Townsville, Australia's largest tropical city, has become the premier destination for visitors wanting to see the 'real' North Queensland.
This city of about 200,000 people is a charming blend of old and new with modern facilities which include an international casino, entertainment and convention centre, theatres, world-class museums, restaurants and accommodation to suit all tastes.
However, unlike many other tourism centres, it has retained its heritage in the form of well-preserved civic, commercial and domestic buildings dating back to the region's European settlement in the mid 19th century.
Because it is located in the dry tropics, Townsville consistently records more than 300 dry, sunny days each year perfect weather to enjoy a diversity of experiences ranging from the excitement of local evets such as the annual Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Troy Dunn bull-riding festival, sports such as rugby league, basketball and marlin fishing through to a tour of the world's largest living reef aquarium at Reef HQ, a cruise to the outer Great Barrier Reef or Yongala Shipwreck or a visit to the stunning rainforest on the nearby Paluma Ranges.
Visitors also enjoy visiting Magnetic Island, just 20 minutes from the city centre by ferry.
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.
The authentic gold rush city of Charters Towers is just 90 minutes west of Townsville and is a virtual time capsule of Victorian, Edwardian and colonial Australian architecture.
The Towers can be reached on day-trips and marks the start of the true Aussie outback.
Other interesting regions easily accessible from Townsville include the Burdekin Shire, with the vibrant sugar town of Ayr at its centre, and northern centres such as prosperous Ingham with its Italian heritage, Hinchinbrook Island - Australia's largest National Park island and the tropical playground of Mission Beach.
Townsville typifies North Queensland's relaxed tropical lifestyle and is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest National Parks and the outback.
We hope you enjoy our 'Life in the Tropics' when you visit Townsville in North Queensland - it can only be described as paradise.
Sightseeing Opportunities (Half Day)
- City Explorer tour including Castle Hill
- Magnetic Island tour - with options including jet ski tours / horseriding tours / Bungalow tours / Bungalow Bay Koala
- Tropicana Guided Adventure Co - Magnetic Island and Townsville
- Billabong Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
- World Heritage Rainforest tours
- Sealink trasfer to Magnetic Island
- Reef HQ and turtle hospital - the world's largest living coral reef aquarium
- Museum of Tropical Quuensland
- Indigneous Experiences
Sightseeing Opportunities (Full Day)
- Magnetic Island tours
- Outback tour to Charters Towers and Ravenswood
- White water rafting
- Rainforest and waterfalls tour
- Highlands Tunnel Tour including Hervey's Range Heritage Tea Rooms
Dining (Best Restaurants for Lunch and Dinner)
There is a diverse range of restaurants offerinf fresh North Queensland cuisine around Townsville. Take a wander down the Palmer Street dining precinct to find establishments offering cuisine, prepared using the freshest local seafood and produce.
- A Touch of Salt
- Aqua Restaurant (Jupiters Townsville)
- Australian Hotel
- Brewery Cafe
- C Bar & Cafe
- Cowboys Leagues Club
- Essence (Jupiters Townsville)
- Jamaica Joe's Diner Bar & Lounge
- Celsius Restaurant (Mercure Inn)
- Michel's Cafe & Bar
- Molly Malones Irish Pub
- The Pier Restaurant & Bar
- Quarterdeck on the Marina
- Seaqulls Restaurant
- Southbank Grill (Rydes Southbank Townsville)
- Stokes Street Bar & Grill (Holiday Inn)
- Sugartrain (Ibis Hotel)
- Watermark Townsville
Evening Entertainment
For nightlife head to Flinders Street where you will find the majority of the cities night clubs in this one area.
- Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre
- Townsville Civic Theatre
- Jupiters Townsville Hotel & Casino
- Reading Cinemas
- Birch Carroll & Coyle Townsville 5 Cinemas
Best Hotels
- Jupiters Townsville Hotel & Casino
- Holiday Inn Townsville
- Hotel Ibis
- Rydges Southbank Hotel
- Quest Townsville (serviced apartments)
- Mercure Inn Townsville
- Townsville Plaza Hotel
- Peppers Blue on Blue Resort (Magnetic Island)
- Mantra One Bright Point (Magnetic Island)
Best Beaches
- The Strand (Townsville)
- Pallarenda (Townsville)
- Horseshoe Bay (Magnetic Island)
- Alma Bay (Magnetic Island)
- Picnic Bay (Magnetic Island)
- Saunders Beach (Thuringowa)
- Balgal Beach (Thuringowa)
Golf Courses
- Rowes Bay Golf Club (Pallarenda)
- Townsville Golf Club (Rosslea)
- Willows Golf Club (Kirwan)
- Townsville Mini Golf (West End)
Fishing
- Barrier Reef Dive Cruise & Travel
- SV Boat Charters
- Townsville's Barra Fishing Farm
Horseriding
- Woodstock Scenic Horse Trail Rides (Woodstock)
- Bluey's Bush & Beach Rides (Magnetic Island)
Bush Walking
- QPWS Reef and National Parks Information Centre (Pallendra)
- Magentic ISland offers a vairety of bush walks over 25km's of interpretive walking trail in the National Park. One of the more popular is the Forts Walk to experience the observation points built to protect Townsville during WWII.
Other Sporting Activities
There are an array of different sporting options available in the region ranging from tennis courts, public swimming pools, to volleyball and squash courts.
Best Shopping Areas
- Flinders Mall : 3 kilometres from the port
- Castletown : 4 kilometres from the port
- Stockland : 7 kilometres from the port
- Willows : 14 kilometres from the port
Working hours |
|
| Customs Officers | 24 hours |
| Quarantine Officials | 24 hours |
| Immigration Officials | As for Customs |
Customs and Immigration |
|
| Passenger Manifest | Three copies at the first port of call with one copy to Immigration with the passengers card one copy to Customs and the third copy to remain on board the ship. |
| Embarking Passenger Manifest | 3 copies - 1 to Customs 1 to Port 1 stays |
| Crew Manifest | 2 - 1 at first port to Immigration 2nd stays. |
| Stores List | 2 (Aust. Customs Service and Sydney Ports Corporation |
| Customs Declaration (Ship) | 1 (Australian Customs Service) |
| Customs Declaration (Crew) | 2 (Australian Customs Service) |
| Forms Comments | All forms listed above are produced at the first Australian port of call and then one copy of each form travels on board the ship to be produced at subsequent ports. |
| Customs Declaration (Passengers) | One at first Australian port of call only. |
Port Health |
|
| Health Declaration | One (pratique) at first Australian port of call only |
The following Ground Handlers are ACA members and supply superior ground handling services throughout Australia.
Approach |
|
| Arrival Departure Restrictions | No |
| Tidal Variation | MHWS: 3.07m, MHWN: 2.22m, |
| Highest Astronomical Tide | 4.01m |
| Prevailing Currents | Queensland Coastal current |
| Prevailing Winds | |
| Length of Channel | 2.9 nautical miles (Sea Channel)3.5 nautical miles (Platypus Channel) |
| Depth of Channel | 11.9 metres |
Depth and breadth of turning basin |
|
| Location of Turning Basin | N/A |
| Diameter | 440 metres (maximum) |
| Depth | 11.6 metres Inner Harbour |
| Other points | |
Pilotage |
|
| Pilotage Name | Port of Townsville Limited |
| Pilotage Address | PO Box 1031 Townsville QLD 4810 |
| Pilotage Phone No | 61 7 4760 2173 |
| Pilotage Fax No | 61 7 4760 2257 |
| Is Pilotage Compulsory | Yes unless the Master is the holder of a current Certificate of Exemption |
| Position of Pilot Pickup | Alpha |
| Distance from Berth | 8 nautical miles |
| Pilot VHF Channel | 16, 67 and all working frequencies |
| Description of Pilot Boat | 15 metres in length, white and yellow, |
| Pilot Hours | 24 hours, 7 days per week, subject to notice. |
| Pilotage Fees | 8.7 cents per GRT for the first 20,000 GRT |
| 5.4 cents per GRT over 20,000 GRT to 40,000 GRT | |
| 3.4 cents per GRT over 40,000 GRT | |
