Explore on a budget with these (almost) free things to do in Townsville

You don’t need to be a military buff to enjoy a day at the Jezzine Barracks (although if you are, you’ll definitely want to hit up the Army Museum while you’re there).

As part of a $40 million refurbishment, the parklands have been decked out with a scenic coastal boardwalk winding from The Strand all the way around to Rowes Bay. It also includes an ethno-botanical trail, and over 30 specially commissioned art installations pointing to the site’s Aboriginal heritage and the military significance of the Jezzine Barracks. This makes it something of an outdoor gallery, staged against the backdrop of Kissing Point Headland’s spectacular natural beauty. The trail is dotted with barbecue facilities so pack a picnic and make a day of it.

COST: Free, though donations at the museum are always appreciated.

Museum of Underwater Art

But speaking of the Strand, the Museum of Underwater Art recently opened as one of Far North Queensland’s most impressive attractions. Built to preserve and honour the history and stories of North Queensland locals, underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor was inspired to create a new type of culturally and environmentally aware tourism across a number of different underwater sites off the North Queensland coast.

The first installation built was ‘Ocean Siren’, visible from the Strand in Townsville. This impressive statue was modelled on Wulgurukaba Traditional Owner, Takoda Johnson. As an interactive piece, ‘Ocean Siren’ changes colour to reflect live data on sea water temperatures, sending a powerful environmental message to everyone who stops along the boardwalk.

COST: This public artwork is completely free to enjoy. 

Secret street art trail

Townsville is known for its laid-back take on city life, but beneath the cruisy exterior you’ll find a vibrant street art scene that wouldn’t be out of place in any of the country’s major cities. For a completely free and captivating afternoon, take yourself on an art tour of all the murals and public artworks hiding in the alleys and warehouses of Townsville’s and outer suburbs.

COST: Absolutely nothing, until you reach Denham Lane.

Fuel up

The brightly coloured walls of Denham Lane are just the first draw, but once you take a closer look you’ll find one of the coolest hole-in-the-wall coffee spots in town.

After opening in 2014 at the rear of the heritage-listed Agora House, the Hoi Polloi Espresso Bar quickly became the locals’ favourite with their quality coffee and an edgy, artsy vibe that’s unlike any other cafe in Townsville.

They’re open for coffee, breakfast and baked goods throughout the week, and beer and cocktails on Friday and Saturday nights.

COST: Enough for a coffee or a frothy.

To the Castle (Hill)

You won’t actually find a castle atop Castle Hill, but you will be rewarded with spectacular 360-degree views of the city. Lace up those runners and get set to huff and puff all over this giant pink granite monolith as you explore its many walking tracks.

Not keen on cardio? Drive up to the lookout and marvel at the scenery, which stretches all the way out to Magnetic Island.

COST: Free.

Riverway

When FNQ’s famous tropical temperatures soar, there’s no better place to be than the Riverway lagoons.

Nestled under shady trees with the Ross River as your backdrop, the lagoons, which cover an area the size of more than three Olympic swimming pools, cater to all swimmers. If you’re here for fitness, head to the upper lagoon to log laps, while the lower lagoon is where you should go for some aqua relaxation, complete with sandy banks and shaded timber decks for lounging.

When you’ve had enough water time, you can stroll the boardwalk and public art trail, take a squiz in Pinnacles Gallery.

COST: Entry to the lagoon and parklands is free. Same goes for the gallery and many of their events and exhibitions.

Rise and shine for the markets

No weekend is complete without a trip to the markets.

On Saturday mornings, the North Shore Markets’ abundance of fresh produce will set you up for the week with a delicious and seasonal grocery haul. If you’re feeling a bit more crafty, treat yourself to something delicious or locally made. Cotters Markets and Willows Rotary Markets on Sundays have got everything from terrariums and handmade jewellery to decadent Belgium crepes.

