Townsville is a coastal city in northeastern Queensland. It’s roughly 1,350 kilometres north of Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, and four hours’ drive south from Cairns, a popular tourist destination. Townsville enjoys a warm tropical climate, with hot humid summers and warm dry winters. It has plenty of sunshine all year round – over 300 days of sunshine per year to be exact!
Here’s what you need to know about Townsville’s location, including how to get here and how to get around.
Getting to Townsville
Whether you’re simply visiting or moving here to begin your studies, it’s easy to get to Townsville from anywhere in Australia or abroad. You can fly direct to Townsville Airport from most major Australian cities and some regional centres, making it easy to get a connecting flight from many international locations.
If you’re already in Australia, you could also consider travelling to Townsville by rail or bus. The Spirit of Queensland rail service operates between Brisbane and Cairns, stopping in Townsville. Another option is the Greyhound Bus service, which can take you to Townsville from many of Australia’s major cities.
You can also travel to Townsville by car from nearly anywhere in Australia – road-tripping is a great way to experience Australia’s great outdoors and check out many towns and cities along the way!
Getting around Townsville
Because Townsville is a small city, it’s quite easy to get around.
Townsville public transport is super convenient; Sunbus is the local bus company, running services regularly around Townsville suburbs and the CBD.
There are also several taxi companies, and ferries can take you to Magnetic Island and other nearby tourist destinations.
Education providers in Townsville
James Cook University (JCU) is a world-class university – it’s ranked in the top 2 per cent of universities worldwide! It’s also ranked #1 in Queensland for full-time employment and starting salary. Almost 1,500 students live on the Townsville campus in student accommodation, meaning it’s a great place to make friends from all over Australia and the world.
The Townsville (Pimlico) TAFE Queensland campus is another great option for study. It has recently undergone a $35 million redevelopment and now features state-of-the art facilities.
Why study in Townsville?
One of the best reasons to study in Townsville is its direct access to nature. Townsville itself is home to several beaches, so you can soak up the sunny days with your new friends. There are also several stunning national parks nearby where you can go hiking, including Castle Hill (Cootharinga), Mount Stuart and Paluma Range National Park.
Townsville is also a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It’s a fantastic destination for snorkelling, diving and taking photos for friends and family back home.
Magnetic Island is another beautiful natural location close to Townsville. It boasts stunning beaches and gorgeous scenery, gorgeous koalas and other native Australian wildlife, as well as snorkelling and diving spots – and it’s only a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville!
Another great reason to study in this beautiful coastal city is that accommodation in Townsville is generally more affordable than in many of Australia’s bigger and capital cities.
Plus, because Townsville is a small city, it’s easy to integrate into your new community. Making friends with the locals is a great way to feel more at home in Townsville, refine your English skills and explore employment opportunities.
Learn more about Townsville
There’s so much more to learn about this beautiful tropical Australian city. Click any of the links below to learn more about living in Townsville, Australia.
- 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Townsville
- 10 Awesome Reasons to Live in Townsville
- 10 Day Trips and Fun Things to do in Townsville
- How to Find Student Jobs in Townsville: An International Student’s Guide
Image courtesy of Tourism & Events Queensland.
