13 BEST THINGS TO DO IN
Townsville
NORTH QUEENSLAND WITH KIDS
13 BEST THINGS TO DO IN
Townsville
North Queensland
WITH KIDS
From checking out vibrant street art trails to visiting Australia’s largest waterfall and snorkelling coral reefs at Magnetic Island, Townsville North Queensland is ideal for curious families who love to explore
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/billabong-sanctuary-in-townsville.86580c8045f5.jpg?ext=webp)
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/see-krakatoa-the-croc-at-billabong-sanctuary.85a5c726a8ad.jpg?ext=webp)
Billabong Sanctuary
With a two-hectare billabong at its heart, this wildlife park is home to more than 50 native species, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, emus and mainland Queensland’s largest captive croc, Krakatoa. It offers daily ranger shows, photo opportunities and the chance to hand feed some animals.
Images: Billabong Sanctuary at Nome, See Krakatoa the croc at Billabong Sanctuary
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/snorkelling-at-florence-bay-on-magnetic-island-image-tourism-and.c8aeb33a8187.jpg?ext=webp)
Snorkel the coral reefs at Magnetic Island
Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville, Magnetic Island is a nature lover’s paradise. More than 75 per cent of the island is reserved as national park, with 23 bays and beaches to discover. Snorkel the fringing coral reef at Nelly Bay or Geoffrey Bay, or book a guided tour with Aquascene Magnetic Island to a secluded bay.
Image: Snorkelling at Florence Bay on Magnetic Island © Tourism and Events Queensland
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/ocean-sentinels-sculptures-at-the-museum-of-underwater-art.630f27894828.jpg?ext=webp)
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/the-museum-of-underwater-art-image-tourism-and-events-queensland.b7e55333ce26.jpg?ext=webp)
Museum of Underwater Art
Be inspired by the works of British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor at the Museum of Underwater Art, which you can visit on a tour with Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive or SeaLink from either Townsville or Magnetic Island. Children aged 12 and over can do an introductory dive to see the Coral Greenhouse, while the Ocean Sentinels sculptures are great for families with kids old enough to snorkel.
Images: Ocean Sentinels sculptures, The Museum of Underwater Art © Tourism and Events Queensland
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/street-art.ae64126ab574.jpg?ext=webp)
Street art trails
Townsville and the regional towns of Burdekin and Charters Towers are decorated with magnificent murals, sculptures and installations showcasing the region’s culture and heritage, with artists from across Australia recruited to repurpose unassuming spaces and transform them into vibrant outdoor galleries. Collect a map from the local Visitor Information Centre and get the kids to navigate!
Image: Burdekin street art © Roslyn Budd
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/stardust-drive-in-at-ayr-image-roslyn-budd.b0426cdf2504.jpg?ext=webp)
Go retro with a night at the drive in
Bundle the kids into the car with some comfy pillows and blankets and head to one of two drive-in theatres in the region — Stardust Drive In Theatre at Ayr or Tors Drive In at Charters Towers. Enjoy a new release or an old classic whilst taking in the bountiful open views and stargazing.
Image: Stardust Drive In at Ayr © Roslyn Budd
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/bungalow--bay-koala-village-on-magnetic-island.860bdb37c8b7.jpg?ext=webp)
Breakfast with koalas
Meet a family of koalas and enjoy a ranger-cooked breakfast, including pancakes with native jams and bacon and egg rolls, in a relaxed bushland setting at Selina Magnetic Island. You’ll also get to meet other wildlife, including wombats and reptiles.
Image: Selina Magnetic Island
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/wallaman-falls-near-townsville-image-tourism-and-events-queensla.51ddfa1f114d.jpg?ext=webp)
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/children-at-wallaman-falls-image-tourism-and-events-queensland.2c2a124eac0b.jpg?ext=webp)
See Australia’s largest waterfall
Want to see Australia’s biggest waterfall? Then a day trip to Wallaman Falls, around two hours’ drive north of Townsville, is an absolute must. There are also some beautiful waterfalls to swim at en route. The heritage-listed Little Crystal Creek Bridge is surrounded by pristine cascades with small pockets of water that make perfect swimming holes. Nearby Paradise Waterhole, on Big Crystal Creek, is just as inviting.