The North Shore Markets also host a Car Boot Sale on the first Saturday of every month. Punters can come and rummage through scores of car boots brimming with potential treasures. If you’re looking to declutter you can come as a vendor, with sites going for just $15 a boot.

COST: Free entry and free parking - more money to spend on the stalls.

Check out the night markets

Not much of a morning person? From February to December each year, on the first Friday of the month, The Strand Night Markets light up the park with entertainment, live music, and stall upon stall of every market offering you could think of. From traditional Italian cannolis, fairy floss, and vintage clothes, to henna, essential oils, and even home-made dog treats.

COST: Free entry.

Meet an Australian wonder

Road trip two hours north-west of Townsville to come face-to-face with Australia’s highest permanent single drop waterfall.

Hidden in the rainforest-lined gullies of Girringin National Park, Wallaman Falls is a sight you sure don’t see every day. From the main lookout you can see Stony Creek plunge 268 metres in a clear single-drop, often through a rainbow-fringed cloud of mist. The Wet Tropics are a World Heritage site for a very good reason.

There are two walks you can take while there – the Banggurru and Djyinda tracks – but it’s the Djyinda track you’ll want. This trail will take you from the lookout right down to the base of the falls on a 3.2km round-trip. Make sure you bring plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.

*Note – While it’s not recommended you swim at the pools at the waterfall’s base (the rocks get super slippery), once you’ve returned to the lookout you can make your way back towards the campground on Wallaman Falls Road where there’s a refreshing swimming hole to cool off in.

COST: The fuel to get you there.

Visit palm city

The Strand ain’t the only palm-studded star near the city. Covering 17 hectares of botanical gardens, Palmetum Park is dedicated to just the one plant: palm trees.

This tropical haven was designed to suit a variety of different palms originating from every terrain from the dry tropics through to the wet tropical lowlands. This makes it something of a recreated rainforest in the middle of the Townsville suburbs.

Start by doing the loop around the Savannah Zone and lagoon (stopping in to check out the cacti and succulent garden in the Xerophytic Zone) before exploring the rainforest section. Don’t forget to bring insect repellent – this is the tropics after all.

COST: Entry is free, so you can save your dosh for a cuppa at the Tumbetin Tea Rooms.

Mango madness

Whether you’re travelling between Townsville and Tropical North Queensland or you’re just salivating on a hot day, the Frosty Mango is everyone’s favourite pit stop since 1989.

Pull over on the Bruce Highway when you see the big Mango Man and you’ll be stoked to find ice-cream and sorbet flavours made from only the freshest seasonal fruit. From guava, coconut, lychee, and mulberry, to the lesser known rambutan, black sapote, and sapodilla, the Frosty Mango will awaken your palate with the sheer breadth of fruits on offer. Naturally, the most popular flavour is mango, so you’d be mad not to try it.

COST: A scoop or two goes for anything between $5 and $10, unless you’re having a real blowout with the five flavour boat which comes in just under $20.

BCF’ing fun

Ever wanted to catch your own dinner, fall asleep to the sound of the ocean, and go for long walks on the beach every day? A camping adventure at Townsville’s northern beaches is exactly what you need.

You can pitch up at Saunders, Balgal and Toomulla beaches, which each have designated free vehicle camping areas. Just be wary of maximum stay restrictions

For more camping info and seasonal updates, keep an eye on the Townsville City Council website.

*While it’s not recommended to go swimming, there is a patrolled stinger enclosure at Balgal Beach at certain times. Check out the Surf Life Saving website for patrol times.

COST: Nothing but fuel to get there and bait for your line.

Village escape

Had enough of the salt and sand? Day trip to the misty mountain village of Paluma, 1.5 hours north of Townsville, where freshwater creeks and Wet Tropics Heritage-listed rainforest walks await.

Start with the walking tracks around Paluma first, that way you can work up a bit of a sweat before cooling down at the crystal creeks on your way back down the range.

COST: Fuel plus any coffee stops along the way.

Dig into the past

If you fancy life on the seas, a visit to the Museum of Tropical Queensland is a must.

