8 Townsville Beaches & Rockpools To Explore

Cool off in the North Queensland heat by taking a dip at these Townsville beaches, rockpools and swimming holes.

Fringed by the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef and tropical islands just a short boat ride away, and boasting 300 days of sunshine each year, the coastal city of Townsville is a destination where sun, sand and sea are part of the daily holiday routine. From golden beaches to calm rockpools to refreshing wild waterholes, here are the best places to go swimming in Townsville.

1. The Strand

Named Queensland’s Best Beach by Surf Life Saving Queensland in 2021, The Strand is a 2.2-kilometre stretch of beach that offers safe swimming spots for cooling off in the North Queensland heat.

Head to The Strand North and South for a safe dip in the ocean. (Image: Townsville Enterprise)

Protected by the breakwater and offshore islands – including Magnetic Island – the waves along The Strand are either gentle or non-existent, which spells perfect conditions for families with young kids. There are two safe swimming spots – The Strand North and South – which are patrolled by lifeguards over summer and installed with stinger nets during ‘stinger season’ from November to May.

Tracing The Strand is a palm tree-lined beachfront promenade, comprising a walking and cycling path, playgrounds, picnic spots, and dotted with cafes, bars and ice-cream stalls. You can also try stand-up paddle boarding or go jet skiing from The Strand.

Try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

2. The Strand Rockpool

At the northern end of the promenade, The Strand Rockpool is another safe place to go swimming in Townsville.

Take a dip in the waterfront rockpool at The Strand. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

This seawater pool is stinger-resistant and is patrolled by lifeguards in summer and has a gentle slope with wheelchair access. Kids can splash about in the shallows, while older kids and adults can swim deeper.

There are toilets, barbecue facilities, a playground and kiosk open daily for lunch and dinner, and plenty of grassy areas for relaxing with views out to the ocean.

3. Rowes Bay

Rowes Bay is a quiet beach just north of the city of Townsville and can be accessed via a walkway from The Strand Rockpool.

The beach doesn’t have any stinger nets and isn’t patrolled, so swimming is at your own risk here. However, the 4.2-kilometre-long beach is great for long walks, sand-playing and fishing at the mouth of Three Mile Creek, which is found at its northern end. Rowes Bay is fringed by a grassy foreshore and has an excellent family-friendly caravan park nearby.

Capture relaxing nature views at Rowes Bay. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

4. Pallarenda Beach

Located north of Rowes Bay, separated by Three Mile Creek, Pallarenda Beach is a popular beach for swimming. It is patrolled by lifeguards during summer and stinger nets are also installed from November to May during stinger season.

The northern section of the beach forms part of Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park, which features a historic quarantine station and a WWII battery, as well as many walking and cycling trails.

Pallarenda Beach is a dog-friendly beach; your four-legged friend is allowed to exercise off-leash – but be aware of crocs if your dog likes to swim.

5. Bushland Beach

Part of the northern beaches of Townsville, about a 25-minute drive from the city centre, Bushland Beach is a great spot for walking and fishing. It’s also excellent for young children to wade about in the shallows at low tide, searching for shells and marine animals.

There are no stinger nets here, so swimming is at your own risk, however, it’s a picturesque beach and a great place to relax. There are picnic areas, barbecues, and a beachside tavern and kiosk.

6. Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island, or Maggie as the locals fondly call it, boasts 23 bays and beaches so is a hotspot for swimming, snorkelling and other aquatic adventures. Accessed via a ferry or car barge, the island makes for an idyllic day trip and has five main beaches.

Explore the secluded Radical Bay on Magnetic Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Home to the island’s surf lifesaving club, Alma Bay has rock pools, a kid’s playground, barbecues and a grassy area. Horseshoe Bay is another patrolled beach and is an excellent place to spot turtles, rays, dugongs and dolphins.

Magnetic Island Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

Play in the emerald green waters off the coast of Magnetic Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Picnic Bay has a jetty and two wrecks of a paddle steamer and a wooden steamship. Nelly Bay – which has a long stretch of sand and a grassed area shaded by palm trees – and Geoffrey Bay – home to a popular wreck dive site and giant clams – aren’t patrolled.

Stroll along the jetty at picturesque Picnic Bay. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

7. Little Crystal Creek

Around an hour’s drive from Townsville, Paluma Range National Park is a wonderland of waterholes. If you don’t mind cold water, pack your towel and explore the many wild swimming spots found here.

Little Crystal Creek is about an hour out of Townsville. (Image: Townsville Enterprise)

Little Crystal Creek is famous for its heritage-listed 1930s stone arch bridge that crosses over a cascading waterfall. You can swim on both sides of the bridge and take shade under it between dips. Be cautious of slippery rocks, and never jump or dive into the swimming holes as rocks and other hazards can be submerged.

Cool off on a hot day at Little Crystal Creek. (Image: Townsville Enterprise)

8. Big Crystal Creek

Located right near Big Crystal Creek campground in Paluma Range National Park, Paradise Waterhole is another popular spot for cooling off.

This pristine deep-swimming pool is surrounded by lush foliage and rocky outcrops. Two kilometres further along Big Crystal Creek, Rockslides is a picturesque series of cascades and waterholes, also suitable for swimming. Be cautious of slippery rocks, and never jump or dive into the swimming holes as rocks and other hazards can be submerged.

