How To Have A Fun & Relaxing Holiday In Townsville, Queensland.

If you never considered Townsville as your next holiday destination, you’re not alone, I didn’t either. But during the pandemic, I took full advantage of exploring Australia and found myself in Townsville! And, I’m happy to say that Townsville is so much fun and The Ville Resort-Casino was epic.

The main reason I planned a holiday in Townsville was because of a deal on Luxury Escapes. It was for The Ville Resort-Casino, (unfortunately, this deal is no longer available). I had never been to Townsville before but with a deal on accommodation, and direct flights from Brisbane, I thought it was a great option. So adding to my collection of Australia Travel Guides, let me tell you all about my stay in Townsville. 

Townsville is located in northern Queensland and they are known for having more than 320 sunny days a year and easy access to neighboring Magnetic Island. Traveling as a couple we found it to be the perfect place to relax, eat, and drink. Also, I think a holiday in Townsville would be so much fun with a big group of friends. 

TRANSPORT FROM TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT

Townsville airport is only a 15-minute drive to the center of town. Taxi’s and Ubers are available but we found the easiest and cheapest way was to book with Townsville Shuttle Service. As soon as we had collected our bags we were on our way and it only cost $15 per couple. You can email them to book at [email protected]

Or alternatively, you could hire a car from the airport – Search for the best car rentals rates here!

TOWNSVILLE ACCOMMODATION

As I mentioned above we stayed at The Ville Resort-Casino. We spent 3 nights there and it was amazing. Just look at the photos of the pool!!!! The Ville underwent a 35 million dollar renovation a couple of years back so everything is new, bright, and airy. Think South Beach Miami, with South Pacific vibes! 

The resort has multiple restaurants, bars (including a pool bar), a casino, and an incredible pool area overlooking Magnetic Island. It has everything you’ll need so no real reason to leave.

Search for the best rates at Agoda.com and/or Booking.com. 

WHAT TO DO IN TOWNSVILLE 

Obviously, the first thing is spending time at The Ville, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere by the pool, or start drinking in the casino at 10 am. Either way, I’d be surprised if you got bored there. 

The Strand: 

The Strand is a beachfront promenade that runs along the coast for 2.2km. Lined with palm trees & there’s plenty of shops, restaurants, and grassy areas ideal for picnics. And, the Strand is within easy walking distance from The Ville. 

Castle Hill: 

A giant granite rock formation, only a few meters shy of being considered a mountain, is the perfect place to get your exercise done. 

We woke up bright and early, and got a taxi from The Ville at 04:30 am because we wanted to make it up before sunrise. The drive to the base of the hill was only 10 minutes.

To get to the summit of Castle Hill there are a few different walking tracks. We went up along the Cudtheringa Track, which begins from the first car park at the bottom of Castle Hill. And, on the way down we took Goat Track. Both tracks were very manageable, there’s a lot of stairs but it only took about 45 minutes to reach the summit and it’s all very well signed. 

From the top, there are the most beautiful views of Townsville and out to Magnetic Island. The sunrise was nothing special the morning we went up but it was still the best way to start the day, especially considering how hot it can get during the day. 

Botanical Gardens: 

Apparently, Townsville used to be known as “Brownsville”, which I think they found a bit offensive! Because they have since created the greenest and lushest Botanical Gardens. The gardens have so many different types of plants and flowers, and with Castle Hill, as the backdrop, it’s definitely worth a walkthrough. 

As Townsville is located in the central area of the Great Barrier Reef, there are also many tours & excursions available from Townsville, click below if you want to check them out.

Townsville Tours & Excursions!

FOOD, DRINK & NIGHTLIFE IN TOWNSVILLE

When you’re traveling in Australia obviously there have to be good places to drink. Townsville definitely has that but it was weird being in a beachy Queensland city and it not being full of backpackers. Due to COVID-19 Australia’s international borders are currently closed and the Queensland state borders were also closed. Resulting in a dramatic drop in tourist numbers. So even though we enjoyed the nightlife, I feel if there wasn’t a pandemic going on it would have been way more exciting. 

These are the bars and restaurants we went to, I enjoyed all of them but apart from the Quarterdeck at The Ville, everywhere was very quiet. 

Townsville Brewery – Flinders Street.

The rooftop bar at Rambutan Hotel – Flinders Street.

Longboard Bar & Grill – The Strand. 

Quarterdeck & The Casino – both at The Ville. 

SWIMMING IN TOWNSVILLE 

The problem with swimming in the ocean in North Queensland is what else is swimming there. Thankfully it’s very rare to see a saltwater crocodile swimming off the coast in Townsville but they do get deadly jellyfish. Stinger season is from November to April, so if you’re visiting during that time you will need to wear a stinger suit. It’s possible for these Jellyfish to be around during other months as well, so always check signs or ask lifeguards.

A question that’s often asked is;

Is a Holiday in Townsville Worth It?

I would say yes! I think it’s such a fun city, and when tourism is at its peak it would be even better when you’re going out for a drink. I’d only recommend staying at The Ville Resort-Casino, it was amazing. And, I’d avoid visiting during stinger season, it’ll be far too hot there over summer, and not being able to jump in the ocean would be annoying.