Stephens Family Vacation - Australia 2025: 2025-04-21: Train to Townsville
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| Type | Name | Service Provider | Origin | Destination | Cost | Notes | ||
| Other | Walk to Hotel | Townsville Train Station | Hotel | $0.00 | Rhonda: Have you thought about how we're going to get between train stationand hotel in Townsville? It's 3.2km - are you planning on walking? Brent: I have this in my notes as a 45 minute walk but I can research other options. | |||
| Train | Train to Townsville | SoQueen | Cairns | Townsville | $392.80 | 07:40 AM Apr 21, train leaves for Townsville, arriving 13:44 Cost is for two passes, all the way through Brisbane Station: 8 Charters Towers Rd | ||
| Accommodation | |||||||
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| Type | Name | Service Provider | Location | Cost | Notes | ||
| Hotel | Allure Hotel | Agoda | $413.87 | 68 McIlwraith St S +61 7 4767 7997 | |||
| Tip | |||||||
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| Type | Name | Description | Service Provider | Cost | Notes | ||
| General Info | Advice from Queensland.com | $0.00 | 1. Even if you’ve only got one day to spare, jump on the SeaLink ferry to Magnetic Island – it’s only 20 minutes offshore but has its own special magic to experience. Here are the best things to do there. 2. Pack your backpack for four days hiking through wild landscapes on Hinchinbrook Island's Thornsborne Trail. Read all about this great walk here. Prefer to relax? Soak up the sun on Lucinda Beach and Forrest Beach, before throwing out the picnic blanket at peaceful Tyto Wetlands. 3. Splash out your own private paradise at Orpheus Island Resort. A 30-minute helicopter ride from Townsville, this secluded spot boasts world-class dive sites, luxurious digs and gourmet chef-hatted dining among the many reasons you may just want to stay forever. 4. Take adventure to the next level with a Townsville Helicopters chopper flight and witness the beauty of our tropical north from above. You can even touch down on remote Havannah Island for a private picnic. 5. Tick off an Australian wonder when you road trip two hours north-west of Townsville to Wallaman Falls – the highest permanent single-drop waterfall in the country. 6. For a short and sweet cardio fix, hit up the Goat Track on Castle Hill - the giant pink monolith that towers over the city. You'll be rewarded with 360-degree views at the top. 7. Head to the misty mountain village of Paluma for a nature escape where treks to waterfalls and dips in freshwater crystal creeks await. While you're here, discover the best waterfalls and swimming holes near Townsville. 8. Mountain bike through the open woodland and rocky shores of Cape Pallarenda where the 11km ‘Under the Radar’ trail is a favourite. 9. Spot platypus on a safari with Paluma's Hidden Valley Cabins. The team has a 98% success rate of spotting these duck-billed monotremes, earning them the title of one of the top six places in the country to spot them by Australian Geographic, no less. 10. From palms and pandanus to cacti and succulents, plant lovers should visit the city’s botanic gardens. Anderson Park, Queens Gardens, Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens and The Palmetum are all within a 20-minutes drive from the CBD. 11. Spend two days trekking through ancient palm-filled gullies and open forests on the Wet Tropics Great Walk. 12. Feed a freshwater croc and meet a dingo at the Billabong Sanctuary, home to some of Queensland's most interactive wildlife encounters. 13. Check into The Ville - the ultimate Palm Springs-inspired casino hotel. With its whitewashed walls, beachy Californian vibe and sparkling blue infinity pool complete with swim-up bar, it's the perfect spot to base yourself. Find more places to stay in Townsville here. 14. Make your way to Townville’s Country Bank Stadium for a massive night of footy at NRL's Harvey Norman All Stars on 16 February 2024, which sees Australian Indigenous and NZ Maori players go head to head across three games. Discover more Townsville events here. 15. Grab a scoop from Juliette’s Gelateria on The Strand - walk it off with a stroll from the rock pools down to the Marina or a splash at the water park. 16. Head to Ardo Rooftop for sunset drinks, refreshments on repeat and spectacular ocean views. 17. If you’ve got an appreciation for the arts, check out an exhibition at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery. Or, make your way here for the annual Australian Festival of Chamber Music to watch incredible musical performances. 18. Explore life in the tropics from prehistoric times to modern day at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. A great spot for the whole family, learn about the Wet Tropics rainforest, reef and famous shipwrecks, then get hands-on in the kids Sciencentre. 19. Explore Townsville's thriving street art along this artistic urban trail. Thirsty? Stop in at the exclectic Hoi Polloi Café for some of the city's best coffee. 20. Get a hands-on encounter with creatures of the Great Barrier Reef at the world’s largest living coral aquarium, Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. It's our national centre for reef research, too. Note: Reef HQ is currently closed for renovations. 21. If you fancy a day trip out of town, visit Queensland's own slice of Italy in Ingham, where over half the town's population is of Italian descent. Lou's Food Emporium and JK's Deli are perfect for hungry tummies. 22. Alternatively, go back in time to the gold rush era of Charters Towers on a tour at the Venus Gold Battery. Or, go old-school on date night with a trip to Tors Drive-In Cinema. 23. Or why not dlve into 45,000 years of Nywaigi Aboriginal culture at Mungalla Station where you'll learn history, customs and even witness how they regenerate their wetlands and save endangered species. 24. Townsville’s laneway dining and bar precinct, City Lane is modern and relatively new on the scene. This local’s hangout is perfect for a progressive happy hour tour as roaming between the hotspots is encouraged. 25. Take a break from exploring the natural wonders neighbouring Townsville and indulge in some retail therapy in the city centre, home to a population of boutiques and shopping precincts that will leave any shopping fan delighted. Shop up a storm with this Townsville shopping guide. | ||||
| General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage | Townsville offers a quiet cosmopolitan feel with its good choice of restaurants & bars but also has a relaxing siesta style during the hottest parts of the day in high summer. | $0.00 | Townsville is a laid-back coastal city of over 173,724 people (2021) in North Central Queensland. Townsville is on the coast and enjoys an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. It is an appealing place for locals and a great jumping off point for visitors, especially to Magnetic Island which is only 25 minutes by passenger or car ferry. A great spot for visitors wanting a taste of rural Australia while not venturing far from the coast. Kinetic operates bus services 7 days a week with 16 bus routes in Townsville plus one on Magnetic Island. Stay Safe: - Box jellyfish and other stingers can be in the ocean during the summer months. Read the warning signs, and don't swim at the beach outside of the stinger enclosures. A sting from the box jellyfish can be fatal. There are two stinger enclosures along the Townsville beaches. - Saltwater crocodiles ARE present in Townsville and ALL swimming locations (including the beach) should be approached with extreme caution. Lots more to see, do, diving, eating, drinking, beaches. Click the link for more info. | |||
| To Do | Book cab to Bowen | $0.00 | Arriving in Bowen on April 25 Rhonda: When do we have to book the cab from the train station in Bowen? Iknow that we have to pre-book it but I don't know how far in advancewe need to do that. Brent: The Queensland Rail site says not more than 1 week in advance. | ||||
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Our train departed Cairns for Townsville at 7:40 today. Someone was smart enough to suggest we make and take coffees along with us. Yay! The scenery along the way was pleasant but unremarkable, unlike our pub food dinner which was some of the best pub food we’ve ever had. Yum!
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