Most people just stop off at Townsville on their way to Magnetic Island, however it is worth stopping an extra day to check out Townsville itself.
The recently redeveloped Strand area is a great place to cool off, swimming either in the stinger nets or in the man made rock pool lagoon. With plenty of free barbeque facilities it is easy to waste a hot afternoon by the water! You will be rewarded by hiking up Castle Hill to watch the sunset, especially on a partly cloudy day when the sky lights up with bright oranges and red.
The night life is not to be compared with the big cities or even Cairns, but tight ass Tuesdays is always popular with cheap, food, spirits and beers on offer and the weekends can be fun with a good group of friends. Do not expect much on the music front, apart from top 40 retro and the occasional live covers band, but you will come to expect that in most towns of this size. Although the old Exchange Hotel has reopened and is putting on some great gigs, the prices to drink there can be rather expensive.
On Wednesday nights the Townsville Motor Yacht Club opens its doors to the public. If you arrive at 5 pm and ask around you are almost guaranteed to get a seat on a yacht for the social sailing race towards Magnetic Island. Rounding Cape Pallarenda then returning to Townsville, joining in the fun probably offers the best way to experience the gorgeous geography and spectacular sunsets of the region.
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