8 tropical Townsville beaches and rockpools to discover

Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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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.

The Strand Beachfront Townsville
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.

 

Townsville Stand-up Paddle boarding
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.

Rockpool The Strand 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.

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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. 

sightseeing at Rowes Bay, Townsville
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.

Radical Bay Magnetic Island
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.

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

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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 in Queensland
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.

A couple swim at Little Crystal Creek
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.

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Megan Arkinstall
Megan Arkinstall is a freelance travel writer who you’ll often find at the beach, bushwalking or boating with her young family. She loves reliving travel memories through writing, whether that be sipping limoncello in a sun-drenched courtyard of Monterosso or swimming with green turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tropical North Queensland.
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8 reasons to book a stay at the reimagined Reefworld now

    Imogen Eveson Imogen Eveson
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    Cruise Whitsundays’ famous Reefworld has undergone a complete transformation – here’s why it has become one of Australia’s most extraordinary places to spend the night.

    Imagine sleeping under the stars or beneath the sea, snorkelling vibrant coral gardens, and enjoying a dining experience that wouldn’t feel out of place at a top restaurant – all from a pontoon moored on the Great Barrier Reef. In a country that excels at extraordinary, immersive travel experiences, the reimagined Reefworld in Queensland’s Whitsundays has joined the upper echelons.

    Cruise Whitsundays has unveiled an extensive transformation of Reefworld, its pontoon permanently moored at Hardy Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

    First opened in 2019, Reefworld is home to the famous underwater Reefsuites – Australia’s first underwater hotel – and was originally designed as a dual-purpose pontoon for both day visitors and overnight guests.

    Now, it has been transformed into an overnight-only experience, giving guests exclusive access to the pontoon and the reef, with more space, greater comfort and a more immersive way to experience this unique environment.

    The transformation forms part of Journey Beyond’s $40 million investment in responsible reef tourism in the region.

    Read on for eight reasons to book a stay at the reimagined Reefworld now.

    1. A scenic cruise through the Whitsundays

    cruise whitsundays boat on Great Barrier Reef Adventure tour
    Start with a cruise of the gorgeous Whitsundays.

    Your journey to Reefworld begins with a scenic cruise through the Whitsundays: dark-green islands daubed on an endless expanse of blue. Welcome to Ngaro Sea Country.

    Departing Port of Airlie, Daydream Island or Hamilton Island, a high-speed catamaran with priority boarding for Reefworld guests will whisk you across the Coral Sea to the outer reef.

    From next year, a new 35-metre catamaran will join the Cruise Whitsundays fleet, featuring an exclusive-use lounge area reserved for Reefworld guests. Snacks and refreshments are available onboard.

    Depending on the time of year, migrating humpback whales may pass you on your journey.

    2. A sense of arrival

    aerial view of new cruise whitsunday reefworld pontoon
    Watch as your home on the reef rolls into view.

    Around two hours after leaving Hamilton Island, the Reefworld pontoon shimmers into view on the horizon.

    As you sail closer towards Hardy Reef – where the pontoon is permanently moored – your home for the next 27 hours comes into focus, including the plush new beds where Reefsleep guests will spend the night. Anticipation builds for the unique experience to come.

    The everyday world slips away as you alight the catamaran and step onto the pontoon. Now exclusively reserved for up to 36 overnight guests at a time, it has undergone an extensive transformation.

    The sense of space, peace and quiet is palpable as you’re welcomed with a cold non-alcoholic drink. Dab your brow with a refreshing cold towel and take in the stillness – interrupted only by the sound of flying fish slapping the water’s surface.

    From the moment you arrive in the late morning, the whole place is yours to enjoy. Reefworld has been redeveloped with considered spaces designed to help you make the most of your downtime.

    On the lower deck, you’ll find a bar serving tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, alongside comfy lounge areas where you can sit back and take in mesmerising reef views.

    Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxed in the knowledge that you don’t have to leave again until tomorrow afternoon.

    3. Elevated food and beverage (including quality coffee!)

    cruise whitsunday reefworld food offering
    Indulge in an elevated food and beverage offering onboard.

    Elevated food and drink is central to the new Reefworld experience. The all-inclusive offering focuses on high-quality regional dining.

    A seafood buffet lunch might include Hervey Bay scallops grilled in shell with garlic and herb butter or line-caught reef fish baked with lemon thyme oil.

    A signature three-course dinner paired with premium Australian wines might dish up an entrée of Whitsunday blue swimmer crab wontons with smoked salmon caviar in a butter sauce, a main of Queensland grass-fed beef-eye fillet, and a tropical coconut and pineapple confection for dessert. Dietary requirements are catered for (notify team at time of booking).

