Townsville

Townsville is the largest city in far north Queensland. It is the commercial capital and its port facilities service the vast agricultural and mining industries that thrive in its hinterland. The Australian air force and army both have substantial bases in Townsville which both add to the cities permanent population and help support the local economy. James Cook University is the far north’s seat of higher education. It is now ranked in the tip 5% of universities in the world and provides degree courses that range right through to include medical degrees.

Just offshore from Townsville lies Magnetic Island which was named by Capt James Cook when he noticed a significant magnetic anomaly in the region. Magnetic Island is now an excellent holiday destination with superb resorts overlooking quiet bays and beaches with rocky granite headlands in between. It is home to Queensland’s largest colony of Koala. Magnetic Island also has an interesting golf course and several great beaches. It is serviced from the mainland by both a vehicular barge and a fast catamaran service.

The residents of Townsville are sports mad and strongly support their local teams. The North Queensland Cowboys rugby league team is based here and regular crowds of 20000 plus spectators turn out for their games. The Townsville Fury soccer team has a number of high profile internationals in its ranks and the Townsville Crocs basketball team is a member of the national league and is always hard to beat. These sporting teams attract thousands from out of town when their home games are on and during these times Townsville’s accommodation is stretched to the limit. The V8 supercars now have an annual event in Townsville and when they come to town you need to book well in advance.

Townsville has a superb waterfront precinct known as “The Strand”. It is always full of locals and tourists sharing the fantastic holiday atmosphere. There is a number of restaurants, a water park for the kids, an Olympic size swimming pool and a large marina. It is really popular with families looking to relax and have fun as well as fitness fanatics, roller skating or jogging beneath the coconut palms.