Sights in Townsville
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Billabong Sanctuary
Just 17km south of Townsville, this eco-certified wildlife park offers up-close-and-personal encounters with Australian wildlife – from dingoes to cassowaries – in their natural habitat. There are feedings, shows and talks every half-hour or so. Transfers are available from Townsville with Abacus Tours.
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Castle Hill Walking
If the temperature's right (ie the asphalt's not melting) it's worth scrambling to the top of this striking 286m-high red hill (an isolated pink-granite monolith) for the view. Walk up via the rough 'goat track' (2km oneway) from Hillside Cres. There's also a road (via Gregory St or Stanley St), if you're driving.
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Museum of Tropical Queensland
The MTQ reconstructs scenes using detailed models with interactive displays. At 11am and 2.30pm you can load and fire a cannon, 1700s-style; galleries include the kid-friendly MindZone science centre and displays on north Queensland's history from the dinosaurs to the rainforest and reef.
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Strand
Stretching 2.2km, Townsville's palm-lined waterfront is interspersed with parks, pools, cafes and playgrounds. Its golden-sand beach is patrolled and protected by two stinger enclosures from November to May.
At the northern tip is the rock pool , an enormous artificial swimming pool surrounded by lawns and sandy beaches. Alternatively, head to the chlorinated safety of the heritage-listed Olympic-size swimming pool, Tobruk Memorial Baths.
There's also a brilliant little water playground for kids.
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Reef HQ
An enthralling way to spend a few hours, this aquarium has the best of the reef in a series of recreated reefs. Check out the turtles, sharks, rays and sawfish (a pleasant change to seeing their snout pinned to Queensland’s pubs’ walls). Different tours leave every half hour until 4pm.
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Cultural Centre
Showcases the history, traditions and customs of the Wulgurkaba and Bindal people. Call for guided tour times.
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Australian Institute of Marine Science
This marine-research facility at Cape Ferguson runs free two-hour tours (10am Fri Mar-Nov) covering the institute's research (such as coral bleaching and management of the Great Barrier Reef) and how it relates to the community; advance bookings are essential. The turn-off from the Bruce Hwy is 35km southeast of Townsville.
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Maritime Museum of Townsville
A smaller affair, with lighthouse memorabilia and a Yongala shipwreck model and display.
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Queens Gardens Botanical Park
At the base of Castle Hill, the four-hectare QueensGardensBotanicalPark has a rainforest and black bean walk.
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Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
A contemporary art gallery in a stately 1885 former bank. Exhibitions focus on north Queensland artists.
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Queens Gardens
If you fancy a lazy picnic, head to these ornamental gardens at the base of Castle Hill.
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Anderson Park
AndersonPark is more focused on tropical northern Queensland trees.
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Reef HQ Aquarium
Townsville's excellent aquarium is a living reef on dry land. A staggering 2.5 million litres of water flow through the coral-reef tank, which is home to sharks, rays and over 100 fish species, plus brilliantly hued coral. Kids will love seeing, feeding and touching turtles at the turtle hospital. Talks and tours throughout the day focus on different aspects of the reef and the aquarium.
Adjacent to the aquarium, you can continue to experience life underwater at the IMAX cinema.
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Botanic Gardens
Townsville's botanic gardens are spread across three locations: each has its own character, but all have tropical plants and are abundantly green. Closest to the centre, the formal, ornamental Queens Gardens are 1km northwest of town at the base of Castle Hill.
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