15 Unmissable Things to do in Townsville, Queensland

Nestled in the Tropical North Queensland, with the Great Barrier Reef to one side and the towering peak of Mount Steward to the other, there are plenty of adventures to be had in Townsville.

Townsville is best known for being the gateway to Magnet Island, a remote island with pristine beaches and spectacular views, but it offers much more than this.

There are tons of fun and exciting things to do in Townsville, making it a place you want to stop and stay a while.

Relax on The Strand

[{"selector":"#anim-b7539869-9b7a-46b4-b736-033a105dd501","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea587ffd-6c9c-4b34-8d6e-7a3edd704378","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Strand lifts Townsville up. It’s a 2.2km long beachfront playground with water parks and playgrounds for the kids, a lovely walking path, BBQ’s, cafes and restaurants.

[{"selector":"#anim-1eff4ae4-304d-4ebb-b7f5-dee9af1876cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-521e53db-0a68-4291-82f5-feb2dc4ec961","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Take a stroll along the promenade, visit the Rockpool Water Park and cool off on the water slides, unpack a picnic on the beach, or simply enjoy a sunrise or sunset. The Strand is the place to be if you want to enjoy the tropics of Queensland and enjoy being by the ocean.

Visit The Best Aquarium in Australia, Reef HQ

[{"selector":"#anim-7a0f285d-48f2-4d24-b2ef-6a2e8accb215","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1bde2f5-cdb2-4e7b-ba74-d1391349aaa5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Reef HQ is definitely the best aquarium I’ve been to in Australia, possibly the world. Speaking of the world, it is the largest living coral reef aquarium in the world!

[{"selector":"#anim-dff013d7-c5f8-4b8e-a9e5-c93277c17e00","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7b0b7bd-8958-4d4f-ad74-caf252d835db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Even if you plan on scuba diving or snorkelling the real Great Barrier Reef, I think this is worth a visit to see the vibrant coral and sea life up close and learn so much about the reef system and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Hike Up Castle Hill

[{"selector":"#anim-23c30331-e5d4-40d4-a69b-81d1f484353e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-593bb7a5-7ff9-4488-bba8-591a65be1c06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This 286m high rock is the most popular walking trail in Townsville and there are various walking tracks – called the goat tracks that can take you to the summit.

Swipe up to read the full post!