    A hot breakfast buffet offers a selection of cooked favourites, smoked salmon, cheeses, and yoghurts, fresh fruit, toast and cereals.

    All-inclusive beverages include bottled beer and cider, soft drinks and Australian wine including sparkling. Or choose from a range of premium spirits and cocktails such as the 74 Islands Limoncello Spritz, made with a liqueur crafted right here in the Whitsundays.

    Perhaps the biggest boon of all? Barista-made coffee, available from 6.30 am. Only in Australia could you order an oat flat white in the middle of a coral reef.

    4. Snorkel one of the GBR’s most diverse reefs

    guests snorkelling the great barrier reef at cruise whitsunday reefworld
    Dive into the Great Barrier Reef.

    Reefworld sits above Hardy Reef, one of the most biologically diverse outer reef systems in the Great Barrier Reef. Exploring it is a simple matter of popping on a mask, snorkel and flippers and slipping into the water straight from the pontoon.

    Being in the outer reef means the water is clear, and marine life is abundant: here you could spot giant trevally, Māori wrasse, clownfish, parrotfish, nudibranch and giant clams, as well as vibrant coral gardens.

    Snorkel at your leisure over two days. Prefer to stay above the water level? Head to the underwater observatory or join an optional semi-submersible guided tour, and you might still spot the resident two-metre-long Queensland grouper, George, doing the rounds. Or Crush, one of 12 resident green sea turtles.

    5. A luxurious sleep under the stars

    cruise whitsunday reefworld pontoon reefsleep beds
    Spend the night in one of 16 spacious, four-poster beds.

    At the heart of the reimagined Reefworld is its elevated Reefsleep experience. On the upper deck are 16 spacious, four-poster beds, replacing the earlier swag-inspired accommodation and giving up to 32 guests the chance to sleep under the stars with increased privacy and added comfort.

    With names like Parrot Fish and Spotted Ray, each Reefbed is of its place and has everything you need: not least a queen-size bed with premium linens, decked out in coastal shades befitting the location. USB charging ports, reading lights and fans provide extra convenience and comfort. The beds are set up as daybeds in the afternoon, then turned down in time for sleep.

    Double-layer canvas and mesh flaps allow you to customise your experience and exposure to the elements: zip up for maximum privacy and shelter or leave wide open to stargaze as you drift off to sleep.

    Come morning, enjoy the luxury of watching the sun rise over the reef from the comfort of the covers (if facing east).

    6. Refreshed underwater Reefsuites

    Reefsuites room at reefworld
    Let the locals form your bedroom view.

    Reefsuites is Australia’s first underwater hotel and remains among the most unique stays in the country – if not the world. Its two suites have had a glow-up as part of Reefworld’s transformation, but the floor-to-ceiling underwater views of the Great Barrier Reef remain unchanged.

    Choose between king double or twin single sleeping configurations, with premium bedding and a glass-walled en suite in each suite. This is your front-row seat to the marine life of the reef in all its nocturnal glory.

    7. A sensational sunset and canapés session

    cruise whitsunday reefworld guests enjooying sunset canapes
    Wait for sunset at Australia’s best bar.

    There’s even a designated new spot for sunset canapés. Could this be Australia’s best bar? That’s what you will be asking come evening, as you gather on the upper deck for a Sunset Canapés session.

    Reefworld’s refreshed design includes a designated space for this very ritual. Grab a drink at the bar – bubbles, perhaps, or a G&T with locally produced gin – and pull up a stool to settle in for one of the most spectacular sunsets you’ll ever see.

    Nibble on a chef’s selection of light bites as the sun puddles into the molten Coral Sea, bathing the entire pontoon in a glorious glow. It doesn’t get more golden hour than this.

    8. Extras: the adventure continues

    tour leader preparing scua diving gear at cruise whitsunday reefworld
    Choose from a range of extra activities to help you keep exploring.

    And that’s not where the adventure ends. Your Reefworld stay also includes access to the underwater observatory and a guided semi-submarine tour, plus a complimentary guided snorkel safari led by expert reef guides. For those looking to do even more, add-ons include scuba diving and scenic flights over Heart Reef, available at an additional cost.

    As part of Cruise Whitsundays’ investment in reef tourism, nearby permanent Heart Pontoon has also undergone a significant refurbishment, further enhancing the visitor experience.

    The details

    Reefworld is open now as an overnight‑only pontoon, exclusively for Reefsleep and Reefsuite guests. Stays start from $895 per person for Reefsleep and $1495 per person for a Reefsuite, based on double occupancy.

    Book an unforgettable sleep out on the Great Barrier Reef at cruisewhitsundays.com.