The 12 best things to do in Townsville

Standing tall and proud in the centre of town is Castle Hill, a giant pink granite monolith that’s hiked by more than 2,500 locals daily. Once a strategic lookout for American soldiers during World War II, the hill boasts panoramic 360-degree views of Magnetic Island and beyond. If you’ve already hit your daily step count, you can swap the 1,300 stairs for an easy drive to the summit. Time your ascent with sunrise or sunset for the most spectacular views.

Feeling the pull towards paradise? It’s not just your imagination, it’s the irresistible charm of Magnetic Island. Just a breezy 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville, this untouched piece of paradise dazzles with endless sunshine, shipwrecks, snorkelling escapades, hiking trails, and Northern Australia’s largest koala colony. You can hop on a SeaLink ferry from Breakwater Terminal, or explore the island’s hidden gems aboard a locally-operated yacht with Big Mama. 

You can live your best Little Mermaid fantasy at the Great Barrier Reef – the largest coral reef in the entire world. Made up of more than 100 islands and 3,000 individual reef systems, this is easily one of Australia’s most sought-after tourist hot spots. You can experience the technicolour marvels of the reef on and off the water, with day trips from Townsville offering snorkelling, scuba diving, glass-bottomed boat viewing, helicopter tours, whale watching and swimming with dolphins. 

Officially opened in 2020, the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is a large-scale sculpture trail that’s the largest and oldest of its kind in Australia. Here, artworks don’t hang on walls but stand deep on the ocean floor, serving as both stunning sculptures and artificial reefs. Divers can explore 'The Coral Greenhouse', which features 17 hyper-realistic human sculptures at a depth of 16 metres, while snorkelers can marvel at ‘Ocean Sentinels’, a new series of hybrid human-marine sculptures positioned in more shallow waters. 

Everything tastes better when grandma makes it. Head to this wholesome eatery on Eyre Street for homestyle cooking made from recipes passed down by real grandmas and grandpas from all around the world. You could start your morning in the Mediterranean with grandma Haya’s famous shakshuka, then take a detour in Greece with grandma Fedra’s veal moussaka or Italy with grandpa Vince’s homemade beef bolognese. Eastern Europe is represented with traditional blintzes (rolled crepes), while Aussie classics like ricotta pancakes and avo toast also get a run on the menu. Bonus: you can dine with your dog on one of the sunny footpath tables out front. 

Take a deep breath of refreshing mountain air in Australia’s southernmost patch of rainforest, just a 45-minute drive from Townsville city. Known as the ‘southern getaway’ to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, this park offers two diverse sections, filled with hiking trails, swimming holes and picnic spots. Popular hikes include to Jourama Waterfall, Mount Spec and Mount Halifax, but there are also shorter tracks, like to McClelland’s Lookout, Birthday Creek Falls and the Paluma Rainforest Walk. Pack swimmers for a dip at Paradise Waterhole and the Rockslides at Big Crystal Creek, which is only a short detour off the Bruce Highway. 

Wake up to views of the glittering Coral Sea at Townsville’s first-ever luxury hotel. Located right by the water’s edge, Ardo’s 132 elegant rooms and suites feature private courtyards or balconies, individually controlled cooling, plush king beds and a mischievous minibar. You won’t ever need to leave the resort, which also boasts a dazzling day spa, complimentary access to the neighbouring gym, a heated pool with sun loungers, an infinity rooftop pool and bar for sunset sips, a punchy Japanese diner, and a seafood-focused fine diner, Marmor.

Chasing waterfalls should definitely top your holiday hit list considering Townsville is within driving distance of Australia’s highest, permanent, single-drop waterfall. It’s about a two-hour drive to the main lookout, which is a super short walk from the Wallaman Falls car park. From here, you can marvel at its sheer size, with the thundering waters plunging 268 metres into a 20-metre-deep pool below. If you’d like to dip in the icy waters, follow the 1.6-kilometre Djyinda walking track through thick forest to the base of the falls. Look up to see the breathtaking rainbows often created by mist from the falls.

Take in the fresh ocean breeze on a brisk walk along The Strand, a 2.5-kilometre, palm tree-lined walkway stretching from the Strand Rockpool to Tobruk Memorial Baths. Make a pit stop for ice cream at Juliette’s Gelateria, grab fish and chips to enjoy on the beach, and pack your togs for a post-picnic swim in the ocean or splash around at the free water park. Time your walk with sunset to see the ‘Ocean Siren’ – a 16-metre art installation from the Museum of Underwater Art – shift colours in response to changing sea temperatures.

Step off the beaten path and be one of only 7,000 annual visitors to discover Hinchinbrook Island, the largest island on the Great Barrier Reef. While the four-day Thorsborne Trail can be booked out months in advance (capped at 40 visitors at a time), you can still explore the island’s cloud-covered mountains, thick rainforest and white sandy beaches, with numerous shorter trails weaving through the island. You can find out more and book your permit here.

Travelling solo or hoping to meet a new pal? You can make friends with more than 50 native Aussie animals at this interactive wildlife sanctuary in Nome, less than a 20-minute drive from Townsville. Billabong is one of the very few places on Earth where you can hold a koala, along with baby crocodiles and pythons, if you dare. You can also get up and close to adorable Aussie animals with all-inclusive experiences, like free koala selfies, kangaroo and turtle feeding sessions, flight bird shows and meerkat encounters.

As the gateway to two World Heritage-listed wonders, Townsville is rich with fascinating stories brought to life at the city’s top-rated museum. You can learn about life in the tropics from prehistoric times to the present, with exhibitions dedicated to the HMS Pandora, Great Barrier Reef and ancient rainforests, plus a Sciencentre with 20 interactive stations for hands-on fun.