Welcome to Townsville, a tropical haven where the coastline is lined with immaculate beaches that entice tourists to take in their beauty. Townsville is home to some of Australia’s top beaches when it comes to picture-perfect coastal locations. These beaches are stunning, from the fine-grained white sand to the emerald-green waters. Townsville’s beaches provide a variety of activities, whether you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, exhilarating water sports, or just a spot to relax in the sun. Prepare to explore the best beaches in Townsville and lose yourself in their unmatched beauty and tranquility with a wide variety of options to suit every inclination.
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1. Secret Beach
| Best for | Secure beach |
| Address | Benwell Rd, South Townsville QLD 4810 |
Townsville’s Secret Beach is a secure beach. A shirt is not required on the beach. Nothing compares to swimming and tanning outdoors. It’s a middling length of about 1.14 kilometers.
What makes them stand out
- Secure beach
- Middling length
Customer Reviews
First time at this beach and loved it! The water was nice and not as crowded as Pallarenda. Would very much hope people could pick after their dogs.
2. Pallarenda Dog Beach
| Best for | Hiking trails and mountain biking |
| Address | Town Common QLD 4810 |
Castle Hill and the city are visible across the harbor from Cape Pallarenda, despite the fact that it appears to be a desolate wilderness a million miles from everything. Although Pallarenda has a few beaches, the majority of visitors come for the hiking trails and mountain biking there. Over 200 different bird species can find habitat in this entire area, which is a conservation park. If you intend to explore the walking routes, bring enough water, insect repellant, and sunscreen since there are no other facilities.
What makes them stand out
- Hiking trails and mountain biking
- Desolate wilderness
- Explore the walking routes
Customer Reviews
Absolutely a great beach to enjoy a walk along. You will meet dogs along the way some even have great owners to have a chat with. Beautiful in the morning it is quiet as you walk along the beach and watch the Sun rise above the ocean and Magnetic Island. Go later on a weekend and watch the wind-surfers on the water.
3. The Strand
| Best for | Soft or nonexistent beach |
| Address | The Strand, Townsville QLD 4810 |
The Strand, a 2.2-kilometer stretch of beach offering safe swimming areas to escape the North Queensland heat, was named Queensland’s Best Beach by Surf Life Saving Queensland in 2021. The waves along The Strand are either soft or nonexistent because of the breakwater and offshore islands, especially Magnetic Island, which creates ideal circumstances for families with young children. The Strand North and South are two secure swimming areas that are staffed with lifeguards in the summer and equipped with stinger nets from November to May during “stinger season.”Tracing The Strand is a beachside promenade with palm trees that features a walking and cycling path, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a smattering of cafes, bars, and ice-cream stands. Additionally, you can try stand-up paddleboarding or jet-skiing from The Strand.
What makes them stand out
- Beachside promenade
- Jet-skiing
- Palm trees
Customer Reviews
Beautiful well worth the visit.
We loved walking along the beach.
Watching the people swimming and there is a lifesaver.
It’s a good long walk if you want.
4. Townsville Stinger Net 1
| Best for | A swim to cool down from the heat |
| Address | The Strand, Townsville QLD 4810 |
A reasonably secure location where you can swim to cool down from the heat. None of it is the fault of the Stinger Net; Townsville’s water isn’t the best, it’s rarely clear, and we rarely get real waves unless there is a storm close.,
What makes them stand out
- Swim to cool down from the heat
- Real waves
- Storm close
Customer Reviews
Absolutely awesome experience, with warm water, and a Stinger net for protection, and swam every day. Will be back!!!
5. Bushland Beach
| Best for | Townsville’s northern beaches |
| Address | Bushland Beach, Queensland 4818 |
Bushland Beach, which is a portion of Townsville’s northern beaches and is located around 25 minutes from the city center, is an excellent place for strolling and fishing. At low tide, small children might also enjoy wading in the shallows and looking for seashells and other marine life. Swimming is at your own risk because there are no stinger nets here, but it’s a beautiful beach and a fantastic spot to unwind. There are BBQ pits, picnic spots, and a tavern and kiosk by the shore.
What makes them stand out
- Tavern and kiosk by the shore
- Excellent place for strolling and fishing
- Northern beach
Customer Reviews
I live just down the road. The store is very popular with locals & visitors, especially their takeaways. Short stroll to the beach.
6. Rowes Bay
| Best for | A peaceful, convenient place to stay |
| Address | BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Rowes Bay,46 Heatleys Parade, Townsville 4810 Queensland |
The next community you reach after leaving the Strand and passing Kissing Point is Rowes Bay. Even though this beach is not the best in the region, it is conveniently located near the city and is quite uncrowded. If you’re seeking a peaceful, convenient place to stay overnight that’s close to the beach, that area has a decent caravan park.
