Local Attractions

Cungulla is a small beach-side community to the south of Townsville. It is accessed by first turning off the highway toward AIMS, and then turning right about 5mins down the AIMS road. From town allow about 45mins drive.

The township has no shops/convenience stores; however there is a Community Centre. Cungulla is known for it’s fishing.

There are two boat ramps located at the small township of Cungulla. One is easy to find and most people know about, but the second is more hidden and difficult to get to. The first is in town and clearly sigh posted. Basically turn left as you arrive at Cungulla and then right just over the little creek. The ramp is a single lane concrete ramp on a small creek that snakes its way through Cungulla Beach. The ramp is only suitable for small tinnies on a half tide an up. The creek that winds through the beach is shallow but loosely marked. I would guess there is ocean access on a reasonable tide. But I suspect the ramp is mainly used to fish the sand flats for bream, whiting and flathead. There are no amenities here, and there is barely enough parking for a couple of cars!

The second ramp is of much greater interest. It provides relatively easy access across to the mouth of the Haughton River. To access the ramp you need to drive preferable a 4 x4, a very short distance along a beach track. To locate the track you need to drive to the southern end of the Cungulla township. Here you should see a sandy track run off into the bush. The track then runs along the top of the mangroves and soon opens up to a sand area.

ALLIGATOR CREEK

As the region’s largest coastal park, Bowling Green Bay National Park contains diverse habitats. Its coastal plains are dramatically set against a backdrop of rugged granite mountains rising abruptly in the distance. In this section of the park, Alligator Creek flows between two rocky mountain groups – Mount Elliot and Saddle Mountain.

Visit for the day, picnic among the gum trees and swim in the creek. View agile wallabies and rock-wallabies as they feed nearby. At night, common brushtail possums and rufous bettongs ‘patrol’ this area.

There is access for guests with a disability. The Alligator Creek campground and day-use area toilets, and a 100 metre boardwalk along Alligator Creek, are wheelchair accessible.

How To Get There:
Turn off the Bruce Highway to Alligator Creek, 25 kilometres south of Townsville (or 65 kilometres north of Ayr). Follow the road 5.5 kilometres to the park entrance. There is no public transport available

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The Billabong Sanctuary is an 11-hectare (27-acre) wildlife sanctuary in Nome, 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. Totaltravel.com calls it "Australia's best interactive wildlife sanctuary".

The sanctuary is permanent home to native over 100 species of Australian mammals andreptiles such as kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, crocodiles, and birds includingparrots and cassowaries. In addition, the natural billabong (lake) at the center of the sanctuary is host to many visiting animals, some of which will breed and raise their young at the sanctuary. Visitors to the sanctuary can take guided or self-guided tours through the 11-hectare (27-acre) natural tropical bush.

The Ross River Parkway runs from JCU - Cranbrook to the Townsville CBD via Annandale & Mundingburra riverside open space.

"Parkway features bikeway with eight recreational nodes including bbq areas, children's play areas, river access, fishing platforms, pontoons, and seating"

The annual Ride the River this month gives people a chance to enjoy a free, guided cycling tour along Ross River.

The event encourages people to adopt active lifestyles and try new activities.

Community and Environment acting director Susan Coker said it also allowed people to explore the city’s bikeways.

Among the cyclists will be Townsville triathlete Caroline ‘Caro’ Tahana.

Ms Tahana, who was made famous by her stint on the The Block last year, will be taking part with her three-year-old daughter, Halia as well as her partner and teammate Kingi.

“I don’t think a lot of people in Townsville realise just how good our network of bike paths are,” she said.

Ride the River will be held on Sunday, April, 10 at Sheriff Park at 7am.

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is Townsville's premier regional art gallery, offering a dynamic range of local, national and international exhibitions complemented by workshops, talks and a host of other programs.

Townsville Town Common Regional Park is 6 km north of the Townsville city centre. Vehicle access to the park is via the main entrance on the turn-off from Cape Pallarenda Road, near the Rowes Bay Golf Club. The gate at this entrance is open from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm daily.

Vehicles must remain on Freshwater Lagoon road . Driving is not allowed in all other areas.

Walkers and mountain bike riders can also enter the park from the eastern end of the Lagoon trail, off Cape Pallarenda Road, and from the Shelly Cove trail in Cape Pallarenda Regional Park.

Known locally as the Town Common, the park is close to the bustling city centre of Townsville and is a great place to enjoy nature and fantastic coastal views.

Visitors can hike across the Many Peaks Range, enjoy expansive island views while riding the Under the Radar or Smedley's trails or take the trail to the beautiful and secluded Shelly Beach.

Deep-water lagoons, seasonal wetlands, coastal woodlands and sheltered beaches bordered by rocky headlands all feature in this park. Mangrove-lined tributaries of the Bohle River meander across the floodplains that fill each year during the wet summer months.

Up to 280 bird species have been recorded in the area. Magpie geese, brolgas and many others gather here to feed and nest, particularly as the wetlands dry out and food sources become concentrated in the remaining lagoons.

Welcome to the home of the Royal Australian Air Force Townsville Museum. The RAAF Townsville Museum was established in Townsville to document the aviation and military history of North Queensland. The Royal Australian Airforce Townsville Museum has extensive collections located in historical buildings located on the Townsville RAAF Base.

