Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2-68 Flinders St.
&
07/4750 0800.
www.reefHQ.org.au. Admission A$20 (US$13) adults, A$15 (US$9.75)
seniors and students, A$9.50 (US$6.20) children 4-16. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 9am-5pm. Closed Christmas. Pub-
lic parking lot opposite Reef HQ. Bus stop 3-min. walk away.
MORE THINGS TO SEE & DO
The Strand
is a 2.5km (1
1
⁄
2
-mile) strip with safe-swimming beaches, a fitness
circuit, a great water park for the kids, and plenty of covered picnic areas and
free gas barbecues. Stroll along the promenade or relax at one of the many cafes,
restaurants, and bars while you gaze across the Coral Sea to Magnetic Island. For
the more active, there are areas to in-line skate, cycle, walk, or fish, and a bas-
ketball half-court. Four rocky headlands and a picturesque jetty adjacent to
Strand Park provide good fishing spots, and there are two surf lifesaving clubs to
service the three swimming areas along The Strand. With 300 days of sunshine
each year, Townsville is a place where you'll enjoy cooling off—in either the
Olympic-size Tobruk Pool, the seawater Rockpool, or at the beach itself. Dur-
ing summer (Nov-Mar), three swimming enclosures operate to keep swimmers
safe from marine stingers, and if watersports are on your agenda try a jet ski, hire
a canoe, or take to the latest in pedal skis. A state-of-the-art water-park, com-
plete with an assortment of wet and wild fun has waterfalls, hydrants, water
slides, and water cannons, plus a huge bucket of water which continually fills
until it overturns and dumps water on laughing children.
Don't miss the views of Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island from
Castle Hill;
it's a 2.5km (1
1
⁄
2
-mile) drive or a shorter, but steep, walk up from town. To drive
to the top, follow Stanley Street west from Flinders Mall to Castle Hill Drive;
the walking trails up are posted en route.
At the
Billabong Sanctuary
(
&
07/4778 8344;
www.billabongsanctuary.
com.au) on the Bruce Highway 17km (11 miles) south of town, you can see
Aussie wildlife in a natural setting; hold a koala, a (baby) crocodile, a python, or
a wombat; and hand-feed kangaroos (all for free). Bring your own camera. There
are talks and shows continuously from 8:30am; one of the most popular is the
saltwater-crocodile feeding at 12:15 and 2:30pm. There are also Aboriginal cul-
tural talks, a food kiosk, gas barbecues, and a pool. Admission is A$22 (US$14)
for adults, A$18 (US$12) for students and seniors, A$11 (US$7.15) for kids 4
to 16, and A$58 (US$38) for a family. The sanctuary is open every day except
Christmas from 8am to 5pm.
WHERE TO STAY
Holiday Inn Townsville
The “Sugar Shaker” (you'll know why when you
see it) has been Townsville's favorite hotel for years, especially with the corpo-
rate set. Right on Flinders Mall, it's a stroll from Reef HQ, Museum of Tropi-
cal Queensland, and Magnetic Island ferries. The rooms are fitted out in sleek
blonde-wood decor, and because the 20-story building is circular, every one
faces the city, the bay, or Castle Hill. The star attraction is the rooftop pool and
sun deck with barbecues.
334 Flinders Mall, Townsville, QLD 4810.
&
1800/079 903
in Australia, 800/835-7742 in the U.S. and
Canada, 0345/581 666 in the U.K. or 020/8335 1304 in London, 0800/801 111 in New Zealand, or 07/4729
2000. Fax 07/4721 1263. www.sixcontinentshotels.com. 197 units. A$140-A$280 (US$91-US$182) double;
A$375 (US$243) suite. Extra person A$33 (US$22). Children under 20 stay free in parent's room with exist-
ing bedding. Free crib. Ask about weekend rates, advance-purchase rates, and packages. AE, DC, MC, V. Free
undercover valet parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; 2 bars; rooftop pool; free access to nearby gym; bike rental;
secretarial services; 24-hr. room service; massage; babysitting; coin-op laundry; laundry service; dry cleaning.
In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, kitchenette (in suites only), dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