Images: Wallaman Falls, Children at Wallaman Falls © Tourism and Events Queensland
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/texas-longhorn-tours-in-townsville.e5f09811e087.jpg?ext=webp)
Texas Longhorn Tours
While you’re in the area, make sure you visit Leahton Park to enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride and meet some of the longest horned cattle in the world — direct descendants of the Texas Longhorns that walked in the great trail herds in the US in the late 1800s. The family-owned property is just 10 kilometres from Charters Towers and is open from May to October.
Image: Texas Longhorn Tours
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/the-miners-cottage-charters-towers.391d166ea955.jpg?ext=webp)
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/venus-gold-battery-charters-towers.20839e60f137.jpg?ext=webp)
Learn about history at Charters Towers
It’s worth making a day trip to the former gold rush town of Charters Towers to see its historic buildings and museums. Kids will love the audio visual displays at Venus Gold Battery Charters Towers, an old mill where gold was extracted from quartz for more than a century, and trying their hand at gold panning with a retired prospector at The Miners Cottage Charters Towers.
Images: The Miners Cottage, Venus Gold Battery Charters Towers
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/the-strand-waterpark-in-townsville-image-townsville-city-council.0709799014ca.jpg?ext=webp)
Water parks
What kid doesn’t love a water park playground? There are three in the Townsville region to cool off. Located on the Townsville foreshore, the water park at The Strand has slides, a tipping bucket and water cannons, with bonus views across the water to Magnetic Island. There are also some great options at Burdekin Aquatic Centre and Charters Towers.
Image: The Strand Waterpark © Townsville City Council
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/a-boy-being-painted-with-ochre-with-mungalla-aboriginal-tours.cc88d68f7774.jpg?ext=webp)
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/mungalla-aboriginal-tours.1480dfffe1ef.jpg?ext=webp)
Discover Indigenous culture with Mungalla Aboriginal Tours
Have a go at throwing a boomerang and chat with the Aboriginal traditional owners of the lands around Ingham on a tour at Mungalla Station, around 100 kilometres north of Townsville. You’ll also learn about the area’s history, including conflict between the Nywaigi People and early European settlers.
Images: A boy being painted with ochre, Mungalla Aboriginal Tours
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/riverway-arts-centre-in-townsville-image-megan-mackinnon.59fd1df2a2eb.jpg?ext=webp)
Family-friendly parks
The Townsville region abounds with great parks that will keep the kids happy — and help them burn off some energy! Located on the banks of the Ross River, Pioneer Park has a colourful playground and a Sound Garden where children can experiment with musical instruments, with two large swimming lagoons at the neighbouring Riverway Arts Centre to splash about. Established in 1870, Queens Gardens is a beautiful spot for a picnic, with tropical plants, a swing and maze. Plantation Park at Ayr, TYTO Wetlands at Ingham and Burdekin Weir Park at Charters Towers are also worth checking out.
Image: Riverway Arts Centre © Megan Mackinnon
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/the-museum-of-tropical-north-queensland.d6d07885ed87.jpg?ext=webp)
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/48882/museum-of-tropical-queensland.dc0d57f4bca0.jpg?ext=webp)
Museum of Tropical North Queensland
Discover the tragic tale of HMS Pandora — the ship sent to capture the Bounty mutineers — and learn about the region’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforests and reefs and the at the Museum of Tropical North Queensland in Townsville. The diverse range of exhibitions and displays are designed to captivate audiences of all ages, focusing on natural and cultural history, biodiversity and human science.
Images: Museum of Tropical Queensland
In partnership with Townsville Enterprise Limited