| Minimum charge $312 | |
Shipping agents |
|
| The following ACA members offer superior service throughout the region. | |
Port Operations/Services |
|
| Inchcape Shipping Services | |
| Address | |
| Telephone | +61 7 4724 2477 |
| 24 hour contact | +61 428 775 028 |
| Fax | |
| Website | www.iss-shipping.com |
| Townsville@ISS-Shiping.com | |
| Services | Contact: |
| Wilhelmsen Shipping Services | |
| Address | |
| Telephone | |
| 24 hour contact | +61 4467 707 114 |
| Fax | |
| Website | www.wilhelmsen.com |
| john.fergus@wilhelmsen.com | |
| Services | Contact John Fergus |
Towage |
|
| Are tugs available | Yes |
| Are tugs compulsory | Sole discretion of Harbour Master |
| Tug operator`s name | North Queensland Marine Towage Pty Ltd |
| Tug operator`s fax | 61 7 4721 1380 |
| Ship or tug lines | Both |
| Tug working hours | 24 Hours |
Linesman |
|
| Working hours | 24 hours |
| Port officials | |
| Working hours | 24 hours |
| Overtime | If required |
Stevedoring |
|
| For details of suitable stevedores, please contact the Shipping Agent | |
Provedoring |
|
| For details of several quality, competitively priced provedores please contact the Shipping Agent. | |
Telephones |
|
| Telephones | Yes |
| How many | 1 |
| Notice required | Yes |
Bunkering |
|
| Fuel Grades | Fuel oil 467 571 Dieseline |
| Quay or barge | Quay |
| Suppliers | Shell Australia |
Water |
|
| Fresh Water | Yes |
| Exquay or barge | Quay |
| No of hoses | 2 |
| Capacity per hose/hour | N/A |
| Tonnes per hour guaranteed | 25 - 82 |
| Type of connect | Female |
| Connect size in inches | 4 inches |
Dry garbage |
|
| Dry garbage | Yes |
| Barge alongside | No |
| Containers available | No |
| Size of containers | N/A |
| Number available | N/A |
| Incineration or dump | Incinerator |
| Facilities to transport | N/A |
Wet garbage |
|
| Wet garbage | Yes |
| Ship or shore pump | N/A |
| Sludge disposal | N/A |
| Sludge details | N/A |
Charges |
|
| Port Charges | Passenger Liners - exemption from tonnage dues for the first 24 hour period only |
Repair facilities |
|
| Nearest dry dock | Brisbane - Cairncross Dockyard Wharf/Dry Dock |
| Length | 310 metres |
| Maximum Tonnage | 85000 T |
| Divers Available | Yes |
| Engineering facilities | Yes |
Dredging |
|
| Dredging undertaken | Yes |
| Dredging when | Annually |
Port operator |
|
| Name | Port of Townsville Limited |
| Address | PO Box 1031 Townsvile QLD 4810 |
| Telephone | 61 7 4781 1500 |
| Facsimile | |
| Web Site | www.townsvilleport.com.au |
| Email Address | cruise@townsvilleport.com.au |
Berth details |
|
| Berth | Number 10 |
| Maximum draft | 12.2 metres |
| Tidal variation | 3.07 metres |
| Berth length | 300 metres (maximum length of vessel) |
| Guaranteed berthing for cruise ships | Yes |
| Are other ships able to dock | No |
| Cargo ships at dock | No |
| Security fences | Yes |
Nearest ports |
|
| Australia | Cairns |
| Nearest Overseas Port | Port Moresby |
Terminal facilities |
|
| Terminal Building | Yes Undercover Fully Airconditioned |
| Meet and Greet Facilities | Yes |
| Toilet Facilities | Yes |
| Telephones | No |
| Availability of Maps and/or Brochures | Yes |
| Souvenir Shopping | Yes |
| Money Exchange | No |
| Is the US Dollar Accepted? | Sometimes |
Transport |
|
| Closest Airport to Pier | Townsville Airport |
| Distance to Airport | 10 km |
| Transport to Airport | Yes |
| Can Passengers Walk to Town | Yes |
| Drive Time from Pier to Shuttle Stop | 4 minutes |
| Distance from Pier to Town Centre | 3 km |
| Are Shuttle Buses Necessary | Yes |
| Suggested Shuttle Stop in Town | Flinders Mall |
| Availability of Taxis at Pier | Yes |
| Availability of Public Transport at Pier | Yes |
| Other Forms of Transport at Pier | Yes |
Tour buses |
|
| Distance from Ship to Tour Buses | 50 metres |
| What is the Normal Coach Capacity | 12-54 |
| Are Tour Buses Air Conditioned | Yes |
| Are Refreshments Provided on Buses | No |
| Are Cold Towels Provided on Buses | No |
| Are Step Stools Provided on Buses | Yes |
Multi-bay bus and taxi rank area including excellent turn around spaces
Tourism operators in Queensland: