with me, check out my YouTube video (I chat in Mandarin there).

Rotary Lookout

Just 10–15 minutes from the Horseshoe Bay trailhead, Rotary Lookout offers your first gorgeous views.

World War II Radar Site

From Horseshoe Bay, follow the signs past Rotary Lookout. Soon, you’ll reach a junction leading to the WWII Radar Site.

⌚ From the start, including the Rotary lookout detour, it took me about 40 minutes to reach the Radar Site.

From here, you can see Murray Bay and the distant Mother Beddock. The view is stunning, but be ready for a bit of stair climbing before you arrive. Along the way, you’ll also catch glimpses of Queens Bay.

Coastal Path – My Favorite Part!

Returning to the main trail from the Radar Site, continue forward and soon you’ll reach the Coastal Path—my absolute favorite section.

📍 On Google Maps, there are several “Coastal Path” pins, but the one closest to Murray Bay is the correct spot.

Here, the ocean suddenly bursts into view as you step out of the forest, and the dramatic rocky coastline will make you say “wow!” out loud.

This part of the trail reminded me why I keep falling in love with Bowen—surprises everywhere.

Murray Bay

Before I discovered the corals at Horseshoe Bay, Murray Bay was my go-to snorkeling spot. It’s usually quiet—even on weekends, I’ve rarely seen more than 10 people here. Maybe it’s because there’s no café or toilets?

From the Coastal Path, it’s just a 10-minute walk down to the beach. If you’re short on time, I recommend driving straight to the Murray Bay parking lot and heading directly to the Coastal Path.

Mother Beddock

Reaching Mother Beddock means you’re near the end of the hike. From Murray Bay, the trail has more stairs and less shade, so it’s a bit tougher—but not too hard. Don't forget bringing water with you!

The view from Mother Beddock is worth every step. This time the wind was too strong for my drone, so I’m sharing photos from a previous visit—the scenery is truly breathtaking.

From here, it’s mostly downhill to Rose Bay (or uphill if you’re starting the other way).

You’ll also pass Lions Lookout, but it’s a fairly plain platform, so I skipped photos.

If you’re starting the hike from Rose Bay, I’d suggest at least making it up to Mother Beddock—it’s worth it!

Rose Bay

Rose Bay is the official end of the trail. From the entry at Rose Bay, it’s just a few minutes to the toilets and parking.

To be honest, I haven’t had time to explore Rose Bay fully yet—Bowen has too many spots to see! I’ll save that for a future article.

No Car? You Can Still Do It!

Exploring Australia usually requires a car, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry.

You might think, “What if I can’t walk back to where I parked?”

Here’s the good news:

Bowen’s local bus 843 passes Horseshoe Bay and Rose Bay (but not Murray Bay). So you can start at one end and finish at the other.

• By car: Start at any bay (Horseshoe, Murray, or Rose) and walk as far as you like, then return the same way—or arrange a pickup at the other end.

• By bus: Start at Horseshoe Bay and finish at Rose Bay, or vice versa.

⚠️ Note: According to Translink, bus 843 only runs on weekdays, three times per day. Check the official site before planning.

• Horseshoe Bay bus stop: Horseshoe Bay Road at Murray Bay Road

• Rose Bay bus stop: Bluewater Parade

Extra: Small Details Along the Way

Keep your eyes open for local wildlife! On my hike, I saw some common birds and brush turkeys (and I just realized the sign says it’s ‘brush,’ not ‘bush’ turkey 😅).

I also spotted beautiful yellow kapok flowers along the trail. According to Kakadu National Park, these trees bloom in the dry season. Indigenous people once used the flowers as food and watched their seasonal patterns to know when to hunt turtles or collect fresh water crocodile eggs.

Further along, especially after Mother Beddock, I noticed lots of white granite pieces scattered on the path. In fact, the whole dramatic landscape here was shaped by granite weathering and erosion.

Final Thoughts

If you enjoyed this article—whether for the practical info or just for my Bowen photos—please share it with your friends. Let’s spread the word about this little gem and show more people the beauty of Bowen.