What makes them stand out
- Peaceful, convenient place to stay
- Decent caravan park
- Quiet uncrowded
Customer Reviews
Great location, awesome private caravan sites, and nice amenities.Great location and facilities. Friendly, helpful staff.
7. Saunders Beach
| Best for | Small beachfront town |
| Address | Saunders Beach, Queensland 4818 |
One of the most natural and unspoiled beaches in the area is likely to be found in this sleepy small beachfront town. We think Saunders Beach is the best of the bunch. It features roughly 6 miles of stunning golden sand, and like many Australian beaches, there aren’t many people there. There is only a tiny general store and not much else. Campervans are permitted to overnight camp in Saunders Beach Park, which also has restrooms.
What makes them stand out
- Small shops around it
- Restrooms
- Best of the bunch.
Customer Reviews
Old but the best position, you could be on a tropical island anywhere in the world. The building is old but beautifully clean and Lee the owner is lovely and very helpful. The kitchen is extremely well stocked with equipment and there is a BBQ you can use. The beds are very comfortable. Undercover parking for your car, laundry, pool, and good hot showers. We highly recommend a stay here.
8. Toolakea Beach
| Best for | Houses on the shore |
| Address | Toolakea Beach, Queensland |
Toolakea Beach is secluded and residential, lined with houses on the shore. Although there are no shops or amenities on the beach, you can easily find a space for a family picnic that is unoccupied. The trees are situated back from the shore, so bring your own shade. At low tide, you can see that a large portion of the beach is shallow and stony beneath the waves, but the beach is nicer if you travel to the northern end, past the residences.
What makes them stand out
- Houses on the shore
- Shallow and stony beneath
- Space for a family picnic
Customer Reviews
Excellent place to stop for the night beach is beautiful and it’s free.
9. Balgal Beach/Rollingstone
| Best for | Travelers |
| Address | Balgal Beach Rd, Queensland 4816 |
Given that Balgal Beach is over an hour’s drive north of Townsville, it would be a stretch to call it a Townsville beach, but it’s a terrific destination for day trips from the city or as a pit stop for travelers. The only beach with monitored swimming enclosures north of Townsville during stinger season is Balgal Beach. There is a small playground as well as a swimming area that is safe for children to use. However, resist the urge to swim in the estuary near the fish ramp at all costs. Whatever it may seem like, this is still Croc country. By the boat ramp, there is a licensed cafe and shop. You can camp for 48 hours here at the beach or close by at Rollingstone Creek.
What makes them stand out
- Licensed cafe and shop
- Small playground
- Swimming area that is safe for children
Customer Reviews
Stunning location, and wonderful photographic opportunities. Easy to book through the council. Thank you to them for providing such a great facility. The toilets were not that nice by the end of the weekend but absolute credit to the council as there was a cleaning crew there before 6 am.
10. Magnetic Island
| Best for | More than 20 beaches |
| Address | Magnetic Island – Townsville, Australia. |
If you have the chance, you should travel to Magnetic Island and spend a few days discovering all the stunning, uninhabited bays and beaches there. On the island, there are more than 20 beaches, some of which are only accessible by boat or on foot. The majority of the lodging is located along the east coast’s developed beaches. The best beach for water sports is Horseshoe Bay.
What makes them stand out
- Best beach for water sports
- Accessible by boat or on foot
- Discovering all the stunning, uninhabited bays and beaches
Customer Reviews
Amazing bays to visit and fabulous walks which range from easy to energetic if you are reasonably fit and enjoy walking you will be able to handle it well. At times in some areas you will be clamoring over boulders and rocks, you will absolutely enjoy the diverse scenery. Remember to take plenty of water
Conclusion
In conclusion, Townsville is a coastal paradise gifted with some of Australia’s most breathtaking beaches. The beaches in Townsville have something for everyone, from the charming Pallarenda shoreline to the exciting and energetic atmosphere of The Strand. Townsville’s beaches satisfy all needs, whether you’re looking for a peaceful place to rest, a family-friendly beach for a day of fun and leisure, or an adventurous playground for water sports aficionados. The perfect white sands, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking natural surroundings provide for an unbeatable beach experience. To enjoy the beauty and peace of the best beaches in Townsville, whether you’re a local seeking for a weekend getaway or a visitor exploring this tropical paradise, make sure to go there. Make cherished moments that will last a lifetime by losing yourself in the hypnotic rhythm of the waves crashing, savoring the warmth of the sun on your skin, and so much more.