Accommodation in Townsville

POP 78 750. Townsville is located in the tropics, 1384km north of Brisbane around Ross River. Townsville is the region's centre for government and rural and mining industries; it is also the business and commercial capital of north Queensland.

Main Attractions: The Museum of Tropical Queensland, in Flinders St East, features the Pandora Shipwreck exhibition and has the largest display of tropical dinosaur fossils in Australia. In the same street is Reef HQ, a living coral reef in a huge tank. The Imax Dome Theatre, also in this building, offers an 18m dome screen. Visitors can try their luck at Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino, located in Sir Leslie Thiess Dr. Boat cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and launches to Magnetic and Orpheus islands leave from Townsville's ferry terminal. Townsville Botanic Gardens are located in Gregory St. The Town Common and Environmental Park is a birdwatchers' paradise. The Palmetum, located near James Cook University campus in Douglas, has a wide variety of palms from around the world. The Strand has a large rockpool and 2.5km landscaped promenade that is well suited to the outdoor lifestyle. Children love the Water Park, near the Tobruk Memorial Pool, which is also on The Strand. Spectacular views of Townsville, Magnetic Island and the surrounding area are available from Castle Hill, the landmark granite outcrop in the city; and also from Mount Stuart, around 10km to the south-west.