Best Things To Travel in Townsville
Discover ancient rain-forests and red deserts, climb snow-capped mountains and swim in clear waters fringed by white-sand beaches. Escape the city and get close to Australian animals in their natural habitats. There's so much wild beauty in Australia, but here are just a few of the experiences you won't want to miss.
1. Waters Edge The Strand
Located directly opposite the beach and featuring views to Magnetic Island and Cleveland Bay, Waters Edge Resort has an outdoor swimming pool, outdoor spa pool, and free secure covered car parking. Free WiFi is provided.
Each of these renovated studio apartments at Waters Edge Resort Townsville includes air conditioning, a TV with cable channels, and a private balcony. All have a kitchenette with refrigerator, stove, microwave, cutlery, and crockery.
Guests can relax on the sun terrace by the tropical palm-fringed pool or enjoy an outdoor BBQ. Dry cleaning and laundry services are available.
Situated right on The Strand, Waters Edge is a 5-minute walk from Townsville city centre and a 10-minute walk from The Strand Water Park. Reef HQ indoor aquarium is 20 minutes’ walk away.
This property also has one of the best-rated locations in Townsville! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.
Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.6 for a two-person trip.
This property is also rated for the best value in Townsville! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
Source — Booking.com
2. Townsville Palmetum
The Palmetum is a unique tropical experience covering over 17 hectares. It is a botanical garden featuring one family of plants - the palms. Approximately 60 species of palms are native to Australia and most are represented in the Palmetum. The collection contains around 300 species, many rare and threatened in their natural habitat.
The Palmetum has been designed to display plants in environmental context to habitat type from the dry tropics to the wet tropical lowlands. In addition to these recreated habitats, there are expansive lawns and water features frequented by numerous bird species.
The Palmetum features the magnificent 'Tumbetin Lodge'- a heritage building with a long history. Facilities include art exhibitions, public amenities, meeting rooms, and a restaurant and tea room. The Palmetum also features a Memorial to the Black Hawk Disaster.
Source — Queensland.com
3. Magnetic Island
Palm-fringed beaches, endless sunshine, koalas, hiking trails, topless barbie cars, snorkelling adventures, and the list goes on! Just a short 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville,
Magnetic Island boasts the natural beauty and serenity of an island paradise within a thriving community with more than 2,500 people calling the Magnetic Island home. From backpacker hostels to holiday homes, luxury resorts to quaint BnB's, the island offers a huge range of accommodation options, with something to suit everyone's travel style.
Must Do's on Magnetic Island
1. The Forts Walk: Combine WWII history, stunning ocean vistas and regular sightings of koalas and you've stumbled across Magnetic Island's famous Forts Walk!
2. Sail into the Sunset: With a glass in hand and sunset hues to admire while sailing in paradise... What more could you want on an island escape? Check out Big Mama Sailing or Pilgrim Sailing to begin your sailing adventure.
3. Take a walk on the wild side: Get up close and personal with Aussie wildlife at Bungalow Bay Koala Sanctuary. When you are visiting an island famous for being Northern Australia's largest koala population - a koala cuddle is an absolute must!
Source — Townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au
4. The Museum of Tropical QLD
This little gem of a museum differs from many other similar attractions around the country by combining typical historical exhibitions with its focus on all-things-tropical. As the name suggests, Townsville's Museum of Tropical Queensland puts a large emphasis on the likes of the natural history of rain-forests, maritime exploration, modern and ancient animals that dwell in the tropics and – of course – the ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef.
Set out over 3 levels, it's an informative, interactive and hands-on museum that's highly kid-friendly. The Museum of Tropical QLD has multiple permanent exhibits, the most obvious of which can be seen upon entering - life-sized replica bow of the HMS Pandora, a British ship that sunk back in 1791. The Pandora's exhibition is thorough and details both the history of the ship, how its guns and weaponry functioned, and an in-depth look at life for both crew and prisoners during this period of maritime history.
Next up is the facility's impressive rain-forest area, which talks visitors on a bridge journey through a simulated rain-forest canopy that takes a detailed look not only at the animal and plant inhabitants of the rain-forests of QLD and Australia as a whole but also the culture and history of their indigenous inhabitants.
It also offers a replica rain-forest floor that helps to pay tribute to the tiny – yet no less important – creatures that sometimes go unnoticed amongst these vast ecosystems. Many of the other sections of the museum deal with the aquatic, with the tropical region's mangroves and Great Barrier Reef, demonstrated in detail via various galleries and dioramas that showcase all the amphibians, fish and coral that give Tropical QLD its natural, vibrant colours on both land and sea.
While the word “museum” doesn't typically translate to “fun for kids”, the Museum of Tropical QLD is a strong exception to that rule. There's plenty for them to see and do as the interactive focus allows them to perform such activities as digging for fossils, taking part in optical illusions, discovering the finer points of the human body, experiment with science and much more – and all while hopefully learning a few things!
The newest addition to the museum – a dinosaur exhibit boasting extremely lifelike dinosaurs, only serves to add to the offerings with to-scale dinos to get up close to and take a photo with, as well as dioramas showing baby dinosaurs hatching.
While it's not a large museum – expect to allocate around 2-3 hours for the average visitor – the offerings and interactivity make the Museum of Tropical North QLD well worth a visit while in Townsville; and, as an added bonus, it's located right next to one of the other attractions featured below on this list that can be combined for one of Townsville's best attraction-based days out for families.
