Attractions
Island Life
The Strand
Nature Life
Sporting Heroes
Attractions
The North Queensland region centres on the cities of Townsville and Thuringowa, and extends north to Mission Beach, south to the Burdekin, west to Charters Towers and includes the islands of Magnetic, Dunk, Hinchinbrook, Orpheus and Bedarra. The twin cities of Townsville and Thuringowa with a combined population of 165,000 are the heart of North Queensland. Townsville is considered the capital of North Queensland, being the fourth largest city in the state and largest outside the metropolitan region, as it has many tourist attractions, wonderful shopping, magnificent restaurants and nightlife and a relaxed lifestyle.
Flinders Mall, a palm-fringed shopping precinct in the city centre, provides a relaxed shopping experience. The mall offers a wide range of budget stores, specialist shops and boutiques, eating outlets, and tourism-related shops and services. Many of the shops and stores in Flinders Mall are housed within restored historic buildings, adding charm to the city heart and creating a unique shopping experience.
On Sundays the city mall is transformed into colourful markets, street entertainment and activity with the renowned "Cotters Markets". This is one the largest markets in North Queensland and is restricted to selling only North Queensland arts, crafts, produce and products. Markets are also held on Friday Nights on the Strand from May until December. Willows complex in Thuringowa.
Townsville also offers an additional number of large shopping complexes within the suburban areas of the city. Shopping hours do differ between these suburban areas and the city. Flinders Mall Shops operate all day Monday to Saturday, with Friday night trading and markets on Sundays. Suburban complexes are open all day Monday to Saturday, with late night trading Thursday night.
Island Life
Beautiful Magnetic Island is just a 20-minute ride from the city. With two-thirds of the island protected by National Park, you can enjoy beautiful beaches and secluded coves and discover 25km of walking trails. Seafarers can circumnavigate the island by jet ski, or join a guided sea kayak tour or crew a sailing yacht. Investigate the World War II gun emplacements at The Forts or take a horse ride on Horseshoe Bay. There's a wide choice of accommodation on offer.
For other Island Life experiences, visit Hinchinbrook offshore from Cardwell. One of Australia's largest national parks, this 39,900ha island is one of the richest and most diverse mangrove populations, 22 butterfly species and a mountain peak up to 1000 metres. The challenging 5-day Thorsborne Trail is one of the world's best walks. You can also access romantic coral-fringed hideaway Orpheus Island from Townsville while Dunk and Bedarra islands lie off Mission Beach.
Diving out of Townsville our specialty!
The famous "Yongala Wreck" dive is the best wreck dive in Australia and one of the best in the world.The SS Yongala,a 109metre long steamship, sank in 1911 in a cyclone,with the loss of all lives on board.She lay undiscovered for more than half a century but is now an enchanting wreck dive that has become home to an incredible array of marine life-giant gropers,huge schools of trevally,turtles,sea snakes,moray eels,giant rays and manta rays etc etc!
The new owner of the Civic Guest House, Allan, is an experienced diver, who has dived the Yongala Wreck numerous times, and can offer you the best advice on diving here. Please contact us directly to book your Yongala or Reef dive trip and we will give you 2 hours FREE internet when you arrive! We also offer FREE accommodation and FREE luggage storage when you book overnight dive trips and courses with us!
The Strand Foreshore Development
The Townsville Strand foreshore development officially opened in October 1999, redefining Townsville's appeal as a tropical resort city. This multi-million dollar development is the largest beach and headland creation project of its kind ever developed in Australia. In all 250,000 tonnes of armour rock, 400,000 tonnes of sand, 390,000 tonnes of fill, 70,000 square metres of turf, 16,000 trees and shrubs, 900 palms and 22,500 native groundcover plants were required to complete the protection program.
The Strand now offers a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for locals and visitors to Townsville. Some of the best restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs are located on the Strand as if offers entertainment for any time of the day. Its inclusiveness of people of various ages and interests, visual attractiveness, proximity to the sea and city, cleanliness and sense of safety, and range recreational and social opportunities available to the community are all attributes.
On an average weekend over 10,000 people visit the Strand to take
advantage of the amenities available for use by the public. These
amenities include:
· Two stinger enclosures
· A rock pool
· A basketball court
· An enclosed children's play area
· A water park
· Plenty of space and amenities for family picnics
The finished project ensures the protection of the beaches and rock
wall whilst providing greater opportunities for improved amenity and
passive recreation opportunities.
Townsville's favourite swimming spot, The Rockpool.
Nature Life
Billabong Sanctuary is Australia's best interactive wildlife experience. Nowhere else in Australia will you have the opportunity to interact with so many of Australia's native animals.
The Sanctuary has 3 habitats of rainforest, eucalypt forest and wetlands all in the one easy location, which can be experienced in either a half day or a full day visit. The native animals are displayed in their own environments in natural surroundings; the experience is like that of walking through the Australian bush.
The Sanctuary has many of Australia’s native animals including swans, kookaburras, cockatoos, emus, snakes, lizards, kangaroos, echidnas, koalas, wombats and many more. There are also hands-on experiences provided where you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with many of the animals.
It is about 20 km out of town, so if you don't have a car, we can arrange a package tour to Billabong from our door when you arrive.
Sporting Heroes
Depending on what time of year you visit our wonderful city, you can catch one of the games of local NBL heroes, the Townsville Crocodiles, or truly Australian NRL (National Rugby League) heroes the North Queensland Cowboys. It’s an experience not to miss so make sure you ask at the front desk when you sign in if there are any games on that week-end and help cheer for the local talent.
Townsville Crocodiles – www.crocodiles.com.au
North Queensland Cowboys – www.cowboys.com.au