Townsville Up Late: the best things to do in Townsville at night

Townsville sure knows how to cover you in sunshine – there are on average 300 days of it each year. Best enjoyed from the city’s golden beaches, sprawling parklands, or an island paradise just a ferry ride away. But when the sun goes down in the tropics, there’s a whole new adventure to experience.

Whether you’re here for a holiday of snorkelling, waterfall chasing or hiking, here’s where to get the party started.

These are the best things to do in Townsville at night.

Sunset stroll along The Strand

If you can’t peel yourself away from the waterfront, take a stroll along The Strand after sunset. By day, you might have already spotted the ‘Ocean Siren’ sculpture off the shore, but it’s at night that it really glows. The inaugural sculpture in the Southern Hemisphere’s first Museum of Underwater Art, the human figure is modelled on local Wulgurukaba Traditional Owner Takoda Johnson and changes colour in response to live variations in the water temperature.

Grab a scoop or two of gelato from Juliette’s and find yourself a park bench overlooking the ocean to watch the sculpture illuminate the horizon. There's plenty of bars and restaurants in the precinct to make a night of it, too. 

Raise your glass at Townville’s best bars

From relaxed waterfront bars and inner-city laneway haunts to classic Aussie pubs and joints that stay up late, it’s well worth dipping your toes into the local bar scene if you’re looking for the best things to do in Townsville at night.

You'll find the best cocktails at Hooch and Fellow, named one of best small bars in 2021's Australian Bar Awards. Or, settle in with a spiced plum old fashioned at Osk, a small bar stealing hearts with contemporary and classic cocktails. For something a little more laidback, test your pinball skills at the local’s favourite bar and arcade, Empire Alternacade.

Beer lovers will find their home at The Brewery, a lively brewpub by the Townsville Brewing Co team. Wander down City Lane to find The TapHouse which has ten taps dedicated to independent Aussie craft brewers along with a huge global range by the bottle and tinnie.

Whether it’s your first time in Townsville or your fifth, you’ll want to grab a drink by the water. Longboard never fails for beers and a bite, while across the main street, Seaview Hotel offers a pub atmosphere. At the southern end of the waterfront sits ARDO, Townsville’s newest luxury destination, which boasts its very own rooftop bar perfect for a sunset sip. And if you want to party well into the wee hours, stick around. Townsville’s casino The Ville is open late with a smorgasbord of bars, dining and entertainment – and it’s right next door.

Shop and savour at the night markets

Friday nights are celebrated with the community at the lively Strand Night Markets, held the first Friday of each month from February to December at Strand Park. It’s here you can feast on global street food and discover handmade treasures among the hundreds of stalls, and chat to the local artisans behind them. There’s plenty of entertainment to keep the kids happy, too.

Organised by the Townsville Rotary, all profits raised by the markets goes straight back into supporting the local Townsville community.

Set sail on a sunset cruise

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a sundowner while watching the sun go down from the water.

Answering the call are a number of sunset sailing experiences.

Sit back and relax in a bean bag from top deck of Big Mama Sailing – sparkling wine in hand, ocean views out front, and antipasti to enjoy nature’s finest show. If you’re travelling with a small group, Casual Fare Sailing Charters offers sunset cruises for up to six passengers from Townsville Yacht Club – and it’s BYO food and beverages for those who like to curate their own charcuterie boards.

On Magnetic Island? Pilgrim offers sunset sailing trips from Magnetic Island Marina in Nelly Bay.

Experience a race like no other

It’s a little weird, a lot of fun, and sure to be a Queensland moment forever etched in your memory.

For the last forty-or-so-years, Magnetic Island’s Arcadia Village Motel has hosted cane toad races. Contestants – yes, cane toads – gather every Wednesday evening from 8pm to race their hardest. You can back the toad of your choosing and if you’re lucky enough to win (the first cane toad to cross over the outer edge of the circle wins), you get to kiss your winning toad and collect the wagers.

All in the name of fun and a good cause, funds raised go to the Arcadia Surf Life Saving Club.

Cheer on the Cowboys at their home stadium

Footy fever runs in the veins of North Queenslanders (that’s NRL up here) – and home turf of the Cowboys is hallowed ground. You won’t find a more passionate bunch of sporting fans than those gathered inside Queensland Country Bank Stadium during a home game – and being part of the crowd is one of the most fun things to do in Townsville at night. Seating up to 25,000, win or lose the atmosphere is always electric.

Before the game, make sure you visit the life-size bronze statue of one of the Cowboys’ all-time greatest players, Johnathan Thurston, at the front of the stadium.

Catch a show – or be part of one

Townsville Civic Theatre is the place to go for a great show, with a year-round calendar of music, dance, comedy, drama and more. If you’re a real culture vulture, the best times to visit for shows is during the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (26 July – 4 August 2024) and North Australian Festival of Arts (26 September – 13 October 2024)

Love a little jazz? Townsville Jazz Club welcomes talented local and visiting musicians every second Sunday evening at Townsville’s Hotel Grand Chancellor – book ahead as tickets usually sell out.

Or, get your dancing shoes on and get ready to salsa, tango and bachata at the Latin Social Dance Exchange, a free and fun event held every Thursday evening at the Heritage Exchange. Not sure what moves you’re doing? No problem – turn up at 6.30pm for a casual dance lesson before the night kicks off (lessons are $17 for one hour).

Feast your way through Townsville restaurants

You’ll have to save room in your holiday itinerary – and your stomach – to taste your way through Townsville’s best restaurants.

Will you choose upscale dining at A Touch of Salt where local ingredients star the show, or inventive modern Australian at JAM? Bridgewater is one of the city’s hottest restaurants for good reason – spring for the degustation and watch the colours of Castle Hill transform as the sun sets.

ARDO and The Ville offer a range of classy restaurants, from Terasu’s exquisite sushi plates to Asian with a twist of the tropics at Miss Songs, and pub classics with Magnetic Island views at Quarterdeck.  

And you simply can’t go past a meal at CBar – a restaurant literally on the water along The Strand.  

Don’t forget to let your tastebuds explore City Lane, either. This buzzing street art-adorned laneway is packed with eateries and bars - you’ll find wood-fired pizzas and Aperol Spritzes at Donna Bionda, Korean-style fried chicken and Soju at Zizigo, steak and seafood at Shaw & Co, and more. Grab a drink and join the crowds of people who spill out into the laneway on the weekends or find yourself a table to settle in for the night.

See a movie in style

Tired from a big day of exploring and want to simply chill out? Get your dose of the silver screen – and air con – and see a movie at the Warrina Cineplex in Currajong. This isn’t your usual state-of-the-art cinema though. While you can catch the latest films here (along with classics), the cinema, which opened in 1973, has retained its old world charm with velvet curtains and chandeliers. 

Looking for more things to do in Townsville at night, or need some inspiration for how to spend your days? Read our local’s guide to Townsville.