The Best Travel Guide to Townsville

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Townsville

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Oceania Australia Townsville

Overview

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Townsville The guide was updated: 2022-06-05

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Townsville is a very popular destination for sun seekers and provides easy access to the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville is situated in the dry tropical region and serves as a gateway to the Outback, wet tropical rainforest, with wetlands teeming with bird life. A number of tropical islands can be reached easily reached from Townsville. Boasting a 2.5 km beachfront area known as the Strand, it is an exciting and vibrant city to visit.

Facts

Population:	193,601 (Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population, 2017)
Currency:	Australian Dollar (AUD) $1 = 100 cents
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Fire, Ambulance and Police: 000
Newspapers:	North Queensland Register Townsville Bulletin Southern Cross Ten WIN News Townsville 7News
Tourist information:	Townsville Bulletin Square Visitor Information Centre Bulletin Square, 340 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD www.townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au +61 7 4721 3660 tel@tel.com.au

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Section in Townsville

There is plenty to do and see in and around Townsville. The tropical climate allows for lots of water-based activities, such as the free water park, swimming pools and Reef HQ Aquarium. The wreck of the SS Yongala just off the North Queensland coast, measuring more than 100 metres, has been labelled one of the world’s top 10 diving sites. Also, just 135 km to the southwest is Charters Towers, a living history site, which was established during the gold trade in the late 1800s. Today it contains a number of superb historic buildings. For families and nature lovers, there is Billabong Sanctuary with its wombats and koalas, as well as the Reef HQ on Flinders Street. Culture is catered to at the Aboriginal Centre and at the National Heritage Complex in the West End.

The Strand

The Strand

Townsville’s beachfront promenade is a 2.5 km stretch of parkland dotted with barbecue and picnic areas, exercise facilities and restaurants — offering fun for the whole family. The free water park delights adults and children alike. With its beautiful views the spot is also a great choice for a romantic stroll. At the northern end of The Strand sits The Rockpool. It’s a stinger-free ocean-water pool where you can swim for free. The pool is wheelchair accessible and a good splash area for the young ones.

Mount Stuart

Mount Stuart

The amazing views from Mount Stuart's lookout point stretch over Townsville all the way to Magnetic Island. This point above the clouds can be accessed viA Mount Stuart Road from Stuart Drive in Roseneath. Mount Stuart is a popular outdoor recreational area, including trail running, mountain biking and rock climbing.

Museum of Tropical Queensland

Museum of Tropical Queensland

Museum of Tropical Queensland is located in the same complex as the Reef HQ Aquarium and holds information about natural history, archaeology and history. At this museum, local history is put in global context with world-class artefacts and replicas. Learn about the "Mutiny on the Bounty", the story of the Pandora, the efforts of the Royal Navy to recover the “pirated” ship and bring the mutineers to justice. One of our most popular areas for kids is the Enchanted Rainforest, which focuses on one of North Queensland’s most iconic ecosystems. Children can learn about rainforest plants and animals in a safe and fun environment.

Cape Pallarenda

Cape Pallarenda

The Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park is a 44-hectare protected conservation park 10 km north-east of Townsville. The park offers 15 walking and mountain biking trails of varying lengths and difficulty, fishing and boating, bird watching and shell collecting. Cape Pallarenda was a strategic defence location in World War II and structured from that era can be spotted along the walking trails. The former Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station is now heritage-listed. It was built in 1915–1916 using the materials brought over from the original quarantine station on Magnetic Island.

Alligator Creek

Alligator Creek

Bowling Green Bay National Park is home to Alligator Creek, which flows between Mount Elliot and Saddle Mountain. The lookout spot and bathing area are located about 5 km along Alligator Creek Road. For a more active day and a more private bathing experience, hike into Alligator Creek falls.Be sure to bring plenty of snacks, water and sunscreen for this 17 km trail.

Street Art Trail

Street Art Trail

Townsville Street Art Trail takes you through 15 works of art hidden in alleys, laneways and on warehouse walls. Head into the city centre for the biggest concentration of murals. The oldest and most well-known piece of guerrilla street art is the ‘Saint’ on Castle Hill — painted in the 1970s in the early hours of Saint Patrick’s Day by local students. It's naive stick figure aesthetic is pure delight.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island

Escape to a tropical island, nearby Magnetic (or “Maggie” to locals). The island offers a wide range of activities for a perfect day off. Hop on the ferry and spend the day swimming, sun bathing or just relaxing at one of the many beautiful bays or beaches on Magnetic Island.

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Discover the magical colours of the tropical marine fish and coral of the Great Barrier Reef. Departing from Townsville, it takes only 2 hours to get there. A full day adventure takes you to the crystal clear waters and includes snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, a marine biology presentation and a scrumptious buffet lunch. There are several companies offering various tour to the Reef. Here is just one of them:

Townsville Heritage Centre

Townsville Heritage Centre

The National Trust of Australia Heritage Centre consists of three quaint Queensland houses dating from the last 150 years. All are furnished in the fashion of the period when they were built. The collection of preserved materials from the past, as well as the annual Heritage festival, present an interesting part of local history and culture.

Billabong Sanctuary

Billabong Sanctuary

Just 17 km south of Townsville crocodiles, snakes, wombats, and koalas call Billabong Sanctuary their home. The sanctuary offers visitors a chance to experience crocodile and snake handling shows, wombat and koala petting and a dip in a resort-sized pool. Explore the diverse fauna and take a picture with these unique species.

Charters Towers

Charters Towers

Just a 90-minute drive from Townsville lies a spot where in 1871 gold was discovered by an Aboriginal boy named Jupiter. Today the town called Charters Towers has 10,000 inhabitants and has some beautifully preserved 19th and early 20th century buildings from its heyday. It is well worth a visit for architecture lovers.

Maritime Museum of Townsville

Maritime Museum of Townsville

The Maritime Museum is a relatively small local maritime museum with an eclectic collection of incredibly detailed model ships, memorabilia, artifacts and informative displays about seafarers life of the past. Lots of interesting facts to discover for adults and great fun for kids, too.

Mission Beach

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a small coastal town about 240 km north of Townsville. For visiting beach lovers, it offers a beautiful stretch of sand for all sorts of activities. Besides the obvious sun bathing you can go skydiving or kayaking. Paddle from South Mission Beach along the coast, passing golden sandy beaches and rocky headlands. As you cruise along, there will be plenty of opportunities to see turtles and many sea birds that frolic along this scenic coastline. Coral Sea Kayaking:

Castle Hill

Castle Hill

Castle Hill is a popular tourist site which offers some of the best views over the city of Townsville. You can drive up there and park at the top. From there you can continue walking or cycling for an even more amazing view over the city and the surrounding area.

Paluma and Crystal Creek Rainforest

Paluma and Crystal Creek Rainforest

Paluma and Crystal Creek Rainforest is a hidden gem and a lovely cooling spot where you can escape the hot summer days and indulge in tranquility. After the hike to the creek, take a plunge into the refreshing waters, have a picnic, barbecue and just enjoy your day in these beautiful surroundings.

The Palmetum

The Palmetum

The Palmetum in the suburb of Annandale is one of three botanical gardens of Townsville. Walk around these lovely surroundings with a rainforest feel and enjoy the tranquility and the variety of plants from different environments, such as rain forest, lagoon, desert and much more. The park offers lots of little out of the way seats that invite you to sit and enjoy the nature.

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