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Major city · Australia

Townsville

Give Townsville 2 nights: one full day for The Strand, Reef HQ and Castle Hill, one for Magnetic Island. Skip it if you only want reef diving — Cairns is closer to the outer reef.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
May–Oct (dry season, 26–28°C days)
avoid Dec–Mar (wet season, cyclone risk, marine stingers in the water)
Airport
TSV
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Townsville is the unofficial capital of North Queensland: a dry-tropical coastal city of about 179,000 people with 320 days of sunshine a year, a swimmable foreshore at The Strand, a reef aquarium, and the ferry to Magnetic Island 25 minutes offshore. It is a working city rather than a resort, so it works best as a 2-night stop on the Brisbane–Cairns run or as a base for the Yongala wreck dive.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Townsville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Beerschooner in a pub / six-pack at a bottle shopA$7–11 (≈ US$5–8)A$18–24 (≈ US$12–16)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxiRideshare often cheaper.A$18–25 (≈ US$12–17)
  • Metro or bus rideBus single tripA$3–5 (≈ US$2–4) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketReef HQ or Museum of Tropical Queensland entryA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17) (check)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personA$40 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomA$200 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomA$380 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$110 (≈ US$75) · Mid A$220 (≈ US$150) · High A$400 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

The Strand and the RockpoolMagnetic Island ferryReef HQ aquariumCastle Hill lookoutYongala wreck diving
Airports
TSV Townsville Airport (About 10 km west of the CBD; Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly in from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, Air North from Darwin. Taxi or rideshare to the centre, about 15 min.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Townsville: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C

25°C

12 rd

Feb

32°C

25°C

13 rd

Mar

31°C

24°C

11 rd

Apr

30°C

21°C

7 rd

May

28°C

18°C

5 rd

Jun

26°C

15°C

4 rd

Jul

26°C

14°C

3 rd

Aug

27°C

15°C

3 rd

Sep

28°C

18°C

3 rd

Oct

30°C

21°C

4 rd

Nov

31°C

23°C

6 rd

Dec

32°C

25°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Kinetic runs 16 bus routes across the city and one on Magnetic Island, seven days a week; the CBD and The Strand are walkable from each other. Taxis run 24 h (13 8294) and ranks sit at the airport, Flinders Street East and Palmer Street. A car helps for the Northern Beaches, Crystal Creek and Paluma.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Magnetic Island

go

Door to door: About 1 h to the island

Passenger or car ferry from the Breakwater terminal, about 25 min

Whole day: hire a scooter or take the island bus to the forts walk and the beaches.

Yongala wreck

go

Door to door: Full day, early start

Dive boat from Townsville or Magnetic Island

Open-water site about 3 h offshore; day trips run from A$179 plus gear, minimum 6 logged dives.

Little Crystal Creek and Paluma

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Drive on the Bruce Highway then Mount Spec Road, about 60 km

Rainforest swimming holes and picnic areas; best with your own car.

Charters Towers

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h each way

Flinders Highway (A6) west, about 130 km

Gold-rush streetscape; a long half-day, better as an overnight if you like heritage towns.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

North Ward / The Strand

Waterfront strip with cafés, the Rockpool and the ferry terminal a short walk away. Best for a first visit with no car.

CBD (Flinders Street)

Bars, restaurants and the Cotters Markets on Sundays; 15–20 min walk to The Strand.

South Townsville / Palmer Street

Restaurant strip near the river and the casino; quieter, still walkable to the CBD.

Northern Beaches (Bushland Beach, Saunders Beach)

Suburban beach stays 20–30 km north; only worth it with a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$180–280 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
A$350 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × A$200A$400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$220A$880
Magnetic Island ferry, return2 × A$35 · checkA$70
Reef HQ entry2 × A$22 · checkA$44
Yongala day trip with gear2 × A$215 · checkA$430
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$187
Trip total≈ A$515 per person per day, bed includedA$2,061≈ US$1,400

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Counter meal (pub or café)A$20–32 (≈ US$14–25)
Beer: schooner in a pub / six-pack at a bottle shopA$7–11 (≈ US$5–8) / A$18–24 (≈ US$12–16)
5 km taxiRideshare often cheaper.A$18–25 (≈ US$12–17)
Bus single tripA$3–5 (≈ US$2–4) (check)
Reef HQ or Museum of Tropical Queensland entryA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Townsville is a normal Australian city: the main risks are heat, humidity and marine stingers in summer, plus petty theft around the CBD at night. Swim inside the net or the Rockpool from November to May.
  • Stinger season roughly Nov–May: swim inside the patrolled net at Balgal Beach or in the Rockpool, not off open sand.
  • Wet season Dec–Mar brings heavy rain and cyclone risk; check forecasts before booking reef or island trips.
  • Summer humidity pushes the apparent temperature well above the air temperature — plan sightseeing for early morning and evening.
  • The Yongala wreck sits in open water: operators require at least 6 logged dives, and fewer than 15 means paying extra for a guide.
  • The Strand is calm and not a surf beach; don't expect waves.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

TownsvilleTownsville

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassies in Townsville; consulates-general are in Sydney and Melbourne, and the US consulate-general is in Sydney. Check your country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Townsville Airport → CBD, taxi: about A$25–35 (≈ US$17–25), 15 min (check)
  • Magnetic Island ferry, return: about A$35 (≈ US$25), 25 min (check)
  • Yongala dive day trip: from A$179 (≈ US$120) plus A$35 (≈ US$25) gear (check)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • No worries — No worries
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Card okay? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?
  • Any stingers here? — Is it safe to swim here?

English is the working language; the phrases above are local usage rather than a translation.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Townsville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct (dry season, 26–28°C days) · avoid Dec–Mar (wet season, cyclone risk, marine stingers in the water) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for TSV: taxi and rideshare times field-checked, late-arrival rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: The Strand, CBD and Flinders Street, Palmer Street, Castle Hill.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Reef HQ, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Army Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Stinger-season and cyclone fixtures so island and reef days can go green or be swapped.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources