The Strand Motel

Billabong Sanctuary

by halans

17 km from Townsville centre, you'll find Billabong Sanctuary, an Australian wildlife park, with crocs, koalas, emus, kangaroos, pythons, dingos,... certainly worth your visit. Watch the crazy croc man fool around with large crocs (at 12:15 they get fed). Have a closer look at some pademelons with joey's in their pouches, and free ranging kangaroos and annoying emu. Get up close with a colourful prehistoric looking rainforest cassowary. At 1:45 it's photo opp time holding a koala. Check out their website for an overview of the times of animal feeding and wildlife talks.

Castle Hill Lookout

by amandajayne81

Unfortunately I ran out of time to see the top of Castle Hill and the fabulous view it offered which was a shame as I love lookouts over towns and especially when you have the ocean in sight as well. Definitely will be doing that next time and it is right in the middle of town so very easy to get to. I love all these free things to do!

North Queensland Capital.

by australia2

"Important, but not too attractive in itself."

Looked on as the most important city in the tropic North Queensland, Townsville and its "other half, Thuringowa, contain approximately 80,000 people.
It is a thriving city and districts and is the step-off point for the very pleasant Magnetic Island tourist attraction.

"Stony geography - not typically tropical."

Townsville itself is built around the
rugged "little mountain", Castle Hill. Captain Cook actually charted and named it as a mountain of another name, but it's just a bit too short !!
Captain Towns was a ranking officer of the early Port Jackson settlement and it's his name which the original town carries.
(Pic of the "Hill" to come, later).

"Circa 1954."

For historic interest, Townsville in the (spotted) B/W days !
Other aerial pics in travelogue.
The Hospital is,sadly, no more - currently a "white elephant".
Two of my children born there.
The new hospital is in the new, inland suburbs of the combined cities, Townsville/Thuringower.

Townsville passthrough

by halans

Up to Townsville. We check out in time to do this 280 km (shorter) trip. On our way we pass a lot of mango plantations, and some banana plantations. The mango trees are full of unripe fruit hanging there like balls in a christmas tree.
Before arriving in Townsville centre, 17 km before along the road, is the Billabong Sanctuary, an Australian wildlife park, with crocs, koalas, emus, kangaroos, pythons, dingos,... We arrive at about 11:45, just in time to hold a python. At 12:15 the crocs are fed. We have a closer look at some pademelons with joey's in their pouches, and free ranging kangaroos and annoying emu. We get up close with a colourful prehistoric looking rainforest cassowary. At 1:45 it's photo opp time when Radica holds a koala. And before we leave, we pair up Radica with a sulpher crested cockatoo...

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