Townsville is the biggest city in North Queensland and is also another gateway to the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. With more than 320-days of sunshine every year; historic gold rush towns and World Heritage listed national parks, the Townsville city is home to some amazing natural landscapes and attractions.
Popular attractions include a long tropical beach, a garden strip, and the strand, Reef HQ, a riverfront parkland attraction situated on the banks of Ross River, a large tropical aquarium holding many of the Great Barrier Reef’s native fauna and flora, the Museum of Tropical Queensland and the Townsville Sports Reserve.
Top 4 Things to do in Townsville
The Strand
Strand is undoubtedly the number one place to visit in Townsville. The Strand has all the rock pools for swimming, an awesome spot for paddle boarding and many great cafes and pubs. The Strand has been a part of Townsville’s history since the city was founded in the mid-19th century. The present beach was opened in the year 1999 after the old beach was seriously destroyed and eroded after heavy rainfall and wind from the Tropical Cyclone Sid in January 1998 and other monsoonal storms between 1997 and 1998. However, that has not stopped both locals and tourist from flocking down to The Strand every day and on the weekends. Locals and tourists will enjoy the waterpark, Strand Park, the surf lifesaving club, the many barbecue areas and the rock pools.
Castle Hill
Now this is the hill, situated almost in the center of the city Castle Hill. If you love to do some work outs then Castle Hill is your best choice. There are different ways to the top, by goat track or by road. A little advice though, if you are going to walk “The Hill”, it is advisable that you do it early in the morning or late afternoon away from the heat of the day.
Reef HQ
Townsville is almost the center of The Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most amazing natural gifts. It is blessed with the spectacular beauty of the universe’s largest coral reef. The reef comprises of over 3,000 coral cays and reef systems and contains plenty of marine life and literally hundreds of attractive tropical islands with some of the most amazing sun soaked, golden beaches you could experience.
At the Reef HQ you can explore the Great Barrier Reef, at the universe’s largest living coral reef aquarium. Reef HQ Aquarium will certainly open your eyes to a magnificent world filled hundreds and thousands of appealing marine creatures. With amazing exhibits the aquarium offers an ever changing, always mesmerizing experience, showcasing extraordinary and rare features of the Great Barrier Reef.
Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is just 25-minutes ferry ride from Townsville, about half way between the Whitsundays/Airlie Beach and Cairns, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage listed area, and it is where you will find a lot of hidden treasures.
Almost 70 percent of this Island is National Park. 24 kilometres of tracks guide tourists through thickly wooded bushy land, ranging from stunted eucalyptus and dry wattles to moist forested valleys, ideal for the avid birdwatcher or bush walker.
There is something for everyone in Townsville and the area is a must visit for every tourist venturing in the north of Queensland.