Source — Experienceoz.com.au
5. The Strand
The Strand is a 2.2km world-class beachfront promenade custom-built for enjoyment. Along with this palm tree-studded stretches are bike and walkway paths, safe swimming beaches, picturesque picnic spots, a water park and chic restaurants and bars with to-die-for water views.
You can enjoy the free family fun of the water park, fish off the pier, choose to get active with a jog, or simply laze on Australia's Cleanest Beach and enjoy the million-dollar views to Magnetic Island. The Strand offers the best of all worlds.
Source — Townsville.qld.gov.au
6. Wallaman Falls, Girringun National Park
Discover Wallaman Falls, Australia's highest permanent single drop waterfall, in Girringun National Park, west of Ingham. Surrounded by World Heritage rainforest, Stony Creek plunges 268 metres in a clear single-drop, often through a rainbow-fringed cloud of mist.
Gaze at Wallaman Falls from the main lookout then walk to the second lookout which provides stunning views of the gorge and the Herbert River Valley.
Explore the rain-forest and enjoy spectacular gorge views on one of the short walking tracks near the falls.
Wallaman Falls is within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
Girringun National Park is also the gateway to the Wet Tropics Great Walks. Discover plunging waterfalls, lush gorges, and inspirational views as you tackle one of the two days walks that start from Wallaman Falls and trek down the Herbert River valley.
Visit for a day to view the falls and relax over a picnic in the day-use area near the falls lookout, or stay longer with an overnight camp beside Stony Creek.
Source — Queensland.com
7. Scramble Track
Also known as “Suicide” and “Heartbreak”, this unmarked trail takes you around the back of the summit to join the Radar Hill short walk. With two descent climbs — the last being the most significant — this trail is very steep and challenging (both physically and in terms of the unstable terrain) and is not for the faint-hearted.
There are some amazing views when you pause after the first climb that looks out to Magnetic Island and back over the suburbs of Townsville, out to the ranges.
You will find it opposite the top of the Ironbark Track and it’s a great way to end that walk with a bang. Alternatively, turn left and it eventually connects with the Erythrina Track. (P.S: You may encounter a bike heading downhill on the rare occasion, so keep your eyes and ears open while you’re puffing).
Source — Thegotownsville.com.au
8. Townsville Helicopter Tour
Enjoy breathtaking views of Townsville and Cleveland Bay during a helicopter flight with an expert pilot as your guide. Choose from either a shorter flight around Townsville or a longer flight that also takes you over Magnetic Island. The state-of-the-art helicopter flies over Castle Hill, the Strand, Townsville Port, Ross River, and the Coral Sea.
Upgrade to include Magnetic Island and portions of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Your pilot will provide expert commentary about Townsville’s highlights and history for a comprehensive overview of this stunning region.
You can request hotel pick up or make your own way to the Townsville Airport, where you meet an expert pilot and receive a safety orientation before boarding the helicopter. Up in the sky, the pilot provides detailed commentary about all the sights you see. If you have a question, just ask on a two-way audio headset.
Read on to learn about the two flights you can choose from City Flight (10 minutes): Fly over Townsville by helicopter for aerial views of all the key landmarks, including the iconic Castle Hill, a heritage-listed pink granite mountain that stands 938 feet (286 meters) high in the heart of Townsville.
Take in the long sandy beaches of the Strand and the bustling activity around Townsville Port, the third largest seaport in Queensland. Then follow the Ross River from the port through the city for a final look from above before gently landing at the airport to end your amazing flight. Magnetic Island Scenic Flight (30 minutes): See all the same sights as the City Flight option above, and fly over Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island, located five miles (8 km) offshore from the city of Townsville.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Cleveland Bay and the surrounding waters of the Coral Sea host abundant marine wildlife and fringing reefs, some visible from the air. Glide over Magnetic Island to admire the scenery of rugged cliffs, dense rain-forest and secluded bays with clear turquoise waters.
Your pilot points out the landmarks of this pristine island, where national parks protect nearly 70 percent of the land. Keep your camera handy for remarkable views that you can only get from the air. Enjoy the return journey to Townsville Airport to end your flight.
Source — Lonelyplanet.com
9. Townsville Military Tours
I absolutely loved my half-day experience with Townsville Military Tours. I wasn’t expecting such a valuable insight into our nation’s military history from the Boer War II to current operations in Afghanistan. I was sad that during my years growing up we only really heard of Gallipoli when there were so many soldiers and RAF doing heroic things during World War II.
Townsville was very important during the Second World War, and it’s now the biggest army base in Australia. Toby, founder, and guide of the tour comes from a military background and was so passionate and knowledgeable about our military history.
Toby made the tour come alive with his stories and had the tears rolling down my face in the first 30 minutes. I was fascinated and walked away with such a greater pride and admiration for the strength and resilience of our nation and gratitude for those who serve.
Source — Ytravelblog.com
10. River to Mountain
Discover those hidden secrets of Townsville that most visitors never get to see. View our university and regional hospital, enjoy a walk around our Riverway precinct and hear stories about the early explorers of the region.
Enjoy your morning tea at the Heritage Tea rooms the oldest building of its type in North Queensland and experience the views from Thornton’s gap at the top of the mountain range and so much more.
This tour takes you away from the city to experience our river area and up into the mountains above Townsville. We explain how those early pioneering years and events, laid the foundation for Townsville to become the largest city in northern Australia.
Source — Expedia.com
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