Five things to see and do Bandjin, Warrgamay + Nywaigi COUNTRY

The Hinchinbrook Region is the gateway to the stunning WorldHeritage Wet Tropics; surrounded by ancient tropical rainforest, rugged tropical islands, and the Great Barrier Reef

Ingham is the heart of Hinchinbrook, the central town for the local sugar industry. Renowned for its quality of Italian delicatessans; be sure to sample Hinchinbrook’s finest treats and local produce.

Hinchinbrook is also home to Australia’s highest single drop waterfall, Wallaman Falls, and the departure point for one of Australia’s largest island National Parks; Hinchinbrook Island

It’s a place where breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife, world-class fishing experiences, locally sourced food, inspirational art, and 60,000 years of culture are all weaved into one incredible story - all just over an hour north of Townsville.

Wallaman Falls

With a sheer 268m drop, Wallaman Falls is Australia’s highest, single drop waterfall (Girringun National Park) an hour’s drive west of Ingham. The accessible lookout is a great vantage point to take in the tranquil surrounds of the ancient rainforest. If you are feeling adventurous, the steep track to the base of the falls is the best place to bear witness to her thunderous roar.

Hinchinbrook Island

Hinchinbrook Island is Australia’s largest island national park and can be accessed by short boat through the Hinchinbrook Channel, from Lucinda. The island is a hiker’s paradise, home to a bucket-list multi-day hike along the Thorsborne Trail covering 32km of ungraded tracks, or guided day tours.

Tyto Wetlands

TYTO Wetlands, a 120-hectare rehabilitated wetland area, home to unique flora and fauna including over 240 species of birds (27.4% of Australia’s bird species in one location). With extensive walking tracks, bird hides and viewing platforms, it is a great way to get up close and personal to wildlife. For the best viewing - go early morning or late afternoon.

Jourama Falls

About 30km south of Ingham (heading toward Townsville) you will find Jourama Falls tucked away in the Paluma Range National Park . Surrounded by rainforest, the winding trails around Jourama Falls call to adventurers, or take it easy and wallow in one of the many natural plunge pools.

Fishing Mecca

With the fertile Hinchinbrook Channel to the north and Coral Sea to the east, Lucinda is utopia to many keen anglers. Mangrove jack, coral trout, mud crabs and the iconic fighting barramundi are all in plentiful supply.

Top wildlife experiences

KOALAS

Spot one of the many koalas on Magnetic Island that make up Northern Australia’s largest colony living in the wild. The Forts Walk is one of the best places but be sure to admire from a distance to leave these cute creatures undisturbed.

Selina Magnetic Island or Billabong Sanctuary

PLATYPUS

Voted by Australian Geographic as one of the top five places to see a platypus in the wild, spot the elusive Northern Platypus in Paluma Range National Park.

Hidden Valley Cabins

WALLABIES

Get up close and personal to the social rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay on Magnetic Island, with furry friends also on the mainland including Towers Hill in Charters Towers, Inkerman Hill in the Burdekin and the TYTO Wetlands in Hinchinbrook. Visit at sunset when the wallabies are most active.

Bird Watching

With more than 400 different bird species waiting to be spotted, get twitchin’! Popular locations include: TYTO Wetlands, Ingham, Townsville Town Common Conservation, Paluma Range National Park, Horseshoe Lagoon, Burdekin, Charters Towers Weir.

for any reef enthusiast. Coral Spawning occurs after the full moon between October and November.

Reef operators see page 34.

WHALES

Dolphins and dugongs can be spotted regularly off the coast of Townsville, but a fan favourite is the Humpback Whale! July to September is prime time for spotting these gentle giants during migration.

TURTLES

The coastal environment of our region is an important breeding spot for green and flatback turtles (particularly on Magnetic Island), with freshwater turtles also commonly spotted in creeks and waterholes, including Townsville’s Ross River.

Butterflies

An annual migration of Blue Tiger Butterflies fills a paperbark forest on Magnetic Island with thousands of these delicate travellers for their yearly ‘hibernation’. Visit between April to September, particularly in the mid-afternoon.

The big moments are even better when the encounter is big.

Big croc

Meet mainland Queensland’s largest captive estuarine crocodile – Krakatoa Practically a living dinosaur, Krakatoa measures 5.1m long, and weighs over 800kg. Meet him, and other dinosaur descendants – like Troppo the cassowary at Billabong Sanctuary, Townsville.

Big horns Texas Longhorns

Meet Australia’s largest herd of purebred Texas Longhorns Once home to JR, a Guinness World Record Holder, view his award-winning 3.15m horns at the ‘JR Gallery of Horns’.

A message from Netflix star Izzy from Izzy’s Koala World

Our part of the world is a special place, and many unique –and some endangered – animals call this place home.

Learn from the care givers and protectors, and remember to admire from afar to keep our animal friends safe and healthy. If you see sick, injured or abandoned wildlife, don’t touch it – call a trained wildlife professional for help.

Big falls

Towering at 268m, Wallaman Falls is Australia’s tallest singledrop waterfall. A short drive from Ingham will have you atop this mighty natural wonder. To feel her true thunderous roar, take the 4km hike to the base – we promise the rugged trail down (and more so back up) will be worth every step!

Big flutter

A little-known phenomenon, the annual Butterfly thousands of these flittering fancies to the forests of each year.

Visit With Care

Big coral

Mega marine faunagroper, marble rays, turtles - frequent the undulating seas

You read that right – the Great Barrier Reef is off the coast of Townsville, with Townsville the official headquarters for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Aquarium and James Cook University’s world-renowned Marine Biology degree.

Townsville is the gateway to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, and there are many ways to go deeper, not further and learn the reef’s greatest stories.

Ways to see the sea

Ways to see the sea

Nothing can beat the sensation of snorkelling or diving the world’s greatest natural asset, and the experience is one you’ll remember for a lifetime.

2300kmin length!

The Great Barrier Reef makes up 10% of the world’s coral reef ecosystems making it the world’s largest coral reef system.

3000 individual coral reefs, 600 types of soft and hard corals, 1635 types of fish, jellyfish, whales, turtles, dolphins and so much more!

Great Barrier Reef

Join a guided full day tour with one of the many reef operators for a tailored experience to learn from the preservers of this special underwater place.

By air

View the Great Barrier Reef from new heights on a scenic flight with Townsville Helicopters or Nautilus Aviation. In just half an hour, you can witness the vastness and beauty of the reef from above. Land on a secluded sand cay to enjoy the reef all to yourself – a truly unforgettable moment.

Dive In

If you’re interested in becoming a certified diver, where better to learn than the official headquarters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Townsville North Queensland is home to a number of operators who provide certified diving courses.

These include Open Water and Advanced Open Water

- Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive, Pro Dive Magnetic Island, Yongala Dive, Pleasure Divers, Remote Area Dive it.

Before you hit the textbooks, try an introductory dive!

Sea Country home for the first Australians whose connections to the marine environment date back more than 60,000 years.

Together, it’s our role to continue to care for the reef – and by visiting, you’re contributing to its conservation.

Meet our Master Reef Guides

Master Reef Guides are the world’s leading reef guides, interpreters and storytellers sharing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

These reef ambassadors can provide up to date information on the reef, share stories of the magical World Heritage Area and explain what you can do to make a difference.

AQUASCENE CHARTERS

Be a citizen marine scientist and contribute to the ongoing care and monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef by using the Eye on the Reef app, and by being Reef Smart.

ADRENALIN SNORKEL AND DIVE

How to protect and preserve our environment visit with care

Leave only footprints, take only memories.

Don’t collect coral, shells or other materials - this is prohibited in the marine park.

Travel with accredited tour operators to minimize impact and learn from their experience.

Enjoy the reef’s natural beauty, and the place that many animals who call this place home, from a distance – never chase, touch or feed the animals on the reef.

Be Reef Smart to help preserve this extraordinary world for others.

townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au

Our museum.