Destinations > Queensland > North Queensland

North Queensland

North Queensland between the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns ranges from the city lights of Townsville to laidback beach communities like Cardwell and Mission Beach.

Magnetic Island, 8km from Townsville is one of Australia's most popular backpacker island destinations.

Townsville

Townsville is a relaxed, tropical, coastal city at the base of red granite Castle Hill. It is a relatively large city with little tourism compared with Cairns, and it provides access to the Great Barrier Reef and Magnetic Island. Although the city isn't packed with tourists there are plenty of attractions such as Reef HTrain and the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

Flinders Mall is the heart of the city centre and provides a blend of modern architecture and older buildings and you'll find pubs and outdoor cafés across Ross Creek in South Townsville, where most of the hostels are also situated. The beachfront park on the Strand is a popular spot for locals on weekends.

Practical Information

Townsville Tourist Information Centre

Flinders Mall, Townsville

Tel (07) 4721 3660

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-1pm

Marine & National Park Information Centre

Reef HQ, 2/68 Flinders Street, Townsville

Tel (07) 4721 2399

Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-1pm

INTERNET ACCESS

Café on Wickham

4-6 Wickham Street, Townsville

Tel (07) 4724 1466

Website www.cafeonwickham.com

Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2pm

The Internet Den

265 Flinders Mall, Townsville

Tel (07) 4721 4500

Website www.internetden.com.au

Open 9am-9pm daily

Coming & Going

AIR

Townville's airport, located 5km north of the city centre, handles regular flights to Brisbane and Cairns although it doesn't get the same amount of traffic that Cairns gets.

The airport is connected to the centre of town by a shuttle bus (tel (07) 4775 5544) that meets all flights. The one-way fare between Townsville Airport and central Townsville is $7.

BUS

Townsville is an important hub with many travellers stopping here to transfer between the coastal Brisbane-Cairns route and the inland route between Townsville and the Northern Territory. Greyhound buses arrive at and depart from the Sunferries Breakwater Terminal on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive.

TRAIN

Trains stop at the new station on Charters Towers Road, which has train departures to Brisbane and Cairns and trains running through the outback to Mount Isa.

Local Transport

Sunbus (tel (07) 4725 8482; website www.sunbus.com.au) operates Townsville's local bus service with most routes converging near Flinders Street Mall.

Accommodation

Adventurers Resort

75 Palmer Street, South Townsville

Tel (07) 4721 1522

Civic Guesthouse

262 Walker Street, Townsville

tel: (07) 4771 5381

Globetrotters Hostel

45 Palmer Street, South Townsville

Tel (07) 4771 3242

Reef Lodge

4 Wickham Street, Townsville

Tel (07) 4721 1112

Sights

Billabong Sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary is located about 20 minutes south of town and features a selection of native animals including kangaroos, wombats and snakes.

Bruce Highway, 17km south of town

Tel (07) 4778 8344

Website www.billabongsanctuary.com.au

Admission $24 ($22 ISIC, HI/YHA, VIP)

Open 8am-5pm daily

Castle Hill

The lookout at the summit of Castle Hill offers great views of Townsville. Some hostels operate trips up here although it is more rewarding to hike up the steep trail to the top.

Walking track from Hillside Crescent, Townsville

Maritime Museum

Townsville's Maritime Museum features exhibits on the city's port and its maritime history. It is near the Transit Centre in South Townsville.

42-68 Palmer Street, South Townsville

Tel (07) 4721 5251

Admission $4

Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun noon-4pm

Museum of Tropical Queensland

The Museum of Tropical Queensland is an excellent new museum, which is situated next door to Reef HQ and focuses on the history and nature of North Queensland.

70-102 Flinders Street, Townsville

Tel (07) 4726 0606

Website www.mtq.qld.gov.au

Admission $9

Open 9.30am-5pm daily (last entry 4pm)

ReefHQ

ReefHQ includes a huge aquarium as well as a theatre and informative displays about the Reef.

2-68 Flinders Street, Townsville

Tel (07) 4750 0800

Website www.reefhq.com.au

Admission $19.50 (students $15)

Open 9.30am-5pm daily

Markets

The Strand Night craft market on Townsville's beach features entertainment and food.

Strand Park, Townsville

Open First Fri May-Dec 5pm-9.30pm

The Flinders Mall Cotters Market claims to be North Queensland's largest arts and craft market.

Flinders Mall, Townsville

Open Sun 8am-1pm

Yongala Wreck

This 90-metre passenger ship sank in 1911 and is now one of Australia's top dive sites. Several dive companies including Blue Angel Adventure Diving (tel (07) 4723 0630 or 1800 330 191; website www.mvblueangel.com) and the Dive Shack at Geoff's Place on Magnetic Island (tel (07) 4778 5577 or 1800 285 577) operate dive trips out to the SS Yongala.

Magnetic Island

Only 8km from Townsville, Magnetic Island is one of the most accessible islands in Australia and the abundance of good cheap accommodation ensures that it is also the most popular island for backpackers.

There are some good hiking trails on Magnetic Island and it is also a good spot to see wild koalas. Much of the island is national park, although the southeast coast is quite residential with many people commuting to work in Townsville.

Coming & Going

Sunferries and Magnetic Island Car & Passenger Ferries both operate a ferry service between Townsville and Magnetic Island.

Sunferries (tel (07) 4771 3855; website www.sunferries.com.au) is the cheaper of the two ferry companies and generally costs $19.90 return but there are sometimes deals available through hostels in Townsville that may work out cheaper. Sunferries have two terminals in Townsville, one on Flinders Street East in the city centre and one on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive on the Breakwater; Sunferries terminate at Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island and run the fastest boats but they're restricted to passengers only.

Magnetic Island Car & Passenger Ferry (tel (07) 4772 5422) is more expensive and slower but are the only boats that take cars. They depart from the terminal on Ross Street in South Townsville, directly across the river from Sunferries' Breakwater terminal. They sail to Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island.

Local Transport

Moke rental is a popular way to get around the island although there is also a bus service that is a much cheaper option.

Magnetic Island Buses (tel (07) 4778 5130) run a route between Picnic Bay and Horseshoe Bay. Buses run at least once an hour and one-way fares range from $1.90 to $4.30. A daily pass costs $11.80 for a daily pass and a two-day pass is $13.20. The bigger hostels on Magnetic Island also run their own shuttle buses between the hostel and the ferry terminal.

Accommodation

Arcadia Beach Guest House

27 Marine Parade, Arcadia

Tel (07) 4778 5668 or 1800 655 680

Arkie's Backpacker Resort

7 Marine Parade, Arcadia, Magnetic Island

Tel (07) 4778 5177 or 1800 663 666

Base Backpackers

1 Nelly Bay Road, Nelly Bay

Tel (07) 4778 5777

Bungalow Bay YHA

40 Horseshoe Bay Road, Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island

Tel (07) 4778 5577

Forest Haven

11 Cook Road, Arcadia, Magnetic Island

Tel (07) 4778 5153

Magnetic Island Tropical Resort

56 Yates Street, Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island

Tel (07) 4778 5955

Travellers Hideaway

32 Picnic Street, Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island

Tel (07) 4778 5314 or 1800 000 290

Cardwell

Cardwell is an idyllic beachfront town between Townsville and Mission Beach surrounded by farmland making it a good spot to stop for fruit picking work. Most of the travellers who don't come to pick fruit come here to visit Hinchinbrook Island.

Practical Information

Reef & Rainforest Centre

142 Victoria Street, Cardwell

Tel (07) 4066 8601

Website www.gspeak.com.au/cardwell/

Open 8am-4.30pm daily

Coming & Going

Buses to Cairns and Townsville stop next to the post office on Brasenose Street.

Ferries between Cardwell and Hinchinbrook Island are operated by Hinchinbrook Ferries (tel (07) 4066 8270 or 1800 682 702; website www.hinchinbrookferries.com.au). A day return fare costs $85 and they can drop you off at Ramsay Bay at the northern end of the Thorsborne Trail for $59. Transport between the other end of the trail and the mainland costs $46 and is operated by Hinchinbrook Wilderness Safaris (tel (07) 4777 8307).

Accommodation

Cardwell Backpackers Hostel

178 Bowen Street, Cardwell

Tel (07) 4066 8014

Cardwell Beach Backpackers

212-220 Victoria Street, Cardwell

Tel (07) 4066 8800 or 1800 886 033

Hinchinbrook Hop

186 Victoria Street, Cardwell

Tel (07) 4066 8671

Kookaburra Holiday Park (Hinchinbrook YHA)

175 Victoria Street, Cardwell

Tel (07) 4066 8648

Sights

Historic Cardwell Post Office & Telegraph Station

Cardwell's old post office has been restored and reopened as a museum. The museum features exhibits on local history with displays on the construction of the telegraph and the road and rail lines.

53 Victoria Street, Cardwell

Tel (07) 4066 2412

Admission free

Open Tue-Thu 10am-1pm, Sat 9am-noon

Hinchinbrook Island

Hinchinbrook Island is Australia's largest island national park and it is home to a diverse natural habitat that encompasses mountains, rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

The Thorsborne Trail is the highlight of the island but there are also shorter hiking trails that are ideal if you're just visiting for the day.

Coming & Going

Ferries between Cardwell and Hinchinbrook Island are operated by Hinchinbrook Ferries (tel (07) 4066 8270 or 1800 682 702; website www.hinchinbrookferries.com.au). A day return fare costs $85 and they can drop you off at Ramsay Bay at the northern end of the Thorsborne Trail for $59.

Transport between the mainland and the George Point end of the trail costs $46 and is operated by Hinchinbrook Wilderness Safaris (tel (07) 4777 8307).

Hiking

Hinchinbrook Island has some great hiking trails and the highlight is the brilliant Thorsborne Trail.

THE THORSBORNE TRAIL

This 32km trail is a fairly difficult track, recommended for experienced hikers. Permits are required to hike the trail and it's best to apply in advance as only a maximum of 40 people are permitted on the trail at any time. Most hikers take at least four days and three nights to complete the trail. Permits are available from the Rainforest and Reef Centre in Cardwell.

You can hike the trail in either direction but the north to south direction is described below:

Ramsay Bay to Little Ramsay Bay (6.5km, 4½hrs)

The ferry from Cardwell drops you at Ramsay Bay and the trail starts out by following the beach southward and then going through tall forest and mangrove swamps to Nina Bay where there is a campsite with toilets. From Nina Bay the trail follows the headland to Boulder Bay, where green sea turtles can often be seen and then heads over a ridge to the campsite at Little Ramsay Bay.

Little Ramsay Bay to Zoe Bay (10.5km, 6hrs)

The trail follows the coast past Little Ramsay Bay to Banksia Bay and then heads inland through open forest and rainforest. Parts of this section of the track towards the Zoe Bay campsite pass swampy areas and involve several creek crossings.

Zoe Bay to Mulligan Falls (7.5km, 4½hrs)

After leaving Zoe Bay the trail follows South Zoe Creek and passes Zoe Falls. It then goes inland and crosses Diamantina Creek shortly before arriving at Mulligan Falls campsite.

Mulligan Falls to George Point (7.5km, 2½hrs)

The final leg of the track starts in rainforest but is mostly a beach walk along Mulligan Bay.

Mission Beach

Around mid-way between Townsville and Cairns, Mission Beach is fast becoming another hot backpacking destination in the same mould as Airlie Beach. This beautiful beach stretches for 14km and has a great laid back feel and is the perfect spot to kick back and relax for a week or so.

