Port guide: Townsville, Australia
Australia's largest tropical city is overshadowed by Cairns when it comes to tourism, but you'll find plenty of ways to spend an enjoyable day in port.
Who goes there
Around 30,000 passengers visited Townsville in the 2024-25 season, but the newly widened shipping canal and upgraded terminal is expected to attract larger ships. When Cunard's Queen Elizabeth arrived in January 2025 it became the largest ship (2081 passengers) to visit. Coral Expeditions, Holland America, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Viking are among lines that call in as they either trek across the Pacific to Asia, or pass along Australia's east coast.
Sail on in
The arrival won't wow you, but is an attractive glide through a shipping channel marked by large buoys into a bay created by a cape on the port side and Magnetic Island to starboard. You'll spot locals on the breakwater admiring your ship. The city is topped by Castle Hill, often a destination on city overview excursions for its terrific outlooks.
Berth rites
Quayside Terminal sits in the industrial port, squints towards Magnetic Island and takes architectural inspiration from palm fronds. It's an attractive building and extends into a well-organised, undercover meet-and-greet area where tour buses and taxis pull up. You'll find friendly tourism office reps and stalls selling souvenirs. The terminal is two kilometres from the CBD on pedestrian and cycle paths but, given the tropical heat, you'll probably want to take the shuttle.
Going ashore
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