Townsville travel guide

Townsville Tourism | Townsville Guide

You're Going to Love Townsville

With a population of 196’219, Townsville is a must-see destination in Queensland, Australia. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Townsville has to offer.

Where to Eat in Townsville

If you’re looking for affordable options, Jam Restaurant (1 Palmer St) and Bridgewater Restaurant + Botaniq Bar (2/2 Dibbs Street) are great picks.

When to visit Townsville

Townsville in December
Estimated hotel price
$160
1 night at 3-star hotel
Townsville in December
Estimated hotel price
$160
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Townsville in January, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 31 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is July, when it can get as cold as 13 °C, with an average temperature of 19 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 290 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Townsville, with an average rainfall of 10 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Townsville

Plane

When flying to Townsville, you’ll arrive at Townsville (TSV), which is located 5 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Townsville from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 35m.

Car

Another option to get to Townsville is to pick up a car hire from Cairns, which is about 282 km from Townsville. You’ll find branches of Bargain Car Rentals and Alamo, among others, in Cairns.

Plane

When flying to Townsville, you’ll arrive at Townsville (TSV), which is located 5 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Townsville from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 35m.

Car

Another option to get to Townsville is to pick up a car hire from Cairns, which is about 282 km from Townsville. You’ll find branches of Bargain Car Rentals and Alamo, among others, in Cairns.

Airports near Townsville

Airlines serving Townsville

Emirates
Excellent (3,575 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,948 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,390 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,332 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,232 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (836 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (12,660 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (540 reviews)
Jetstar
Good (554 reviews)
Fiji Airways
Excellent (206 reviews)
Virgin Australia
Good (508 reviews)
Airnorth
Good (2 reviews)
Alliance Airlines
Okay (1 reviews)
Rex
Excellent (26 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Townsville

From 5-star hotels such as the Belmoral Corporate Suites to great affordable options like the Strand Motel, Townsville offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $172 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $139 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Summit Motel and Reef Lodge Backpackers. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Townsville, with prices from $94 to $600 per night. North Ward is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Townsville are about 29% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Townsville

Most booked hotels in Townsville

The Palmer Collective
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$158+
Aquarius on the Beach
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$154+
Rambutan Resort
5 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$121+
Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$197+
Mercure Townsville
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$153+
Madison Plaza Townsville
4 stars
Good (6.9, Good reviews)
$123+

Hiring a car in Townsville

Expect to pay $1.74 per litre in Townsville (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.83 and $27.77. Economy (Kia Rio or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Townsville, while also 46% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay $1.74 per litre in Townsville (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.83 and $27.77. Economy (Kia Rio or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Townsville, while also 46% cheaper than other types, on average.