Like many other beachfront towns, there aren't a lot of attractions, although it is close to the Tully River and hostels in town can book you on a white water rafting trip on the Tully. The Mission Beach region is also a great rainforest area and it is one of the few places where you stand a good chance of seeing the endangered cassowary in the wild.

Mission Beach is also the gateway to nearby Dunk Island, which is only 10 minutes away by ferry and close enough to kayak to.

Practical Information

Wet Tropics Visitor Information Centre

Porter Promenade, Mission Beach

Tel (07) 4068 7099

Website www.missionbch.com

Open 9am-5.30pm daily

Coming & Going

Greyhound and Premier coaches stop at the Wongaling Shopping Centre near the Mission Beach Resort in Wongaling Beach. The closest train station is in Tully.

Local Transport

For a small town Mission Beach is spread out over a wide area and it is necessary to either drive or catch a bus to get from one end to the other. Mission Beach Bus Service (tel (07) 4068 7400) operates a route between Bingil Bay and South Mission Beach. The fare varies from $1.50 to $6.

Accommodation

Beach Shack

86 Porter Promenade, Mission Beach

Tel (07) 4068 7783 or 1800 333 115

Bingil Bay Backpackers Resort

The Esplanade, via Cutten Street, Bingil Bay

Tel (07) 4068 7208

Mission Beach Backpackers Lodge

28 Wongaling Beach Road, Wongaling Beach

Tel (07) 4068 8317

Mission Beach Resort

Wongaling Beach Road, Wongaling Beach

Tel (07) 4068 8288

Mission Beach Retreat

49 Porters Promenade, Mission Beach

Tel (07) 4088 6229 or 1800 001 056

Sanctuary Retreat

Holts Road, Bingil Bay

Tel (07) 4088 6064 or 1800 777 012

Scotty's

167 Reid Road, Wongaling Beach

Tel (07) 4068 8676 or 1800 665 567

The Treehouse

Frizelle Road, Bingil Bay

Tel (07) 4068 7137

Activities

HIKING

There are some good hiking trails around Mission Beach, including the Licuala Walking Track.

Licuala Walking Track

This popular 7.8km walk through the Tam O'Shanter State Forest gives you the opportunity to see the rare cassowary.

REEF TRIPS

A couple of companies run day trips to the Great Barrier Reef. The cheaper Thunder Cruises (tel (07) 4086 6007), charges $65 and gives you around five hours on the reef and Quick Cat Cruises (tel (07) 4068 7289) cost $88 and give you around 3½ hours on the reef. Both companies include lunch, reef tax and pick up from hostels in the Mission Beach area.

SKYDIVING

The beach landing on either Dunk Island or Mission Beach makes this a popular spot for skydiving.

Jump the Beach

Tel 1800 638 005

Website www.jumpthebeach.com

8000ft tandem skydive $225; 10000ft tandem skydive $274; 12000ft tandem skydive $323; 14000ft tandem skydive $372; plus compulsory Australian Parachute Federation Student License $25

Paul's Parachuting

Tel 1800 005 006

Website www.paulsparachuting.com.au

8000ft tandem skydive $225; 10000ft tandem skydive $274; 12000ft tandem skydive $323; 14000ft tandem skydive $372; plus compulsory Australian Parachute Federation Student License $25

WHITE WATER RAFTING

The nearby Tully River has some of Australia's best rafting. See the Tully section for more information.

Dunk Island

Dunk Island is easily accessible from Mission Beach. It is a typical tropical island with beautiful white sand beaches and well worth the excursion. The island is home to a National and Marine Park, although the eastern end of the island has a big resort. There are some good walking tracks including the Island Circuit (9.2km, 3hrs return) and Coconut Beach walk (6km, 2km return).

A Great Barrier Reef Marine Park tax ($5) is payable by all visitors to Dunk Island.

Coming & Going

Two companies operate ferries between Mission Beach and Dunk Island.

Dunk Island Ferry & Cruises (tel (07) 4068 7211; website www.dunkferry.com.au) departs from Clump Point Jetty north of the centre of Mission Beach. They charge $29 return including free snorkelling.

