Rowes Bay is a small beachside suburb on the coast north of Belgian Gardens, about four kilometres from the CBD. It sits between the sea and the wetlands of the Townsville Town Common, with the airport and RAAF Base Townsville just inland. Only around 540 people live here, in a strip of houses and elevated homes along and behind the foreshore. That gives Rowes Bay a relaxed, almost village feel close to the city. Few homes are rented, so the RTA reports its rents as part of postcode 4810. The tenants who do rent here tend to be air force families, since the base is only about two and a half kilometres away, along with professionals and couples who want a quiet beachside home. For landlords, Rowes Bay offers a distinctive coastal rental, balanced against storm tide exposure and the wear of salt air.
Rental snapshot
Median weekly rent for new leases in postcode 4810 (there were too few new bonds in Rowes Bay itself for the RTA to publish a suburb figure).
- 3-bedroom house June 2026 · up $15 on a year earlier
- $565 per week
- 4-bedroom house June 2026 · up $5 on a year earlier
- $655 per week
- 1-bedroom unit June 2026 · down $10 on a year earlier
- $340 per week
- 2-bedroom unit June 2026 · up $20 on a year earlier
- $480 per week
Source: Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA), median weekly rent for new bonds lodged. Medians move around from quarter to quarter, and a specific home can rent well above or below them.
Get an appraisal for your propertyWho rents in Rowes Bay
Rowes Bay’s small rental market is dominated by air force families. With RAAF Base Townsville about 2.5 km away, members can enjoy a beachside home with a short commute. Professionals and couples working in the city also rent here for the quiet and the beach. Aircraft noise is part of life close to the airport, so it suits tenants who value the location over absolute quiet.
Because there are so few homes, rentals come up rarely. When they do, well-presented properties, especially those with air-conditioning, a secure yard and parking, attract interest quickly.
Schools, shops and getting around
There are no mainstream schools in Rowes Bay. Families use Belgian Gardens State School nearby, and secondary students commonly attend the North Ward schools or Townsville State High School.
Shopping is a short drive away at North Ward Shopping Village or the CBD. The Rowes Bay foreshore is the suburb’s main attraction, and the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park next door offers walking tracks, birdlife and wetlands. The Strand, Castle Hill and the city are all within a few minutes’ drive along the coast road.
Local considerations for landlords
Coastal living comes with coastal maintenance. Salt air is hard on air-conditioners, roller doors, metal fittings and outdoor equipment, so regular servicing and rust checks extend their life. Many homes are older and should have roof fixings checked against current cyclone expectations.
Rowes Bay is low-lying and on the coast, so much of the suburb sits within storm tide zones. Check the council’s storm tide and flood maps for the address, and make sure landlord insurance clearly covers storm, cyclone, flood and loss of rent. Tenants should also know the council’s storm tide evacuation arrangements for the area.
Managing a rental in Rowes Bay
With no suburb median, we appraise Rowes Bay homes against recent leases of comparable coastal properties in Rowes Bay, Belgian Gardens and North Ward, and give you a realistic range. We market to air force families and professionals who value the beach and the short commute, and we describe the location honestly, including its closeness to the airport.
Before each wet season, we remind tenants about securing outdoor items, keeping gutters and drains clear, and knowing their evacuation plan. Detailed entry and routine inspection reports record the property’s condition, which helps with any claim after a severe weather event.
Rowes Bay FAQs
How close is Rowes Bay to RAAF Base Townsville?
About 2.5 km in a straight line, via Garbutt. That makes Rowes Bay one of the closest beachside suburbs to the base, which appeals to air force families.
Is Rowes Bay in a storm tide zone?
Much of Rowes Bay is low-lying and on the coast, so large parts fall within the council's storm tide zones. Check the maps for the address, and hold landlord insurance with storm, cyclone and flood cover.
Sources: population from the ABS 2021 Census. Distances are straight-line, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). School list from the Queensland Government schools directory. Page reviewed September 2026.