Travel Inspo

Crocodiles, Coastline and a 60-year-old Secret

Townsville looks compact from the air, but it unpacks fast once you're on the ground: a city foreshore, a lookout with its own local legend, a museum, a wildlife sanctuary and a national park all within a 45-minute radius, none of it linked by a single bus route that makes sense. Hire a car at the airport and you can build your own loop through all of it in a day, no waiting on connections, no missing the last service back.

A tourist feeds a rock wallaby with a baby joey in its pouch on Magnetic Island Queensland Australia

The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Townsville by Car

Start in the city

The Strand is the natural starting point: 2.2 kilometres of foreshore parkland, swimming enclosures and cafes, all an easy 10-minute drive from the airport. From there, it's a short climb, by car or on foot if you're up for it, to the Castle Hill lookout for the best view of the city and Cleveland Bay in one frame. Keep an eye out on the way up for The Saint: a halo-topped figure painted on the north face of the cliff back in 1962 by a group of mischievous university students, hanging off a rope in the middle of the night. It's been touched up many times since, but it's still there, and still watching over the people of Townsville after 60 years.

Get face to face with history and wildlife

The Museum of Tropical Queensland sits right in the city, with galleries covering the Great Barrier Reef, North Queensland's rainforests and the wreck of HMS Pandora. It's a good option if you'd rather explore the region's natural and maritime history without getting your feet wet. About 18 minutes' drive south, Billabong Sanctuary puts you nose to nose with crocodiles, wombats and cassowaries, with feeding sessions running through the day.

Head further out

For something quieter, Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park sits just north of the city: walking trails, historic quarantine station ruins, and views back across to Magnetic Island. South of town, Bowling Green Bay National Park and the Alligator Creek picnic area are worth the 45-minute drive if you want a proper bushwalk and a swim in freshwater rock pools.

Looking for more inspiration? Plan your itinerary here with Townsville North Queensland's full range of drive itineraries

One thing to know about Magnetic Island

'Maggie' is unmissable from the mainland, and some rental agreements don't allow hire cars on the ferry or vehicle barge across, so check with your provider before you commit to island plans. If your hire car isn't permitted, SeaLink's passenger ferry gets you there in around 20 minutes, and a local vehicle, scooter or bike hire is easy to arrange once you're on the island.

Ready to hit the road?

Grab your rental from Townsville Airport and start ticking these off from the moment you land. Book online at townsvilleairport.com.au/transport/car-rentals.

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