Cluden Park Motor Inn

Townsville from the Harbour 1

by Kate-Me

Here is a view of Townsville as we came into the harbour on our return trip from Magnetic Island.
It looks a bit rocky and barren (just the mountain behind) but once you're in the city, it's much nicer and the surroundings too.

Museum of Tropical North

by MikeAtSea

Here one can explore the delights of Tropical North Queensland through marine exhibits and pioneer lore. Learn the fascinating story
of the MHS Pandora, the ship that chased the Bounty mutineers, only to be wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef in 1791.

Townsville

by ettiewyn

Besides Cairns, Townsville is the most important city in Far North Queensland, it is famous for Magnetic Island, for its university and military importance, but it also has great museums and a very lively and friendly atmosphere. Thus, it is a great city to visit.

Townsville was named after Robert Towns who founded the city in 1857. It was an important city because it was the closest harbour to Queensland's gold fields. Today, the harbour is important for military purposes.

Tourists come here especially to visit the Great Barrier Reef and to enjoy Magnetic Island which lies 8km off the coast.

The Dry Tropics

by TashieKitten

"The City of Townsville..."

I think I've spent more time in Townsville than anyone who was just visiting needs to. And it's been a while. I've been to Townsville twice: for the entire month of August in 1998 and again for a few days in February 2001.

Townsville is an interesting mix of people. On one hand, there is a military base, so you see lots of military folk in town. And you definitely hear the "black helicopters" at night, which is a bit unnerving when you're not used to it.

Of course you have your everyday folks. The people who work and live in this dry tropical city (dry tropics=320 days of sunshine per year). It is also the industrial capital of Queensland.

James Cook University has also left its mark on the city. Graduate and Undergraduate programs operate from the campus often with empasis on Marine Biology (being so close to the Great Barrier Reef, it just makes sense).

There are also those of us who hit Townsville as a destination. Townsville is south of Cairns and much more laid back than Cairns in the respect that the whole point of the city doesn't seem to be about tourism. Townsville does offer some pretty cool incentives for travellers though: Kelso Reef for diving or snorkelling; the Yongala wreck, one of the best deep dives in the world, can be accessed from Townsville much more easily than it can from Cairns; the Billabong sanctuary; Magnetic Island; the aquarium; walk up Castle Hill for sunset viewing; go play at the Strand, which is netted to keep stingers away (though you should be wary of safety signs).