Townsville, Australia: travel guide
North Queensland base for the reef and Magnetic Island
Gateway to the Reef — North Queensland's largest city, serving as a base for Great Barrier Reef and island adventures.
About Townsville
Townsville is North Queensland's main city, a sunny tropical port beneath Castle Hill with the Great Barrier Reef offshore. It is a working city rather than a resort, and its practical, friendly feel suits a trip built around the reef and islands.
Things to do in Townsville include the Strand waterfront with its swimming areas, the climb up Castle Hill for the view and the reef aquarium and museum. Magnetic Island is a short ferry ride away, with bays, bush walks and koalas, and reef dives and snorkelling trips leave from the harbour.
It suits divers, nature lovers and travellers heading up the Queensland coast. The best time to visit Townsville is the drier months from roughly May to October.
- Country
- Australia
- Currency
- AUD
- Time zone
- Australia/Brisbane
- Nearest airport
- TSV
Last updated
Top places to visit in Townsville
Magnetic Island
island · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A 52 km2 national-park island 8 km off Townsville in Cleveland Bay, reached by a 20-minute ferry from Breakwater Terminal — koala-rich granite headlands, fringing reef and a string of swimming bays.
The Strand
foreshore · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Townsville's seaside foreshore at North Ward — a saltwater rock pool, free water park, jetty, BBQ lawns and the Ocean Siren sculpture, all facing Magnetic Island.
Billabong Sanctuary
wildlife-sanctuary · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
An 11-hectare wildlife sanctuary at Nome, 17 km south of Townsville, built around a natural billabong — koalas, cassowaries, estuarine crocodiles and bilbies, with keeper talks through the day.
Riverway
parkland · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverfront parkland stretching along 11 km of the Ross River, with public swimming lagoons, riverside walking and cycling paths, an arts centre and playgrounds.
Queensland Museum Tropics
museum · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The North Queensland museum on Ross Creek, built around the HMS Pandora wreck gallery, with coral, palaeontology and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections.
Castle Hill Lookout
lookout · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The pink granite monolith rising straight out of central Townsville, with a summit road and walking tracks to lookouts over the city, the port and Magnetic Island.
Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island
beach · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest bay on Magnetic Island's north coast and its main beach village — a long sheltered swimming beach, kayak and watersport hire, and beachfront cafes.
Queens Gardens
garden · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A heritage-listed botanic garden at the foot of Castle Hill in North Ward — mature tropical trees, a herb garden and an aviary, an easy walk from The Strand.
Jezzine Barracks & Kissing Point Fortification
fortification · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A heritage-listed coastal fortification and former army barracks on the headland at the end of The Strand, now public parkland with gun emplacements, military and Wulgurukaba heritage trails and sea views.
Things to do
- Magnetic Island Ferry Day Trip Day Trip · 8 h
- Castle Hill Sunrise Summit Walk Hiking · 2 h
- Billabong Sanctuary Wildlife Day Wildlife · 3 h
Where to stay in Townsville
- City Center about AUD 2,000 per night
Queensland tropical city
Getting to Townsville
Airport: Townsville (TSV)
Getting around
- Bus
- Car Rental Self
- Ferry
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Backpacker job-deposit
Major tourist zones
Online "casual work" offer demands $50–200 deposit for "uniform/training"; job doesn't exist.
How to avoid it: Never pay deposit for a job before starting. Use official jobactive portal.
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Frequently asked questions about Townsville
- What are the main places to visit in Townsville?
- Places covered in our Townsville guide include Magnetic Island, The Strand, Billabong Sanctuary, Riverway, Queensland Museum Tropics.
- Where should I stay in Townsville?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Townsville: City Center.
- How do I get around Townsville?
- Ways to get around Townsville covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Ferry, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Townsville?
- Scams reported to us for Townsville include Backpacker job-deposit. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Townsville?
- The nearest airport to Townsville has the code TSV.