Australia / Townsville - The Laidback Atmosphere of the Queensland Shores
Originally established as the main seaport of the region, Townsville evolved into a modern town within a very rugged Australian outback that now acts as a cultural, social and tourist center attracting thousands by its shores every year no matter the season
General Info
Townsville is an odd name to give to this strange combination of coastal region, rugged outback, rainforest and urban landscape. Indeed, Townsville, a region in Australian’s Queensland state, has it all and not only that, it’s also a place where the sun always shines, both figuratively and literally, as there are an average of 320 days of sunshine each year. If that doesn’t get the Yacht Charter community tanned, nothing will.
Unofficially, the locals call this the capital of Queensland, and who can blame them since so many Yacht Charter tourists venture out here year after year since one visit is never enough to experience all Townsville has to offer.
Travel & Arrival
Since the city has a modern infrastructure, the easiest way of traveling here “down under” is by plane, with the airport 12 km west of the city. Local operators include Quantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
It’s also easy driving in from other parts of Australia, since the town is located on the Bruce Highway (A1) with Cairns further up north and Brisbane to the south. Another route Yacht Charter visitors can follow is the A6 (Flinders Highway). Queensland Rail and Traveltrain make runs to Townsville to and from Cairns and Brisbane.
Avant & Apres Sail
Though a relatively young settlement (est. 1864), Townsville has a lot to offer, both with the urban area and the natural surroundings. The first stop on your Yacht Charter itinerary should be Castle Hill which is situated right in the middle of the city and offers great 360 degrees views. The town’s culture hub called Riverway and has an art gallery, a cultural center and lots of entertainment venues.
At one end of Riverway there is Lake Ross with a dam. Both the dam facility and the lake are open to Yacht Charter visitors who can book tours. Lake Paluma, Big Crystal Creek and Little Crystal Creek are some of the other waters in the area.
From fast food to gourmet cuisine, there’s nothing you can’t find in Townsville when it comes to settling your stomach. An interesting fact is the way people’s laid back attitude has managed to influence the way they dine. It’s not at all uncommon to see outdoor casual lazy breakfasts in the many sidewalk cafes. For an authentic Australian menu head to Magentic Island’s Nelly bay where they specialize in barbecues.
Townsville is home to a great number of shops and shopping malls too. The list would be too long to integrate in the present, but the Yacht Charter reader can rest assured that there are plenty of places where to spend your hard-earned cash. The CBD would be a good place to start.
Events & Actions
Diving and swimming are so popular here they are more than just pastimes, they are national sports, so the Yacht Charter tourist can indulge in either as they are many beaches where you can practice both.
And as far as festivals go, in a town with such beautiful weather and so close to the waters of the Pacific, regattas and boat shows are bound to be abundant. Then there are cultural events like the Australian Chamber Music Festival and the Italian Festival.