Five soul-stirring Indigenous tours you can take in Townsville

While better known for its military history, Townsville and its surrounding rainforest and coast and has been home to the Bindal and Wulgurakaba people for over 10,000 years.

Wander the outdoor art gallery on the Garabarra headland at the Jezzine Barracks to discover sculptures by local First Nations artists. Get inspired by the Traditional Owners’ deep connection to country as you uncover the stories behind these ancient former foraging grounds.  Take a stroll along the coastal boardwalk and walk in the footsteps of the First Australians as you gaze out towards Magnetic Island and imagine times past.

Don’t miss your chance to brush up on local military heritage as you explore the headland: the carefully restored 19th century fort is over 150 years old and brimming with history.

Immerse yourself in Townsville’s Indigenous art scene

It’s not just Cairns that’s a hotbed of Indigenous artistic talent - Townsville is also home to a thriving creative community. Leading the charge is Umbrella Studio, a contemporary arts centre on Flinders Street that’s been flying the flag for local sculptors, painters, printmakers and craftspeople for over 30 years.

Immerse yourself in ancient songlines reimagined as modern art in the North Queensland First Nations exhibition gallery. Channel your inner artist and create prints and pottery at a creative workshop in the centre’s Maker Space.  Travelling with kids? Check out the Creative KIDS program and let their imaginations run wild as they experiment with materials and techniques.

If you’re a serious fan of the arts, time your trip to coincide with the winter Pop Up NQ Festival. Explore dozens of pop-up art workshops, performances and exhibitions as Townsville’s CBD is transformed into a showcase of everything from photography to puppetry.

Swim among giant sea sculptures

For thousands of years, the Great Barrier Reef and its waters have provided sustenance, protection and inspiration to Tropical North Queensland’s original inhabitants. Now, adventurous art lovers can discover for themselves the important role the Reef still plays for all Australians, at the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA), just off the coast of Townsville.

Snorkel or dive your way around the many awe-inspiring underwater galleries that make up the Southern Hemisphere’s first underwater museum. Works include pieces by world-renowned sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, who uses art to promote reef conservation, and the incredible Coral Garden installation at John Brewer Reef: a 58 tonne underwater building which commemorates the reef’s many guardians.

Back on dry land, take a stroll along Townsville’s jetty at dusk to witness the moving sight of the eerily-lit Ocean Siren rising out of the sea. Modelled on a 12-year-old local Wulgurukaba girl, the thought-provoking sculpture is fitted with LED lights that change colour as the water temperature changes - a stark reminder of the earth’s rising sea temperatures.

Taste bush flavours at a traditional campfire feast

Just an hour and a half’s drive north of Townsville is the rural town of Ingham, home to historical homestead and former cattle ranch, Mungalla Station.  Uncover the stories of its Traditional Owners,  the Ngwaigi people, and learn sobering truths about the region’s colonial past on an Indigenous tour of Mungalla Station. 

Try your hand at boomerang-throwing, listen to Aboriginal live music, then wrap up the day with a traditional kup murri feast: a campfire cooking technique in which food is baked in an underground oven of hot embers.

Foodies take note: Queensland is famous for its Indigenous dining and authentic bush flavours. From gourmet restaurants to barbecue feasts, check out these five must-try Indigenous food experiences. 

Explore ancient rainforest tracks in Tully Gorge

Townsville’s proximity to jaw-droppingly beautiful national parks is another big tick in the box. But there’s much more to these World Heritage-listed rainforests than picturesque scenery and walking trails. For the rainforests’ Indigenous custodians, every mountain, creek and river is of great spiritual significance, to be respected and conserved for future generations.

Follow the road north past Ingham to reach Tully Gorge National Park and hike the ancient rainforest pathways of the Jirrbal People. Explore densely forested gorges, go white water kayaking on the Tully River rapids or soak up the views from the summit of Mount Tyson. (Just remember to take a leaf out of the locals’ book and leave everything exactly as you found it.)

While you’re in the neighbourhood, head to nearby Ravenshoe (the highest town in Queensland) for a free local history lesson at the Nganyaji Interpretive Centre. Here you can learn firsthand about the lives and heritage of the Jirrbal People: their culture, customs and practices.

Looking for more Townsville-themed inspiration? Check out this list of the best things to do while in Townsville.