The official Regional Tourism Organization for this North Queensland region is the Townsville Enterprise. This organization consists of 5 member team that plans and implements tourism for economic growth. They devise methods to develop opportunities and initiate economic development in the region.
The easy life style and a tropical climate is attracting more Australians in the region. Life in Townsville is far away from distraction, pollution and pressures of city life. Hence it is attracting more domestic and international students to pursue their goals and explore some outstanding opportunities.
Townsville is the centre point of North Queensland. It is bounded by Mission Beach to the north, Charter Towers to the west and Bowen in the South. This diversity makes tourism in this region an unforgettable experience. A tour to coral reef aquarium, a wild life sanctuary, casino, beaches, museums, galleries and restaurants, give tourists a taste of difference. The magnetic Island, with 320 days of sunshine is a perfect choice for tourists. A visit to the Townsville Museum, Maritime Museum, RAAf and Military Museums will reflect the growth and development of this region its origin to present day.
For a glimpse of the Koala, a python or the crocodiles a safari through the 10 hectares of wetland, Billabong Sanctuary is a heart rendering experience.
If you are planning to go on thrilling and exciting holiday, or a lazy warm beach retreat then Townsville Tourism is the perfect choice.
History of Townsville
The history of Townsville goes back to 1770 when the city was first visited by the Europeans. Captain James Cook described the region on his first voyage around Australia and named it Cleveland Bay.
A number of maritime explorers stopped at Cleveland Bay after that. During the 1860s, a sea captain, Robert Towns asked John Melton Black to build a dock on the Cleveland Bay in the north Queensland coast. The settlement was named Townsville after him. Soon Townsville was declared a municipality, with John Melton Black as the first Mayor.
With the growing of sugar, the discovery of gold, the establishment of meat-works and the growth of pastoral industries in the hinterland the port of Townsville saw a booming growth in the history of Townsville .
Soon a railway was also built from the port which moved out into the hinterland reaching Charters Towers, Ravenswood, Hughenden, Winton, Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
The history of Townsville is marked by the early 1900s with the Australian Flag being hosted and proclaimed at a ceremony at Town Hall in Townsville. The ceremony was conducted by the first Governor-General of Australia, the Earl of Hopetoun. Soon afterwards, Townsville was declared a city under the 'Local Authorities Act'.
The history of Townsville is also marked by the world wars. During the World War I, the Townsville-based Kennedy Regiment was highly involved in the capture of Germany's Pacific colonies. During World War II Townsville was a major military base, accommodating up to 90,000 Australian, American and other allied service personnel. The City was bombed on three occasions by the Japanese and was used as a major offensive launching base during the battle of the Coral Sea.
Tropical storms have threatened the city of Townsville on many occasions of which a category 4 storm on Christmas Eve 1971 causing considerable damage, has found a notable place in the history of Townsville .
Located around 1400km from Brisbane , Townsville today is a city of great appeal and trend with benignant and sophisticated buildings and old pubs. It is an escape to a golden land which is warm with its culture and climate…the rich history of Townsville has paved its way to one of the greatest tourist attractions of Australia.Sightseeing in Townsville
The capital of North Queensland is a combination of the beauties of the tropics along with the magnetism of the city. Sightseeing in Townsville is a pleasure for any visitor's eye. The place has the privilege of enjoying 320 days of sunshine round the year. Townsville is a slipshod kind of a city where relaxation is the prime attraction. With the dazzling sunshine throughout the year Townsville is the prime attraction of all of the visitors visiting Australia.
The first thing that comes in mind while talking about Sightseeing in Townsville is the Reef HQ Aquarium (Reef HQ Aquarium, Townsville). The coral reef that is displayed in the Reef HQ Aquarium is one of the largest in the world. The beauty of the aquarium can be felt in all the seasons. The flora and the fauna experience all kinds of natural weather changes.
The Strand, Townsville (The Strand, Townsville) is one of the best featured places on the seashore of Townsville. Sightseeing in Townsville remains incomplete unless the visitors experience the beauty of The Strand (The Strand, Townsville). It integrates various picnic spots and recreational parks. The Strand (The Strand, Townsville) is used for a number of festivals and events during the rich festive season.
Sightseeing in Townsville turns up to be a pleasure when visitors see the Magnetic Island, Townsville (Magnetic Island, Townsville). The island is a rich place for wildlife and numerous eucalyptus trees. Tourists turn up in the island also for bird watching. There are a number of activities that can be performed while you are in the island; horse riding is the one worth mentioning.
Castle Hill, Townsville (Castle Hill, Townsville) is the stone or rock standing far above the sea-level. The real charm of the magnetic island is felt when it is viewed from this place.
