The day trips, weekenders and anchorages worth knowing around Townsville. Plainly written.
Townsville's boating heart.
The city's working waterway — Ross Creek runs into the harbour past the Breakwater Marina precinct, the ferry terminals and the Strand. Sheltered berthing, easy launch access and the departure point for Magnetic Island, Cape Cleveland and the reef.
Maggie — twenty minutes across the channel.
Granite headlands, hoop pines and a string of sandy bays from Horseshoe and Radical to Florence, Arthur and Nelly. Public moorings in most bays, a working marina at Nelly Bay and world-class snorkelling on the fringing reef. The default overnighter out of Townsville.
The quiet Palm-group jewel.
A national-park island 45nm north of Townsville with fringing reef, quiet bays and a research station on the western side. Public moorings in the main bays, deep water alongside and some of the clearest reef water within a day's cruise.
Australia's most spectacular protected waterway.
The 25nm channel between Hinchinbrook Island and the mainland — mangrove creeks, tidal flats and the dramatic granite spine of the island rising over 1,000 metres straight from the water. Rich estuarine fishing, quiet anchorages and one of the country's great cruising experiences.
Lighthouse country south of the harbour.
The prominent granite cape south of Townsville with its historic lighthouse — a landmark, a shelter and a productive fishing ground. The turn-around point for southbound day trips and the shelter of choice when the trades turn ugly.
Fifteen tropical islands, mostly remote.
A cluster of tropical islands north of Townsville — Great Palm, Fantome, Curacoa, Falcon and the rest. Some restricted (traditional lands and communities), others open with quiet anchorages and fringing reef. Read the charts and respect the country.