When is the best time of year to fly to Townsville?

With an average of 300 sun-filled days a year, Townsville is the ultimate year-round destination. The more popular time to visit Townsville however is the ‘dry’ season between May and October, when visitors experience beautiful blue-sky days, and cooler, more comfortable evenings.

During summer (December to February) daytime temperatures can reach up to 31 degrees, and it’s hot and humid - making it less comfortable for your visit to Townsville. A great time however to explore the beaches and Magnetic Island.

Throughout winter (June to August) temperatures sit at a comfortable 25 degrees during the day and drop to 13–18 degrees in the evening. It’s a great time to visit Townsville, with festivals on such as Pop Up North Queensland and Northern Fringe Festival.

Early September is a popular time to visit Townsville and Magnetic Island, with Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week in full swing.

What are Townsville's top attractions?

Townsville offers travellers so much to see, experience and explore – brilliant beaches, nature at its very best, arts festivals, the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium, and Magnetic Island close by. Below is a sample of Townsville’s top attractions.

Billabong Sanctuary

Sprawled over 25 acres of parkland, a 17-kilometre drive from Townsville, lies the native animal wildlife park Billabong Sanctuary – home to Australia’s incredible range of mammals, birds and reptiles. Accredited as an Advanced Ecotourism attraction by Eco Tourism Australia, the park prides itself on conservation and helping the local communities.

Magnetic Island (Yunbenum)

Known as Yunbenun to its traditional owners, Magnetic Island is a tropical paradise, boasting sandy beaches and northern Australia’s largest colony of koalas. It is the perfect outdoor adventure island offering hiking trails, kayaking, jet skiing, and diving. It’s also home to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, held in August.

Both Magnetic Island Ferries and SeaLink Queensland offer passenger ferry services, a quick and scenic 20-minute journey from Townsville. There’s also a host of tour operators offering day trips, including Magnetic Island Night Vision Tours.

Girringum National Park and Wallaman Falls

Drive 110 kilometres north of Townsville and you’ll experience the stunning Girringum National Park. A Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, here you can take in the expansive views from Australia’s highest single-drop waterfalls - Wallaman Falls, hike the 10-kilometre Dalrymple Gap Walking Track, and make the steep climb up to the ancient volcano, Mount Fox.

Yongala Dive

A 90-minute drive from Townsville and you’ll reach Alva Beach, the departure port for your dive adventure at Yongala Dive site.

Renowned as one of the world’s top dive sites, diving the historic S.S. Yongola Ship Wreck offers incredible marine life viewing, where back in 1911 the ship sank during a cyclone. A PADI Dive Resort with a maximum small group of 12 people, you can choose from a range of day trips, dive courses and dive accommodation options.

Reef HQ Aquarium

The world’s largest living coral reef aquarium and national education centre for the Great Marine Park Authority, Reef HQ Aquarium is centrally located on Flinders Street in central Townsville, next to the Museum of Tropical Queensland. Housed in a 2.5 million litre tank, marvel at this underwater world featuring over 150 species of fish and 120 species of corals, all exclusive to the Great Barrier Reef.

Festivals

Townsville hosts an array of festivals throughout the year, including Pop Up North Queensland – a visual and performance art festival with an edge, held in late July/August each year; and Burdekin Readers and Writers Festival that runs in July.

Another stand-out festival is North Australian Festival of Arts, which runs alongside Northern Fringe Festival which experienced its inaugural year in 2019, featuring all forms of art and performance.

Where to eat in Townsville?

From laneway expresso bars to a seafood dinner at The Pier Restaurant and Bar, from fresh produce at Cotters Markets to a burrito - Townsville offers a wide range of eateries, catering to all tastes.

On nearby Magnetic Island you’ll also find a great range of cafes and restaurants, and a local food van – Shaka - serving up refreshing smoothies and juices in Nelly Bay.

Where to find the best Cafes?

Townsville has seriously stepped up its coffee game, with local coffee roasters abound, and cafes located down street-art laneways.

A must-visit is Speciality Coffee Trader, who operate as a café and wholesaler, but also run coffee classes for the expresso-lover. Best known for strong coffee and sweet treats is The Quarters, and for more locally-roasted coffee venture to Coffee Dominion, serving up a tasty brew in Townsville since 1998.

Follow the street art down a laneway off Flinders Street and you’ll discover Hoi Polloi Café - you’ll be mistaken you’re not in Melbourne with its quirky interior and mismatched furnishings. They’re also known for running their bric-a-brac market stall day, ‘A day in Denham’ in November.

Another great café, for both the coffee, and the fun Instagram check-in, is Me Myself and Coffee, located in the North Ward Shopping Centre.

Where to find the best dining?

Uncover a surprising foodie haven in Townsville, with restaurants truly stepping up their game.

For modern Australian cuisine and a touch of coastal elegance make your way to Bridgewater Restaurant and QBar, plus venture to innovative riverfront JAM, and Celsius Restaurant & Bar.

If you fancy a tasting plate or upscale pub meal with a craft beer, make your way to The Brewery on central Flinders Street.

Townsville also dishes up some great burger joints - head to Bitchin’ Burger Bar (even if just for the Instagram check-in), or The Real Burger Co. to try their ‘old mate burger’.

Where to find the best food and artisan markets?

Venture on Sunday mornings to Cotters Market to discover Townsville’s freshest produce, entertainment and locally made art works, woodwork and jewellery. Located in the centre of Townsville CBD in the Flinders Street Mall, grab brunch at one of the food trucks, pick up some gifts, and enjoy the live music and entertainment.

Another iconic Townsville market, running for over 20 years, is Willows Rotary Market, held on Sundays in the car park at Willows Shopping Centre. Here you’ll find seasonal fruit and vegetables, hand-made arts and crafts, food vendors and entertainment – over 100 stalls to explore.

If you’re on Magnetic Island, don’t miss Magnetic Island Markets on Sundays – offering food, art, clothing, jewellery, and all sorts of treasures.

Where to find the best cheap eats?

You won’t be hard-pressed to find a great value meal in Townsville, with everything from sushi to burgers, tasty-treats at the markets, to souvlaki. There’s an extensive range of eateries offering cheap eats in the many cafes, pizzerias, pubs, bakehouses, markets, and restaurants.

Try Rock Paper Scissors on the Strand for a quick bite, a healthy vegan meal under $15 at The Beet Bar, or Vietnamese Colour Restaurant for mains under $17

>Where to shop in Townsville?

Townsville has a little of a lot to offer – Love They Neighbour for the latest fashion, shopping centres and plazas with an array of brands from H&M to Hype DC, local artisan work and fresh produce at the markets, to boutique shopping along Gregory Street.

You’ll stumble on some fabulous antique shops, one being The Speckled Hen Antiques and Collectables. Operating since 1970, the tag line says it all ‘for everything you never knew you always wanted’. It’s a local’s favourite, with an ethos to ‘rescue and promote an interesting past’.