Palmetum, Townsville (Palmetum, Townsville) is the land of the palms. There are around 60 species of palm trees in this botanical garden. The sightseeing in Townsville becomes evergreen with the complete view of this greenery.
There is other sightseeing in Townsville. Billabong Sanctuary is one of the best wildlife reserves. The rainforests are also a pleasure for the visitors of Townsville.
There are lots of museums to visit in Townsville. Maritime Museum Of Townsville and the Townsville Museum are worth mention.
The tourists who visit Townsville experience a lot of natural and manmade places. All these are a pleasant and relaxing experience for the visitors.
Festivals and Events in Townsville
Townsville is well renowned as the events capital of North Queensland. It has an exciting annual calendar of sporting events, cultural festivals, performing arts and community events. Throughout the year there is lot of excitement and entertainment in this city for the Festivals and Events in Townsville. Check out the calendar and come during the time of the festival. You will love it.
Festivals and Events in Townsville are interrelated with the life of the denizens here. You will find enthusiastic local people participating in each and every festival. The Tourists Information Centers help the visitors a lot regarding festivals and events. If you intend to come to Townsville during the popular festivals it is always advisable to book your accommodation in advance because there is lot of rush during the popular festivals here. The New Year Eve and the Australian Day on 26th are the popular events for the month of January. April's calendar is full of events and festivals like Good Friday, Easter Monday, Charters Towers Heritage Week and others. The Palm Creek Folk Festival in June is a vibrant and colorful festival held in the lush tropical grounds of the Mountain View Lake Eco Park. It goes on for four days and three nights. The Palm Creek Folk Festival events generally include concerts, dances, workshops, acoustic jams, children's festival, art and craft workshops, late night cabarets and special events including a spectacular fire event. The Charters Towers Show in July is a yearly agricultural show. It showcases each and every thing related to agriculture, animals, cooking and crafts, horticulture, and mining in this district. The Maraka Festival in October is Ingham's longest running festival and has been held annually over two weeks in October for almost 50 years. The activities that characterize this festival are a Fisherma, arts and crafts showcase, Gala Ball, spot-the-window competition, best dressed business house, pet parade, fence-painting, cane-carrying, competitions, orchid display, and cycle races. Besides these there are many other activities that are associated with the festival.
How to Get in
Traveling by air is one of the easiest ways of getting to Townsville. There are a large number of flights arriving to the Townsville International Airport everyday, and this you can avail ay flight to come over here. Virgin Blue Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas, Macair and Skytrains are some of the major airlines that have regular flights to this city. There are a large number of cheap as well as discount flights to this city, which you can avail of.
You can also come to this place by rail. The cities of Australia are connected with one another by an extensive railway system. You can catch a train from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and come to this city directly. Rail services are provided by " The Queenslander", which is known for its world-class services and facilities. Tilt Train and Sunlander are the main trains that connect Townsville with other cities of Australia. Traveling by train is an economical way of getting to this city.
Another way of getting to Townsville, Australia is by road. The entire country has a fabulous network of roads that connect the different towns and cities of the country with one another. There area large number of bus companies that bring tourist from different places to Townsville. The Greyhound Australia is an express bus line that connects Townsville with the other cities of the country. If you do not want to board a bus, then you can also hire a car and drive down to this place. There are a large number of car hiring companies from whom you can hire a car and drive down to this city. Getting to Townsville is also possible by sea. A large number of cruise ships come to the Townsville port, bringing a large number of tourists to this place every year.
Parks and Gardens in Townsville
The city of Townville is known for its gardens and parks. Within the all-encompassing concrete buildings lurking everywhere, you can have a relaxing vacation at the unruffled and scenic park and gardens in Townsville. These well maintained leisure retreats complement to the beautiful natural landscape and tourist attractions of the city.
Townsville City Council has developed botanical compilation in three separate gardens - Queens Gardens, Anderson Park and The Palmetum. They collectively form the Townsville Botanic Gardens. All three gardens are internationally recognized. Though each garden is distinctive in character, yet each of them contain excellent examples of tropical flora that will be of significance to plant enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
Park and gardens in Townsville are epitomes of unruffled entertainment. Gardens and open spaces are mostly located in suburbs and along the Ross River Bikeway. There has been a huge rise in the figure of park and gardens in Townsville and entertainment facilities there in recent times. Catering to people of all ages, these park and gardens are must-visits on your tour to Townsville.
Park and gardens in Townsville are immense allures for tourists and locals alike. Unperturbed strategic locations have made these parks most-visited tourist attractions in the city. A part of the complete leisure package, the Park and Gardens of Townsville are the excellent places to have untainted fun and thrill in this beautiful tiny city.
Hotels in Townsville
