Planning Valentine’s Day can come with a lot of pressure of trying to make it an extra special day that stands out for the one you love. The typical ones include the traditional romantic dinners to exchanging homemade gifts. But going the extra mile and whipping out something a little more creative can really set your efforts apart and show that lucky someone just how much they mean to you.
Here are 4 of our favourite unique Valentine’s Day ideas that will get you started on feeling loved up.
1. Get creative together
One of the best ways to spend Valentine’s Day is to explore each other’s artistic side and embrace the creativity within. Through inspiration, both of you will learn to appreciate a different side of one another as you indulge in the journey of creating something unique.
The Grand View Hotel in Bowen hosts a Paint & Sip session every last Tuesday of the month, hosted by local Bowen artist, Mel Stone. Mel is known for working with a variety of media such as watercolour, acrylic pastel, inks and mixed media combinations. Her inspiration comes from nature including birds and animals of the Bowen region. Mel has won many awards over the last few years in various shows around the region, and was a finalist in the 2016 and 2018 Glendora Percival Portrait Prize.
The sip side of the event features wines and delights that will get your creative juices flowing. It also makes the event that much more fun to spend with your loved one as you sit back, relax, sip some good wine, and paint to your heart’s content.
Tickets are $45 per person and each session has a limited 25 seats available, so bookings are essential. Book by calling (07) 4786 4022 to secure your Valentine’s date.
2. Play tourist in Bowen
There aren’t many places better to play tourist than in Bowen. Give the town fresh eyes by getting out and putting your tourist hats on. Check out the top Bowen attractions such as the Big Mango, snap a few touristy pictures, grab a mango smoothie and souvenir, and move onto the next big attraction.
From wandering along Horseshoe Bay and even perhaps snorkelling its coral reef to catching a movie at the much adored Summer Garden Theatre, there’s plenty to do in Bowen with your Valentine.
Make the most of your time being on the Whitsundays by exploring some of the 73 islands around. Spoil yourselves and go for a Whitsunday cruise to embrace the most of the region. You can even go on a kayak tour, taking your pick from a half day, full day or 6 day tour with the Salty Dog Sea Kayaking team.
Have a meal at the much beloved Grand View Hotel. With waterfront views that offer romantic sunset backdrops, you’re sure to win the heart of your loved one all over again. The menu will surely entice your appetites, with international delights such as pork belly and spaghetti alla puttanesca to Aussie classics like ginger beer battered fish and chips, premium grilled steaks and pizzas.
Don’t miss out on your chance to impress over dinner at the Grand View Hotel and make a booking by calling (07) 4786 4022 to secure your table.
3. Take a scenic drive
Make the most of Bowen’s landscape and attractions and take a scenic drive with your Valentine. Put together a playlist of your favourite tunes, and embrace the moment as you dive deep into conversation with a view to remember.
Head to Flagstaff Hill, which offers spectacular views of Bowen, the farmland, and surrounding coast and the Whitsundays islands. Return down along Peter Wyche Drive taking a left at the roundabout onto Henry Darwen Memorial Drive. Grab a traveller’s seafood pack at the Bowen Marina for the freshest catch of the day. Check out the live tank displays for a peak of the catches in season.
Make your way along Santa Barbara Parade and you’ll find the Visitor Information booth where you can grab a mango sorbet to enjoy. Walk along the 700 metre long jetty and look out for green turtles and soldier crabs on the low tide.
Past the information booth is where you’ll find the Catalina display, educating everyone about Bowen’s involvement with flying boats.
Finish your day at Horseshoe Bay which is arguably the best swimming beach in Bowen, offering sheltered sandy bays that also have fringing reefs for amazing snorkelling and diving. You can’t hire snorkelling gear from the Horseshoe Bay Resort if you don’t have any at hand.
4. Go on a hike
Adventure the Cape Edgecumbe Walking Trail together and enjoy the beautiful landscapes as a result of scaling many elevations. The walking trail begins at Horseshoe Bay, travels through Murray Bay and ends at Rose Bay.
Your Valentine will be impressed by the Instagram worthy lookout views of the bay and beaches, with the added advantage of seeing native wildlife up close and being on a hike with their favourite person (you). The trail is 2.5 kilometres long with several entry points at Horseshoe Bay, Murray Bay and Rose Bay, allowing you to walk the whole trail or stop at any point.
