Vacation Rentals in Townsville, Australia

Townsville is a small, but mighty coastal city in northeastern Queensland, just four hours south of Cairns. The Townsville Airport has limited international flights and is 10 minutes from downtown. Alternatively, the Spirit of Queensland train runs between Brisbane and Cairns five days a week, with stops in Townsville. Public busses run all over town on seven different lines, with taxis also readily available, but the downtown central business district of North Ward is easy to navigate on foot. Cars are generally suggested for more far-flung adventures outside of the city.

An unpretentious and industrial city of 200,000, Townsville considers itself the regional capital of North Queensland. The city contains a military base, two universities, significant Aboriginal populations, and serves as the main transportation junction west toward Northern Territories and north toward Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. The city is blessed with an average of 320 days of sunshine per year and is vibrant with students, professors, and active military members as well as miners and old-timers. It is often used as a launchpad for visitors seeking adventures to the beaches of Magnetic Island or the nearby outback. Some scuba divers are attracted to the area to dive near the SS Yongala shipwreck, where 122 passengers lost their lives in 1911.

• Castle Hill Lookout: A pink granite mountain known as Castle Hill Lookout defines the city’s skyline, standing nearly 900-feet tall in the middle of the city. It can be found near the water and is surrounded by parkland. A trail leads to the summit which can also be accessed by car. Short trails at the top lead to lookout points with incomparable views across downtown, facing the water and beyond to Magnetic Island.
• The Strand: Extending the length of the waterfront in North Ward, The Strand is a mile-long pedestrian walkway with the beach on one side and a few restaurants on the other. At the south end are the popular Strand Waterpark and Tobruk Memorial Baths. On the north end lies the Strand Rockpool, Kissing Point Fortification, Army Museum North Queensland, and Jezzine Barracks.
• Reef HQ Aquarium: Claimed to be the world’s largest coral reef aquarium, Reef HQ is home to 130 coral and 120 fish species, in addition to other marine life such as marine turtles and sharks. The aquarium also serves as the government’s education center for the Great Barrier Reef, with highly educational exhibits. Reef HQ Aquarium is easily accessible from the central business district and marina.

• North Ward: The central business district of North Ward is a compact neighborhood bordered by the beach and Cleveland Bay to the east and Castle Hill to the west. It is walkable with the largest concentration of shops, accommodations, and restaurants at the south end.
• Flinders Street: Known as “the nightclub strip” along Ross Creek, Flinders Street is the nightlife hub of the city — understandable given its immediate proximity to the CQUniversity campus. There are a number of other student-centric businesses in this area including gyms, laundries, restaurants, and shops.
• Palmer Street: Known as the restaurant district for the downtown area, Palmer Street is located across Ross Creek from the central business district, Flinders Street, and Reef HQ Aquarium. The area offers a variety of cuisines for a range of budgets, and the area also includes shops and sights such as the Maritime Museum.

Vacation rentals in Townsville have a price range between $63-$2,013. The average price for rentals in Townsville is $93 per night.