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Cowley Beach Road

QLDSecondary road7.8 km19 segments
7.9Sports
7.8 kmTotal length
19Segments
6Recorded crashes
17Grey spot segments
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Cowley Beach Road is a 8 km sealed secondary route in Queensland, Australia. It scores 8.1/10 for caravans with highly technical corners and excellent surface. It also rates well for sports cars and EVs and motorcycles.

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Vehicle scores
7.9/10
SPTSportsSealed roads, curviness, mountain passes
7.6/10
MOTMotoTight bends, switchbacks, technical roads
7.7/10
EVEVSmooth surface, sealed roads, range-friendly
6.3/10
4WD4WDGravel access, off-road suitability
8.1/10
VANCaravanSmooth sealed, gentle grades, no steep passes
Segment quality distribution
Sports score - 19 segments
Excellent (8+)45%Good (6-8)41%Fair (4-6)14%

Sports score IQR: 7.0 - 8.6

Surface
Surface coverage
Sealed100%
Score breakdown
Median component scores across all segments
Surface
10.0
Median surface quality. Smooth sealed asphalt scores 10. Chipseal 8. Gravel 5.
Curviness
8.7
Median curviness. Higher scores mean more bends per kilometre.
Speed
10.0
Speed limit suitability. Sweet spot is 60-110 km/h.
Road classSecondary road
8.0
Road classification. Motorways score zero. Tertiary roads score 9.
Traffic
7.0
Estimated traffic density. Lower traffic = higher score.
Elevation
4.0
Elevation change per kilometre. More climbing = higher score.
Crash history
Aggregated across all 19 segments· 24 years of data
6
Total crashes
1
Fatalities
4
Serious injuries
17
Grey spots

Source: State crash data linked to road geometry. Grey spots are segments where curvature geometry mismatches the posted speed limit.

When is this road risky?
Crash conditions - share of recorded crashes by circumstance

Wet road crashes

Crashes that occurred in wet conditions

20%

Night crashes

Crashes that occurred after dark

50%

Based on 24 years of crash records linked to road geometry. Crash breakdown (night, wet, weekends): VIC data 2012-2024. Other states show aggregate counts only.

Road environment
Geometry and climate-derived risk indicators
7.0/10 safety score - higher is safer
Wet road exposure47%
Night driving risk60%
Wind exposure48%
Sun glare risk87%
Wildlife strike risk11%

Risk values derived from road geometry, orientation, weather station data, and satellite canopy cover. 0 = minimal risk, 1 = maximum risk.

Segments
Top 22 segments by sports score
IDSurfaceLengthSportsMotoEV
#96334257Asphalt0.50 km9.29.19.2#97427800Asphalt0.50 km9.29.19.2#96334256Asphalt0.50 km8.88.78.7#97427798Asphalt0.18 km8.88.78.7#97427807Asphalt0.50 km8.68.58.4#96334253Asphalt0.50 km8.68.58.4#96334250Asphalt0.23 km8.68.58.4#96334252Asphalt0.50 km8.68.58.4#97427801Asphalt0.50 km8.28.18.2#96334258Asphalt0.19 km7.97.78.0#96334249Asphalt0.40 km7.87.67.7#97427802Asphalt0.50 km7.87.57.5#96334254Asphalt0.50 km7.47.37.1#96334255Asphalt0.50 km7.47.37.1#97427803Asphalt0.50 km7.27.06.9#97427806Asphalt0.50 km7.26.87.0#96334251Asphalt0.50 km6.96.57.0#97427809Asphalt0.02 km6.56.27.1#97427799Asphalt0.01 km6.46.06.8#97427805Asphalt0.01 km6.05.56.1#97427804Asphalt0.07 km6.05.56.1#97427808Asphalt0.19 km6.05.56.1
API reference
Road aggregate data via the Contour API
GET/api/v1/roads/cowley-beach-road-qldRoad aggregate - scores, stats, risk profile, activity, segment list
GET/api/v1/roads/search?q=Cowley%20Beach%20Road&state=QLDSearch roads by name

Councils & Government

This road is part of QLD's road network. Contour scores every road in Australia for surface condition, curviness, grey spot classification, and 4WD track passability. If your organisation manages this road or promotes tourism in the region, this data is available via API.

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Frequently asked questions
How long is Cowley Beach Road?+

Cowley Beach Road is approximately 8 km long. At typical touring speeds, expect around 1 hour of driving end to end, excluding stops.

Is Cowley Beach Road sealed?+

Yes. Cowley Beach Road is fully sealed for its entire length.

Is Cowley Beach Road good for motorcycles?+

Yes. Cowley Beach Road scores 7.6/10 for motorcycles, placing it among the stronger rides in the region. Corners, surface and elevation all contribute to the rating.

Can I drive Cowley Beach Road in a caravan?+

Yes. Cowley Beach Road scores 8.1/10 for caravans, making it a reasonable choice for towing. Watch for changes in surface and any steep gradients.

Is Cowley Beach Road good for an EV?+

Yes. Cowley Beach Road scores 7.7/10 for EVs. Regenerative braking on any elevation changes and smooth throttle control on the corners will both feel at home here.

Are there any dangerous sections on Cowley Beach Road?+

Contour has identified 17 grey spots on Cowley Beach Road - sections where the road geometry does not match the posted speed limit. Take extra care in wet or low-visibility conditions.

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Road data last updated: 16 April 2026. Scores are based on road geometry, surface, and traffic data. Always drive to conditions and follow local road rules.

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