The dedicated team of the RAAF Townsville Museum have painstakingly upgraded, restored and built advance multimedia displays at the RAAF Townsville Museum that provide you an insight into the North Queensland Aviation history from World War II to the present day. The RAAF Townsville Museum contains artifacts that have been kindly donated or acquired through purchases provided by key benefactors of the RAAF Townsville Museum. This has ensured that the local North Queensland History of the Townsville RAAF is not lost forever.

The RAAF Townsville Museum has won numerous awards for its ever expanding displays and was awarded a North Queensland Tourism Award in 2003. The museum is far advanced compared to other museums and this can be attributed to the tireless efforts of the volunteers.

The Palmetum is a botanical garden featuring one family of plants, the palms. The collection contain all six subfamilies within the family Arecaceae. Approximately 60 species of palms are native to Australia; most are represented. The collection contains about 300 species; many rare and threatened in their natural habitat.

A visit to the Townsville Palmetum is proof of community energy. A Bicentennial Project, this internationally recognised attraction was supported and planned by the Townsville community and organised through the Townsville City Council Parks Services.

Opened in September 1988, the Palmetum has continually expanded as new palm varieties and scenic walks are added. Tumbetin Lodge is an example of local heritage architecture. Any visitor would agree that the Palmetum is an exotic and attractive feature of our city, and a significant botanic achievement.

West of Townsville and just off of Flinders Highway (Stuart Drive) lies Mount Stuart. The picturesque 9 kilometer winding drive up the rugged mountainside is a local favorite and you’ll find runners, bicyclists and hikers making their way to the summit year round.

At the Rotary Lookout, there’s a nice picnic area with bbq’s overlooking Townsville, Cleveland Bay and the Magnetic Islands.

A few peacocks will happily let you take pictures as they strut their stuff and you’re sure to run into some other wildlife while you’re up there.

If you’re feeling adventurous there’s a nice bush track that runs around the summit that will provide gorgeous views of the rest of Townsville including Ross Dam and Ross River. The circuit takes about 10 minutes however the track can be a little dangerous so it’s not advised for small children.

There are also numerous rocky downhill and enduro bike trails of varying difficulty for the mountain bike lovers.

Queens Gardens are situated in the suburb of North Ward on the corner of Gregory and Paxton Street, 1.2 km north of the city centre. Established in 1870, the site was originally part of an Acclimatisation Garden, in which potential food and economic plants were trialed during the era of colonisation. Today the gardens are a lush green oasis set against the dramatic pink granite cliffs of Castle Hill and offer a quiet cool retreat amidst the busy residential commercial area in North Ward and is in close proximity to The Strand.

The history of Queens Gardens is almost as interesting as the magnificent collection of unique and unusual plant specimens which grow there today.

The gardens were established in 1870 to trial potential food plants for the settlement.

More than 40 ha of land was set aside by the council of the day and a variety of exotic species, including cocoa, African oil palms and mangoes, were planted.

Some of the hoop pines and black beans planted at that time are still growing today and may be the oldest cultivated specimens in Australia.

Today, Queens Gardens is a priceless asset to Townsville, offering a cool, green setting close to the centre of Australia's largest tropical city.

Townsville residents use its lush gardens for leisure and recreation, while the City Council and community groups utilise its green splendour to stage a variety of special events.

Anzac Park (then known as Strand Park) was very popular with the settlers of Townsville as it was ideally situated on the beach and near the early commercial & port precincts. Initially the parks main focus was recreation and relaxation with The Band Stand (now more commonly known as the Rotunda) being built in 1913. The Band Stand was used to host open air concerts. The Soldiers memorial (now more commonly known as the Cenotaph) was unveiled in April 1924 in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in WW1. Formally known as Strand Park it was officially named Anzac Memorial Park in 1932 after it was suggested by the RSL. A memorial arch was built over the entrance gates prior to Anzac Day 1934. In 1959 Anzac park was chosen over West End Park and Hanran Park as the site for it centenary monument. Queensland Governor, Sir Henry Abel Smith, launched the Centenary Fountain in 1964 unveiling a commemorative plaque. This illuminated fountain shot out 147 jets of water between the hours of 3pm and 4pm each day, in the evenings its lighting system created a cycle of 68 colour changes. Almost everyone who grew up in Townsville during these decades remembers being taken to Anzac Park to see the multicoloured lights of the Centenary Fountain.

Anzac Park is located at the eastern end of the Strand Foreshore, at the frontage to the Breakwater marina. With the development of the Strand parklands, Anzac Park has become the formal and civic commemorative park in Townsville.

Townsville boasts some amazing beaches, including the award-winning Strand, the Northern Beaches and Magnetic Island.

The Strand

The Strand is a 2.2km world-class beachfront promenade custom-built for enjoyment. Along this palm tree studded stretch 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.

Lifeguard hours and status

Information has been provided courtesy of Surf Life Saving Queensland.

WILLOWS ROTARY MARKETS
Open Sundays 7:30am to 11:30am (Except between Christmas & New Year)
Willows Shopping Centre - Cnr Thuringowa Dr/Hervey Range Rd, Kirwan

COTTERS MARKETS
Open every Sunday 8:30am to 1:00pm
Flinders Street (Between Stanley St & Denham St) - Townsville

RIVERWAY MOONLIGHT MARKETS
Open May to December 3rd Friday of the month 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Pioneer Park, Village Blvd - Thuringowa

STRAND NIGHT MARKETS
Open May to December 1st Friday of the month  5:00pm to 9:30pm
Strand Park - Townsville