Safety Tip: Safe swimming in Croc Country

Townsville is part of ‘Croc Country’ and no waterway can ever be considered free of crocodiles. Crocodiles can stay submerged in shallow waters and may not be easy to spot, so it’s important to be vigilant.

To reduce your risk, swim between the flags at patrolled beaches, don’t swim at dawn or dusk, avoid swimming in murky water, read and obey all crocodile warning signs.

Dreaming of a tropical getaway? Escape to the city’s best beaches and know where to stay in and around Townsville.

From galleries to the Great Barrier Reef – Townsville is turning heads.

North Queensland is often associated with hot weather and beautiful beaches, acting as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. But one of the state’s biggest cities is on the rise for something different. Townsville is drawing a new crowd: a growing number of visitors who come for the city’s burgeoning arts scene – and stay for everything else.

When did Townsville become an arts capital?

Historically a port city established to service the expanding pastoral industries of North Queensland, Townsville has long been an important hub for trade and manufacturing. But in recent years, a growing arts community has been shifting the perspective. And now more than ever, the city is embracing its creativity.

Townsville was originally a port city. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

With the firm backing of Townsville City Council, the movement has flourished, perfectly capturing the city’s essence and elevating daily life for residents and tourists alike. But its impact goes beyond aesthetics – generating space for cultural exchange and paying respects to the land’s Traditional Owners. The Wulgurukaba and Bindal peoples have been creating art in Townsville for thousands of years, which can be observed on an Indigenous-led Bush Tukka & Rock Art Tour with Gudjuda.

Several art galleries around the city showcase First Nations art, as well as works by a diverse range of emerging and well-known creators. By platforming the artists that call it home, Townsville has built an arts scene that rivals any major Aussie capital – and it’s attracting visitors from near and far.

Townsville’s arts scene: 5 must-visit places

Keen to get amongst it but not sure where to start? We hit the streets to uncover Townsville’s top five ultimate art experiences.

1. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville, Qld

Perc Tucker exhibits a dynamic range of artworks across its two levels. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Located in the heart of the CBD, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is home to a range of artworks exhibited across two levels – from permanent collections by local artists to international exhibitions on tour.

The gallery recently welcomed Wedgwood: Artist & Industry, on loan from London’s iconic Victoria and Albert Museum – a sure sign of Townsville’s artistic expansion. The landmark exhibition, on display until 24 August, spans over 200 years of original designs and ceramics from the famous fine China manufacturer. Take it up a notch with Restaurant 1889’s Wedgwood dining experience just across the road.

2. Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts in Townsville, Qld

Purchase handmade trinkets by local artists. (Image: Taylah Darnell)

A quick walk down the street and you’ll stumble upon Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts. Wander through the open-plan arts space to browse a constantly rotating cycle of eclectic exhibitions from local and national artists. Visitors can also purchase the perfect souvenir to take home, as handmade one-of-a-kind trinkets line the walls, too.

But there’s more to this locally run gallery than meets the eye. At its heart is The Studio – a supportive space where local artists have 24-hour access to tools and resources that are typically hard to come by for just $50 a month. From silversmithing equipment and printing facilities to an etching press and photography darkroom, all creative forms are catered for.

3. North Queensland Potters Association

North Queensland Potters Association in Townsville, Qld

Join a ceramics workshop. (Image: Taylah Darnell)

The North Queensland Potters Association invites you to embrace your inner artist, even if you’re only visiting. Just a 10-minute drive out of Townsville’s CBD, this hub of community and creativity is the best place for a hands-on art experience – literally.

While it’s mainly a studio space for local potters and ceramicists, the not-for-profit also hosts a range of weekly workshops that are open to the public. No matter your skill level, an instructor from the association will guide you through crafting your masterpiece, which can be fired, glazed and sent home to you at an additional cost.

4. Street Art Walking Trail

Townsville’s street art is a great way to experience the city’s creativity. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Want to do it in your own time, at your own pace? Just follow the Street Art Walking Trail. The itinerary includes 26 public artworks, easily admired on a stroll around the city. Start at the top of Flinders Street with From the treetops… by local artist Jon Electros, which depicts the endangered Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo.

From there, the tour will take you past more murals, from large-scale portraits that span entire buildings to geometric patterns that dance along walls. Be sure to fuel up with a coffee at Hoi Polloi along the way – not only is it one of Townsville’s best cafes, it’s covered in cool art, too!

5. Museum of Underwater Art

Museum of Underwater Art in Townsville, Qld

MOUA is the only underwater art gallery in Australia. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

One of just eight underwater art galleries in the world and the only one of its kind in Australia, the Museum of Underwater Art is truly one of the best ways to spend your time in Townsville. Located 70 kilometres off the coast at John Brewer Reef, it can be visited on a day trip from Magnetic Island with local tour operators like SeaLink.

Don your scuba kit and you’ll witness Jason deCaires Taylor’s Ocean Sentinals, eight 2.2-metre-tall figures weighing between one and three tons. And The Coral Greenhouse, which holds the Guinness Book of World Record’s title for Largest Underwater Art Structure. Prefer to stay on land? Hang out with the four-metre Ocean Siren sculpture back on The Strand.

Planning a trip? Check out our guide on where to eat, play and stay in Townsville.

8 tropical Townsville beaches and rockpools to discover