Cow Bay, Queensland — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Cow Bay, in the Douglas Shire local government area.
| Locality | Cow Bay |
| State | Queensland (QLD) |
| Local Government Area | Douglas Shire |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - no daylight saving |
| Remoteness | Remote Australia |
| Latitude | -16.22084 |
| Longitude | 145.43347 |
| Population | 214 |
| Density | 7.3 /km² |
| Area | 29.3 km² |
| Elevation | 15 m |
| Postcode | 4873 |
| Area Code | 07 |
| Distance to Brisbane | 1475 km north-northwest |
Cow Bay is a locality in the Douglas Shire local government area of Queensland, Australia. It is a small community with a population of 214. The locality covers an area of 29.3 km², giving a population density of about 7.3 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 15 m above sea level. It lies approximately 1475 km north-northwest of Brisbane. Cow Bay is located at 16.2208°S, 145.4335°E. It observes Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - no daylight saving. Postcode: 4873. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Remote Australia.
Cow Bay is a place where the emerald tangle of the Daintree Rainforest spills down to kiss the sapphire embrace of the Coral Sea. It lies 368.2 km north-north-west of Townsville City, QLD (from Townsville City, QLD: bearing 336°T), and is situated 27.0 km north-north-east of Mossman. The air here hangs thick and sweet with the scent of damp earth and unseen blossoms, a humid cloak that softens the sharp edges of the world. Jagged granite outcrops, smoothed by millennia of wind and rain, punctuate the coastline, their dark forms a stark contrast to the vibrant green that clothes every available surface. The narrow, winding track that leads to Cow Bay seems to deliberately obscure the destination, as if guarding a secret whispered only to those who venture deep enough into this verdant embrace. The very light seems to filter differently, catching the dust motes dancing in the humid air and casting a diffused glow that lends a dreamlike quality to the dense foliage.
The story of Cow Bay is a quiet one, woven from the threads of pioneering spirit and the enduring allure of the tropics. For generations, this secluded stretch of coast has been a haven for those seeking a life closer to the wild heart of Queensland. While the broader region’s economy has ebbed and flowed with the fortunes of sugar cane and tourism further south, Cow Bay has retained a character defined by its relative isolation. Its economy, such as it is, relies on a small but hardy community of residents, many drawn to the profound natural beauty and the opportunity for self-sufficiency. The few who call Cow Bay home find their livelihood in the bounty of the sea, in small-scale farming, or in catering to the occasional intrepid traveller drawn by the promise of unspoiled nature, a promise that Cow Bay delivers with an almost overwhelming generosity.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Cow Bay, Queensland with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Cow Bay, in the Douglas Shire local government area.
Detailed location data for Cow Bay includes the postcode (4873), telephone area code (07), and local government area (Douglas Shire), with an ABS remoteness classification of Remote Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Cow Bay is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |