townsville

Life in the Tropics
North Queensland is blessed with an average of 300 days of glorious sunshine every year. Whether you chose a seaside
welcome reception or a gala dinner by a billabong, the sun and stars will be shining upon you all the way. With weather like this, it’s no wonder the locals are so friendly!

North Queensland prides itself on being a multi-cultural destination that is still uniquely and essentially Australian. Visitors from all over the world are welcomed to the region and encouraged to experience the real Australia!

Destination Facts
Townsville and its twin city of Thuringowa make up Australia’s largest
tropical city and provide a premier destination for visitors wanting
a genuine taste of ‘Life in the Tropics’.

Townsville offers more than 300 sunny days each year – perfect
weather to enjoy a diversity of experiences that range from the
excitement of bull-riding and ‘barra’ fishing, to the magic of
Magnetic Island, the historical charm of Charters Towers, the
breathtaking rainforest of the Paluma Ranges, the cane fields and
community of the Burdekin and the pristine paradise of Mission Beach.

Enjoy the spectacular Strand in the heart of Townsville city – 2.5km of beachfront boulevard lined with restaurants, cafes, bars, barbeque/picnic areas, swimming enclosures/pools, sporting and recreational facilities, walking paths and the only water playground of its kind in Australia– all with sweeping views across Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island.

Magnetic Island is just 20 minutes from the city centre by fast catamaran ferry, or 40 minutes by car ferry if you wish to take your own vehicle. Here, more than 2,000 koalas roam free in an idyllic tropical setting offering superb views, palm-fringed beaches, a wide variety of accommodation and plenty to see and do, including bush walks to inspect World War II fortifications.- 19 -

To experience the great Aussie Outback and the flavour of the gold rush era, take a tour or drive 135 kilometres west from Townsville to the heritage centre of Charters Towers. This is a city of history and charm that boomed following the 1872 discovery of gold in the area by an Aboriginal boy, Jupiter Mosman. Visitors can now relive the legends and history of this bygone era through the new ‘Ghosts of Gold’ experience, by panning for gold and visiting a host of other attractions in and around the city.

While out west also visit the heritage town of Ravenswood. Take a visit to the cemetery, or visit Woody at the Courthouse Museum and watch his face light up as he relays amazing stories of the past. The Imperial Hotel and the Railway Hotel stand proudly in the main street and promise to impress you while relaxing with locals over a cold beer and great food.

Ayr and Home Hill in the Burdekin region boasts magnificent waterways with bird life and top fishing spots. Each year local sugar cane farmers prepare their fields for harvest by igniting their crops and so creating one of the most spectacular sights any where in Australia.

Ingham - known for its vibrant Italian culture with authentic Italian restaurants
and delicatessens – provides access to Wallaman Falls, Australia’s
largest sheer drop waterfall