Walk the Strand Townsville 2020

Walking the Strand Townsville is one of the best things to do in Townsville.

The Strand beachside promenade with it’s joint bike and walkway runs from the Breakwater Marina at the River End of the Strand, to the Rock Pool at the Kissing Point end, a return distance of 4.4 km.

Breakwater Marina Townsville with Casino in the background marks the end of the Strand Walk

 

You’ll often hear Townsville locals say they’re going to “do the Strand” and judging by the amount of camper-vans parked there daily many travellers agree.

It’s best to walk the Strand before 10 am or after 4 pm to beat the mid-day heat. For people who work in Townsville CBD it’s the perfect walk before and after work.

Mothers with strollers rule the Strand pathways in the morning after work has begun and before the work crowd return for lunch away from the office. There is a time of day for everyone to enjoy the Strand.

The Strand Townsville Walkway

 

We live near Riverway in Kirwan, which has a beautiful riverside walking/cycling circuit, but in Summer when it’s hot and humid we head for cooling sea breezes of the Strand.

Strand Water Park Townsville

 

Seaview Hotel Townsville

The Seaview Hotel is fairly quiet during the week but springs to life on the week-end with life music in the beer garden.  It is the only hotel on the Strand Townsville and as well as the ever popular counter-meal in the garden bar, it is home to a popular Steak Restaurant.

This hotel is called the Seaview Hotel for a reason and has great sea views from both the beer garden and restaurant. The white building in the photo behind the hotel is the old Townsville Hospital which has been gutted and redeveloped as residential apartments with sea views.

 

The Seaview Hotel on the Strand with Castle Hill

 

Green Turtles the Strand Townsville

Every year a lonely green turtle returns to Townsville Strand to lay her eggs. She lays them in the same position high on the beach where natural ground covers help disguise the nest. An orange safety net enclosure is erected around the nest site.

You will find a green turtle sculpture and info board on the Strand and visitors to Reef HQ can see green turtles being nursed back to health in the Turtle Hospital.

Green Turtle nesting site The Strand Townsville with Townsville Port in background

 

Cafes on the Strand Townsville

C Bar The Strand

Directly on the water, the C Bar has uninterrupted views of Magnetic Island and is a great place for an after walk drink.

C Bar on the Strand looks across the bay to Magnetic Island

 

Longboard Bar and Grill Townsville

Back to back with the C Bar is The Longboard bar and cafe, with standing room only on week-ends. The Longboard looks across the water toward the Port and Casino.

 

Cheap Places to Eat Townsville Strand

Across from C Bar and Longboard and opposite the Seaview Hotel is a dining hub with cheap places to eat Townsville style.

Walking up Gregory Street where it intersects with the Strand, toward Castle Hill reveals a plethora of cheap eating options including Souvlaki, Burgers, Thai, Indian and Vietnamese to name a few.

 

Juliette’s on the Strand

Juliette’s on the Strand is second from the corner of Gregory Street, next to Harold’s Seafood. Juliette’s is famous for it’s ice-creams and fantastic outdoor area beneath the Strand rain-trees. It is dog-friendly and also does coffee, cake and cheap breakfasts like Avo on Toast. It’s a popular place for a late night after dinner ice-cream.

Meet you at Juliette’s?

 

Coffee Club the Strand Townsville

Next door to Juliette’s is the Coffee Club, another popular place to dine because of the fabulous rain trees. You need to be lucky to find a spare table here for breakfast on the Strand Townsville week-ends.

But let’s face it, beside breakfasts it’s also popular for morning teas and afternoon drinks.

 

Fish and Chips the Strand Townsville

Collecting a parcel of fish and chips from Harold’s Seafood on the Strand to eat on the grassy foreshore is very much a Townsville Tradition. Although the El Fresco eating area on-site at Harold’s is practical, the lure of the foreshore and seating terraces across the street on Gregory Street Headland are often too tempting.

Buskers entertain on week-ends when the area buzzes with life.

 

Magnetic Island Views from the Strand Townsville

 

Magnetic Island is visible from one end of the Strand to the other and is a permanent backdrop for photos taken on the Strand.

Free exercise stations are spread along Strand promenade, offering a host of different workouts and Strand Fitness Northward offers Crossfit classes on the Strand. You will find several boot camps working out with a Magnetic Island view too.

Strand Accommodation is a mix of new and older refurbished motels. Hotels on the Strand Townsville are all low rise apart from Aquarius On The Strand, shown in the photo below. It is the only high rise building on the Strand and offers quite cheap accommodation Townsville with fantastic views.

 

 

Strand Park the home of Strand Night Markets

On the land side of Strand Jetty and Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Club stinger enclosure is Strand Park.

The park is a welcome haven of green and a favourite place for a casual game of football, kite flying or frisbee throwing.

Once a month on a Friday evening it transforms into the Strand Night markets. This is a great place to buy locally made gifts, buy tropical fruits and plants or dine from the food vans.

During the Christmas School holiday period Strand Park transforms into the Stable on the Strand which celebrates it’s 18th Birthday in 2019 18th – 22nd December. The event which turns the park into the town of Bethlehem, celebrates the story of the birth of Jesus and is free to enter.

 

Strand Jetty Sculpture from Museum of Underwater Art with Wulgurukaba muse.

Strand Jetty offers the opportunity of looking back at the land with views of Castle Hill and the Rock Pool and of course Magnetic Island. It’s a favourite haunt of fishermen who are prepared to while the hours away while having a chat and landing the occasional keeper.

Ocean Siren Sculpture Townsville

 

Strand Jetty is one of the best things to see on Townsville Strand

 

December 2019 saw the installation of a sculpture on a pylon close to the jetty of a slim human figure standing tall on a pylon and glowing by night.

The sculpture’s muse is a girl from the Wulgurukaba, the traditional landowners in this area. The Wulgurukaba creation story involves a snake coming out of the Herbert River on the coast near Ingham. On it’s way down to Palm Island and Magnetic Island it created the Hinchinbrook Channel.

There are more sculptures planned underwater at John Brewer Reef and Magnetic Island. This video shares the exciting news.

 

Rock Pool Townsville

At the Kissing Point end of the Strand is this delightful seawater pool.

The Fish Inn restaurant overlooks the rock pool and across the street is another favourite of ours “Odyssey On The Strand”.

Townsville Rock Pool marks the end of the Strand Townsville Walk

When you visit next, make sure to walk the Strand – it’s right up there on the list of budget friendly things to do in Townsville Australia.

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