Dunk Island Express Water Taxi (tel (07) 4068 8310) departs from Point Banfield Parade, Wongaling Beach near Scotty's hostel. They charge $22 for a day return.

Coral Sea Kayaking (tel (07) 4068 9154; website www.coralseakayaking.com) is by far the most fun way to get to the island. The $93 trip involves paddling out to the island and includes lunch and snorkelling gear.

Tully

People come to Tully for two things – work and white water rafting – although many travellers who come for the rafting are just passing through on day trips from Mission Beach and Cairns. No one comes here for the weather, as Tully is the wettest spot in Australia with an average annual rainfall of around four metres.

Work is available year round, mostly on banana farms.

Practical Information

Tully Visitor Information Centre

Bruce Highway, Tully

Tel (07) 4068 2288

Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-2.30pm

Coming & Going

Tully is on the main train and coach route linking Brisbane and Cairns. Trains stop at the station on the Bruce Highway north of the Visitor Information Centre and buses stop in Banyan Park, near the Big Gumboot.

Accommodation

Banana Barracks and Rafters

50 Butler Street, Tully

tel (07) 4068 0455

Mount Tyson Hotel

23 Butler Street, Tully

tel (07) 4068 1088

The Savoy Backpackers

4 Plumb Street, Tully

tel (07) 4068 2400

Sights & Activities

Tully Sugar

The Tully Sugar Mill runs tours during the crushing season (Jun-Nov).

Book at the visitor information on the Bruce Highway

Tel (07) 4068 2288

Admission $9.90

RAFTING

Tully is handy to the Tully River which is the country's best one day rafting experience and also the most popular rafting destination for backpackers. Two companies – R'n'R Rafting and Raging Thunder – offer rafting on the Tully River with transfers from as far a field as Port Douglas, however both Tully and Mission Beach are the cheapest spots to organise your rafting from.

Raging Thunder

Tel (07) 4030 7990

Website www.ragingthunder.com.au

One day trip $145 + $25 park fee

R'n'R Rafting

Tel 1800 079 039

Website www.raft.com.au

One day trip $145 + $25 park fee

Innisfail

This sugar cane growing town is the last spot worth stopping on the way to Cairns. It is a handy base for white-water rafting and fishing although it is also possible to find work on nearby farms.

Practical Information

INTERNET ACCESS

Flexi Cyber Café

38 Rankin Street, Innisfail

Tel (07) 4061 6250

Open Mon 9am-6pm, Tue 9am-7pm, Wed 9am-6pm, Thu 9am-7pm, Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm

Coming & Going

Both buses and trains travelling between Cairns and Townsville stop at Innisfail. The train station is west of the town centre on Station Street. Buses stop closer to the town centre on Edith Street.

Accommodation

Codge Lodge

63 Rankin Street, Innisfail

Tel (07) 4061 8055

Innisfail Backpackers Retreat

73 Rankin Street, Innisfail

Tel (07) 4061 2284

Innisfail Budget Backpackers Hostel

125 Edith Street, Innisfail

Tel (07) 4061 7833

Walkabout Motel and Backpackers

20-24 McGowen Drive, Innisfail

Tel (07) 4061 2311

Sights

Johnstone River Crocodile Farm

This crocodile-breeding farm has over 1500 crocodiles as well as native animals including emus, kangaroos, wallabies and even two cassowaries.

Flying Fish Point Road, Innisfail

Tel (07) 4061 1121

Website www.crocfarm.com

Admission $16

Open 8.30am-4.30pm daily; tours begin 9.30am

Sugar Industry Museum

The Australian Sugar Industry Museum gives you the facts about the history of the industry and how the fields of cane are processed into sugar.

Corner Bruce Highway & Peregrine Street, Mourilyan

Tel (07) 4063 2656

Website www.sugarmuseum.org.au

Admission $8

Open Jan-Apr Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm, Sun 9am-noon; May-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-3pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm, Sun 9am-noon