There’s something truly wild and wonderful brewing in North Queensland, and it kicks off with the thundering roar of engines. From 5-7 September, the coastal town of Bowen will explode into action as hundreds of off-road bikes and buggies unleash hell in the seventh annual Don River Dash.
Set at the top of the Whitsundays, the Don River Dash isn’t just another race. It’s a high-octane, adrenaline-drenched adventure where man and machine battle heat, sand, and fatigue in one of the most visually stunning off-road arenas in Australia. And make no mistake: this is no Sunday cruise. This is a full-send, hold-on-tight, gut-punch of a race through a dry riverbed that transforms into a battleground of whoops, rocks, water crossings and dust storms.
Welcome to the Don. Queensland’s answer to Baja.
FROM MANGOES TO MAYHEM
If you’re going racing, you might as well do it somewhere epic – and Bowen delivers. This coastal gem was just crowned Queensland’s Top Tourism Town, its Big Mango named the state’s best ‘Big Thing’, and local favourite Birds Fish Bar now officially serves up Queensland’s best fish and chips.
But don’t let the laid-back vibe fool you. During Don River Dash weekend, Bowen turns into the epicentre of off-road chaos. Engines echo through the riverbed, dust clouds hang thick in the air, and the whole town buzzes with the rumble of race-day anticipation.
“The roar of engines through the dry riverbed, the dust clouds, the camaraderie – it’s all part of what makes this race iconic,” says Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins. “It’s more than a race – it’s a full-blown experience. From the beaches to the bush, Bowen has adventure written all over it.”
A RIVERBED BUILT FOR RACING
The Don River Dash is a beast of its own. The course is brutal – six 50km laps through deep sand, rocks and ever-changing terrain that keeps riders on their toes. Unlike most enduro events, it’s also super spectator-friendly. With viewing points just metres from the track, the energy from the sidelines spills straight into the race.
“There’s nothing else like ripping wide open through a dry riverbed with a roaring crowd just a few steps away,” says Michael Marson, President of Burdekin Offroaders and one of the event’s original organisers. “Every year, we see the level of talent grow – from local legends to national champions – and the support from the Bowen community is unreal.”
It might still be in its first decade, but the Dash already gets mentioned in the same breath as Finke – and that’s saying something.
The vision for the event was born from a chopper ride in 2018. When seasoned off-road racer Talbot Cox spotted the riverbed from above, he was struck by its resemblance to the famed Baja 1000 in Mexico, a race he and Michael Marson had just competed in the year before.
That moment lit a fire. With support from Burdekin locals Dave and Courtney Muir, along with Bowen’s own Chris Land, the Don River Dash was born. What started as a wild idea has grown into a headline act on the Aussie off-road calendar.
PROS AND PRIVATEERS
The Don River Dash pulls a unique mix of racers – from weekend warriors to national and world champs. Past line-ups have included legends like Toby Price, Dean Ferris, Ben Grabham, and David and Liam Walsh. In the Auto division, it’s also seen the original brains behind the event – Cox, Marson, the Muirs and Land – get behind the wheel.
But the magic of the Don isn’t just in the names – it’s in the shared passion. The pits are a melting pot of factory rigs and backyard weapons, where top riders swap tips with first-timers and local kids line up for autographs from their idols.
Bec Koppe, the current Queen of the River and a fierce competitor in her own right, says the Dash is the highlight of her year. “You’ve got to train hard – five hours in soft sand is no joke. But I love it. The challenge, the energy, the people. This race means everything.”
For local rider Tom Jack, the race is as raw and real as it gets. He says, “Competing in the Don River Dash is a full on rush. Once you hit that river sand, it’s full send – battling other riders, the chopped up track, and your mind the whole way. What I love most is seeing the toughness and grit of the riders. I’ve watched people cross the line with broken bikes or broken bodies, just to earn the glory of saying ‘I finished the Don’.”
It’s not just physical toughness the Don demands – it’s mental grit. When the temperature climbs, the track breaks down, the arm pump starts, and the only thing keeping you in the fight is determination. “Every lap throws something new at you,” says seasoned competitor Ivan Long. “The terrain here is unlike any other – it’s a true test of endurance and skill.”
BEYOND THE BIKES
Off the track, Bowen is pure paradise. With its turquoise bays, snorkel-ready fringing reefs and coastal trails, this is the kind of place where post-race recovery means a swim in the Coral Sea or a beer at sunset with views over beautiful Greys Bay.
There’s no need to jump on a boat or book a tour – pretty coral reefs are just 50m offshore at Horseshoe Bay. Within a 10-minute drive of the pits, you can be hiking to a lookout, floating in crystal waters or chowing down on fresh seafood. And with Airlie Beach just an hour away, the full Whitsunday experience is at your fingertips.
Racers can camp at the Bowen Showgrounds, just minutes from the track. There’s a cracking atmosphere the night before the big race, with food trucks and live music setting the vibe. Come sunrise, you’re woken by the roar of trophy trucks heading out for battle in the Auto division, and after a cruisy morning, bikes start dropping into the riverbed from midday.
Long says the atmosphere is electric. “It’s like being at a festival that happens to have one of the gnarliest races in the country. There’s nothing else like it.”
COME FOR THE RACE, STAY FOR THE RIDE
The Don River Dash is more than just a date on the calendar – it’s a proving ground for the brave and a celebration for the passionate. It’s where friendships are forged in sand and sweat, where legends ride alongside weekend warriors, and where every throttle twist writes a story in the dust.
For anyone who eats roost for breakfast and lives for that wide-open feeling, the Don River Dash is calling.
So whether you’re strapping on your boots or loading up the camper to catch the action trackside, make sure Bowen is in your September diary. Come for the race, stay for the adventure.
The Don awaits.
