Hotels in Townsville
1 hotel across 0 neighborhoods
Browse hotels in Townsville, Australia, near The Strand esplanade and the Magnetic Island ferry. Castle Hill and reef day trips are minutes away.
Photo by Samantha Gilmore on Unsplash
About Townsville
Townsville: Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Magnetic Island
Townsville sits on the north Queensland coast, 1,375 km north of Brisbane and 350 km south of Cairns. Founded in 1864, it is Australia's largest tropical city outside of a state capital, with roughly 200,000 residents. The city fronts Cleveland Bay, with Castle Hill — a 286-metre pink granite outcrop — rising directly above the CBD. The Strand, a 2.2 km esplanade lined with pools, parkland, and restaurants, anchors the waterfront precinct. The Museum of Tropical Queensland on Flinders Street East houses artefacts recovered from the 1791 wreck of HMS Pandora, giving the city a distinct maritime heritage.
Where to Stay
Most hotels concentrate around Flinders Street, the CBD's main corridor, and along The Strand facing Cleveland Bay. South Townsville and the Douglas suburb near James Cook University attract longer-stay and budget travellers. A 25-minute ferry from the Breakwater Terminal reaches Magnetic Island, where smaller resorts and guesthouses offer an alternative base for reef and bushwalk access.
Practical Tips
- Getting there: Townsville Airport (TSV) receives direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
- Climate: Wet season runs November to April; pack light, quick-dry clothing year-round.
- Reef access: Day trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef depart from the Breakwater Marina.
- Sun protection: UV Index regularly exceeds 11 in summer — carry SPF 50+ sunscreen.
All hotels in Townsville
Cities like Townsville
Other destinations across Australia within reach.