The HMS Pandora is the star attraction and a permanent fixture of the Great Gallery, where visitors can explore the recreated bow of the ship and floor plan of the original layout, learning more about its history and unfortunate demise (after being sent from England to catch the infamous Bounty mutineers, the ship sank off the coast of Cape York in 1791 when it struck the Great Barrier Reef).

If the sailing life doesn’t intrigue, there are plenty of other exhibitions on display to check out, ranging from the reef and enchanted rainforests to the giant reptiles that crawled our ancient lands.

COST: Adult admission is $15 for visitors, $8.80 for kids.

*The Museum of Tropical Queensland is currently closed until early 2021 for room works.

Cool down with a craft brew

You can’t get fresher than beer that’s brewed literally a few metres from your table. That’s what’s served at the heritage landmark Townsville Brewery.

Housed inside Townsville’s former post office, the brewery’s craft brews are famed for taking the edge off North Queensland’s famous tropical swelter. While it’s tempting to order a pint of each, you’re much better off grabbing one of their tasting paddles to give you a little taste of all their signature beers, plus any seasonal brews.

COST: The paddles and pub grub are always super reasonable, which means you can enjoy a local brew and a snack from the tavern menu for less than $20.

Go on a ghost tour

Swap your scary movie for the real deal on a ghostly night walk through Charters Towers. Just an hour and a half hour’s drive south-west of Townsville, Charters Towers feels like a time capsule. It’s been a long time since this gold mining town was considered the metropolitan epicentre of Queensland, but the local legends and heritage buildings are as alive as ever.

From the resident ghosts who continue to haunt their places of work to bloodstained remnants marking the spot of cold-blooded shootings, learn about the town’s gruesome and spooky past on a 90-minute tour through the old city center.

Want to make the most out of a trip to Charters Towers? Check out this express guide with the top 10 things to do.

COST: Adult tickets for the walking tour are $25, while child tickets are $15, or splash out and take the whole family of two adults and two kids for $55.

Cream tea

Like good tea and lazy mornings? Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms should be front and centre on your weekend agenda.

This beautiful heritage-listed property is really something special, and not just because it has a fairy garden. A scenic 40-minute drive up the winding range will bring you to the home of one of the few slab-sided inns left standing in Australia, the oldest building of its type in North Queensland.

Order a pot and stuff your face with scones under the shady trees in the front garden or inside the original hand-adzed hardwood building, constructed in the 1800s. Afterwards, spend some more time exploring the grounds and herb garden (keep some coins handy to make a wish at the wishing well), play a game of boules or chess, or take to the outback walking trail at the back of the property.

COST: A quick squiz will cost you nothing, and all menu options at the tea room go for less than 20 bucks.

Catch a flick at the drive-in

You’ve probably got the gist by now that the Townsville region has a knack for doing things old-school. That also applies to their cinematic entertainment, with the Tors Drive-In Cinema in Charters Towers. Operating continually since 1966, this is one of the oldest and longest-running drive-in theatres in Queensland, so they’re old hats at hospitality.

It’s definitely worth the 90-minute drive to catch the latest blockbuster or a classic reel, especially since their ticket prices are vintage too.

COST: Admission to Tors is just $8.50 for adults and $6 for children/students/pensioners. Expect the same reasonable prices for snacks and hot foods too, with everything from burgers, homemade choc tops, lolly bags and toasties costing anywhere between $1.50 to $12.

Learn to sail

For a cruisy dusk on the water, head down to Townsville Yacht Club for their Wednesday Twilight Sails.

This weekly social event is perfect for anyone who has always wanted to try their hand at sailing but wasn’t sure how or where to start. All you need to do is fill out a registration form on the day and hand it in between 4:30pm and 5pm. If there are sufficient spaces available, you will be assigned to one of their club member’s boats before setting sail in Cleveland Bay. If you can’t get on a boat that night, try again the next week.

COST: To register will set you back only $10.