Family fun is on the agenda in tropical Townsville, North Queensland. With a vast range of attractions and outdoor experiences, there’s plenty of things for curious kids to see and do.
As the gateway to Tropical North Queensland, the region is home to some of Queensland’s best family travel experiences. Flanked by two World Heritage-listed sites, Townsville is also the perfect base for day trips with kids. Visit the Great Barrier Reef, tropical rainforest and the family-friendly island paradise of Magnetic Island, all less than an hour from city hotels and resorts.
Townsville’s unique attractions will excite kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Add an abundance of kid-friendly accommodation, and there’s no better place for your next Queensland family holiday.
Read on to discover some of Townsville’s best experiences for kids.
20 best things to do in Townsville with kids
From checking out vibrant street art trails to visiting Australia’s largest waterfall and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, Townsville North Queensland is ideal for curious families who love to explore.
Here are 20 memorable things for families to see and do in Townsville:
1. Explore the deep ocean at Queensland Museum Tropics
The diverse range of exhibitions and displays at Queensland Museum Tropics are designed to captivate audiences of all ages, focusing on natural and cultural history, biodiversity and human science. 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.
A highlight for 2025 is James Cameron – CHALLENGING THE DEEP, a travelling exhibition from the National Maritime Museum of Australia. Kids can learn all about deep ocean exploration, shipwrecks and undersea filmmaking through the lens of the Titanic and Avatar director.
The exhibition features artifacts from film and real-world history, alongside breathtaking cinema-scale projections from the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible. Catch it at Townsville’s Queensland Museum Tropics from 22 March to 26 October 2025.
2. Meet native wildlife at Billabong Sanctuary
With a two-hectare billabong at its heart, Billabong Sanctuary 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.
3. 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.
4. Take in the view from the top of Castle Hill
5. Dive the stunning 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.
6. Follow the vibrant Townsville Street Art Trail
Collect a map from the local Visitor Information Centre to follow the Townsville Street Art Trail and get the kids to navigate! 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.
7. Splash and swim at The Strand beachfront
No trip to Tropical North Queensland is complete without soaking up some sun. With plenty of idyllic beaches in the region, there are plenty of options for an afternoon or full-day excursion. The Strand is the most iconic Townsville beach for families, boasting two kilometres of sandy shores, a water park, stinger-free rock pool and plenty of cafes lining the dunes. For something further afield, Townsville’s five northern beaches, about 60 km north of the city, are also an idyllic addition to your holiday itinerary.
8. Have breakfast with koalas at Bounce Magnetic Island
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 Bounce Magnetic Island. Magnetic Island is home to northern Australia’s largest colony of wild koalas, and you’ll also get to meet other wildlife, including wombats and reptiles.
9. See Wallaman Falls, 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.
10. 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.
Update: Stardust Drive In Theatre’s outdoor screen is currently closed due to damage sustained in Cyclone Kirrily. Movies are still showing at Cinema Galaxy, the indoor movie theatre on site.
11. Sail the day away with Pilgrim Sailing Magnetic Island
Choose your own aquatic adventure with Pilgrim Sailing – from day cruises and charters to gourmet seafood lunches out on the water. Kid-friendly activities on offer include snorkelling, swimming, paddleboarding, and plenty of marine life to spot in the sparkling waters around Magnetic island.
12. Learn about gold rush 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.
Families can also marvel at the heritage World Theatre and learn about the first working stock exchange in the world – now the Stock Exchange Arcade.
13. Take a Texas Longhorn wagon tour at Leahton Park
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. Open from May to October, the family-owned property is just 10 kilometres from Charters Towers.
14. Cool off at Townsville’s 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.
15. Discover Indigenous culture with Mungalla Aboriginal Tours
The Nywaigi Aboriginal people have inhabited the Townsville region for over 45,000 years. 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 the conflict between the Nywaigi People and early European settlers. Book a deluxe tour for the chance to try a Kup-nurri dinner – a traditional style of cooking meat and vegetables underground.
16. Relax at Townsville’s 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.
17. See platypus and waterfalls in the Paluma Range National Park
Paluma Range National Park has a unique drawcard: it’s one of the best places to see a platypus in the wild, and booking a tour is highly recommended. Spotting one of these notoriously shy creatures is bound to be a treasured memory.
There’s plenty to explore on a day out with kids, including walking tracks, waterfalls and swimming holes. 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.
Experience a true eco-adventure at Hidden Valley Cabins, located in the World-Heritage listed Paluma Range. As Australia’s first carbon-neutral and solar-powered resort, it’s the perfect place to go off-grid with kids. Animal encounters are guaranteed, with gliders, wallabies and owls to spot from your rustic family cabin.
18. Cruise through the Maritime Museum of Townsville
At the Maritime Museum of Townsville, prepare for a journey into Australia’s sea-faring history. Indoor and outdoor exhibits span over a century of nautical life, from the 1911 shipwreck of the S.S. Yongala to 1942’s Battle of the Coral Sea. Budding historians can get a first-hand glimpse into life on board an Edwardian steamship and learn about life in Townsville during the Second World War. Little ones can have their photo taken in full pirate regalia to commemorate the day.
19. Explore the trails at Town Common and Cape Pallendra
Town Common Conservation Park, just 10 minutes outside Townsville’s CBD, is a 3,300 hectare haven criss-crossed with trails for hiking or mountain biking. As well as deepwater lagoons, mangroves, and plenty of native birds, there are hidden gems to discover, including secluded Shelly Beach, the historic Quarantine Station and World War II fortifications on Cape Pallarenda.
20. Take a day trip to Mission Beach
It’s about a three-hour drive from Townsville, but it’s well worth the trip to visit to beautiful Mission Beach, one of the most pristine and untouched beaches you’ll find. While you’re there, take a trek around the Bicton Hill walking track which offers a fantastic taste of the lowland rainforest.
Just off Mission Beach, Beaver Reef is an unspoiled fringing reef surrounding a sandy cay and offers great beginner-friendly diving and snorkelling. Keep your eyes peeled to spot green and hawksbill turtles, manta rays and an abundance of fish, both big and small.
How to get to Townsville, North Queensland
Townsville is located in North Queensland, around halfway between Airlie Beach and Cairns. Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar are among the airlines that fly to Townsville Airport. Townsville is 15 hours north of Brisbane by road and 4.5 hours from Cairns.
For more information visit Townsville North Queensland
In partnership with Townsville Enterprise Limited
Content contributors: Angela Saurine, Christine Kane, Dan Campbell
Opening image: A family on Magnetic Island near Townsville © Megan Mackinnon
