From the heights of Castle Hill to palm tree lined boardwalks, from Magnetic Island to the Great Barrier Reef, Townsville in tropical Queensland is a great place to visit. This is my guide to the best things to do in Townsville, Queensland.
As part of my wife and I’s failed attempt at the lap of Australia, we spent a few days exploring Townsville in tropical Queensland, around 350km south of Cairns, and quickly settled into its easy-going lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for relaxing walks along the beachfront promenade with palm trees as far as your eye can see or 360° views from Castle Hill across to the beautiful Magnetic Island or cool street art murals, Townsville is a place that you could easily stay for a week or so.
To fill up your time here, have a look through my guide to the best things to do in Townsville. You won’t be disappointed!
THINGS TO DO IN TOWNSVILLE
CASTLE HILL
At just under 1,000ft, Castle Hill dominates Townsville’s skyline. Only a few feet away from being classified as a mountain, you can’t visit Townsville without experiencing this giant pink granite monolith which reminds me so much of the Rock of Gibraltar. It splits the city in two with most of Townsville’s attractions lying between Castle Hill and the coast.
If you have a car, you should definitely drive the 2.6km road winding up Castle Hill to the summit so you can soak in those magnificent views across to Magnetic Island and beyond. For those with a good level of fitness, you can take the Goat Track that consists of 758 steps up the steep slopes! Either way, those 360° views from the top are more than worth it.
THE STRAND
When I dreamt of visiting Townsville, it was the Strand, the city’s iconic foreshore that always came to mind. Stretching 2.2km, the Strand is a palm-tree lined beachfront boardwalk with incredible views across to Magnetic Island. I could wander this boardwalk indefinitely I would be happy. There are playgrounds, picnic spots, bars and restaurants, a splash park and a protected lagoon for swimming. This is heaven.
STREET ART
Townsville’s street art scene was far more eclectic that I imagined. The local council encourages the painting of murals across the city with a walking trail created to ensure that you don’t miss any of the highlights. I wrote in a lot more detail about street art in Townsville but I’d highly recommend grabbing a map from the visitor information centre and taking some time to explore the city streets looking for the best artwork. The majority of the artwork is situated on Sturt and Ogden streets.
TOWNSVILLE BREWING CO
Sipping a cold beer on the small terrace at Townsville Brewery Co was actually one of my favourite things we did when we visited Townsville. Firstly, the building is beautiful. This independent craft brewery is housed within the old Townsville General Post Office which opened in 1889 with its iconic clock tower and classic Victorian design. It feels like an old pub inside, classicly Australian, with great pub food and even better beer; I loved the Tropical Coast Pale Ale.
DAY TRIP TO MAGNETIC ISLAND
One of the best things to do in Townsville lies just off the coast, a short twenty minute ferry ride away. Magnetic Island, or ‘Maggie’ as it’s often called by locals, is simply stunning with its empty white sand beaches, crystal clear seas, historic WWII walks and resident koalas. We hired a topless car (barbie car) on the island and drove ourselves around exploring basically living the dream for just one day. If you’ve more time to spare, I’d highly recommend staying on Maggie for longer and really sinking into its laid back rhythm.
EXPLORE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Ah, the Great Barrier Reef. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the only living thing on Earth visible from space. Any trip to Australia would not be complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef and Townsville is one of the most popular places to enjoy a day trip from. We visited the reef from Cairns though apparently the reef is in a better condition the further south you go. It only takes two hours to get to the Great Barrier Reef from Townsville following which you can enjoy this unique underwater world by snorkelling or diving. We saw reef sharks, sea turtles and huge Maori Wrasse fish and, although we saw evidence of coral bleaching, I honestly would say that everyone needs to visit the Great Barrier Reef at least once in their lifetime.
VISIT WALLAMAN FALLS
Just over 2 hours drive away, in the Girringun National Park, lies Australia’s tallest single drop waterfall. Australia is surprisingly full of amazing waterfalls (so many more than I expected) but Wallaman Falls is the best of them all, cascading 268 metres down a sheer cliff face. If you’re able to, descend via the tough Djyinda Track to the bottom of the waterfall for epic views and amazing photo opportunities. It’s a tricky hike but very much worth it. If you want to know more about Wallaman Falls, head to my separate guide here.
WHERE TO STAY IN TOWNSVILLE
When we visited Townsville, we were on a strict budget. If we were to complete the entire lap of Australia, we had to make sure that we saved money where we could. We found a free camp on WikiCamps just on the outskirts of Townsville next to a petrol station; we stayed there for two nights but it meant we had money to spend on visiting Magnetic Island. If I was visiting again, and hopefully we will be one day, I would definitely look at staying at The Ville Resort (beautiful pool area and great location) or at Ardo next door for the most incredible infinity pool. Compared to hotel prices in the UK at the moment, I would say these offer incredible value for money.
As you can see, Townsville is a must-stop on any road trip along the east coast of Australia and hopefully this guide to the best things to do in Townsville will help you plan your next visit!
WHERE NEXT?
Ok, let’s be honest, it’s taken me long enough to find the time to publish guides covering my time in Australia. Now though, the majority of them are linked below, so wherever you’re heading you’re likely to find what you need below!
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