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“Get Snappy” Series: Burdekin

17 September 2021

The Burdekin is the sweetest region in our patch… literally! It’s the sugar cane capital of Australia but we think it has some awesome things for families to do that make it pretty sweet too. With another school holiday just around the corner, now is the perfect time for families to explore the wonders of Townsville North Queensland. This September, we've launched a special “Get Snappy” school holiday photo scavenger hunt, giving families hints on where to visit, and the chance to win a $250 Ultimate Experiences Pass to use on a holiday in Townsville North Queensland. The Burdekin is the sweetest region in our patch… literally! It’s the sugar cane capital of Australia but we think it has some awesome things for families to do that make it pretty sweet too. 1. Get a blast from the past at the Drive-In Theatre You might remember the days of the drive-in, but your kids don’t! Let them experience the movies under the stars, from the comfort of your car at Stardust Drive-In Theatre. And if your kids are young and can’t hack it staying up late the venue has an air-conditioned movie theatre for the day too. Don’t forget to snap a picture and hashtag #townsvilleshines and #getsnappynq to be involved in our competition. 2. Plan a MINT morning hike at the Mount Inkerman Nature Trail Explore the Burdekin’s native bushland with a beautiful half an hour walk through the Mount Inkerman Nature Trail and trust us, the view is totally worth it at the top! Just a short drive from Home Hill the winding trails give a great birds eye view over the Burdekin, see the region’s rolling cane fields at different stages of the harvest. 3. Take the kids to a playground they won’t stop talking about You’ll lose track of the hours at Plantation Park in Ayr. The epic Nature Play playground will keep the kids entertained with its swings, slides and 60-metre-long carpet snake ‘Gubulla Munda’. There’s a café inside the park to top off a morning with the family or take your own picnic and find a shady spot among the trees. 4. Visit the Burdekin’s treasure trove of creepy crawlies Does your child love insects and bugs? Feed their fascination at the Ayr Nature Display. A collection of thousands of preserved insects completely covers the walls and ceiling and for just a gold coin you can spend as long as you like learning about all the different species of butterflies, moths, crabs, and fossils.

“Get Snappy” Series: Hinchinbrook

17 September 2021

Looking for nature's playground - we've found it! And with another school holiday just around the corner, now is the perfect time for families to explore the wonders of Townsville North Queensland. This September, we've launched a special “Get Snappy” school holiday photo scavenger hunt, giving families hints on where to visit, and the chance to win a $250 Ultimate Experiences Pass to use on a holiday in Townsville North Queensland. If you’re looking for an outdoor family adventure, you can’t go past the Hinchinbrook region. 1. Seek out Australia’s largest single drop waterfall Explore the mighty Wallaman Falls, Australia’s largest single drop waterfall, located in the picturesque Girringun National Park. The kids will gawk at the sheer size of this natural wonder that stands 268 metres tall and we think it deserves a place on our school holidays scavenger hunt card. Whether you choose to stay at the top or venture to the base for a swim, Wallaman Falls look great from every angle. Don’t just take our word for it, test it out yourself! And remember to hashtag #townsvilleshines and #getsnappynq. 2. TYTO wetlands Take your hide and seek game to the next level and visit one of the only places in the world where you can spot the endangered Eastern Grass Owl. TYTO Wetlands is just 500 metres from the main township of Ingham. Spread across 90 hectares, there’s plenty of room for the whole family and plenty of running space for the kids. The TYTO Precinct also has an interactive Visitor Information Centre, Regional Art Gallery, Parklands and Library. 3. Broadwater State Forest Looking for your one-stop-shop for adventure? Look no further than Broadwater, just north of Ingham in Abergowrie State Forest. There’s great rainforest, mountain biking tracks, crystal clear creeks that are shallow enough for kids to wade around in! You’ll spend hours exploring this beautiful area. 4. The beaches Swap fresh water for salt water at one of Hinchinbrook’s idyllic beaches. Throw a line in or take a walk down the beach but beware some of these spots have crocodile warnings! Hire a boat and cruise out to the Coral Sea. Being on the water gives a great view of the Southern Hemisphere’s longest service jetty at Lucinda, which spans more than 5 kilometres!

"Get Snappy" Series: Charters Towers

14 September 2021

With another school holiday just around the corner, now is the perfect time for families to explore the wonders of Townsville North Queensland. This September, we've launched a special “Get Snappy” school holiday photo scavenger hunt, giving families hints on where to visit, and the chance to win a $250 Ultimate Experiences Pass to use on a holiday in Townsville North Queensland. Venture further afield these school holidays and visit Charters Towers for a history-filled adventure the adults will enjoy just as much as the kids do. Just a 90-minute drive from Townsville, this Outback oasis is rich in more than just history - with tales of gold mining, military relics and local characters ready to share a yarn. Here's our top list of the things you can do and see along the way on your school holiday scavenger hunt in the Outback. 1. Find history on every corner You’ll be reaching for your camera at every turn to capture the many significant, ornate buildings in Charters Towers, a city with a heart of gold! The magnificent heritage buildings can be found throughout the town – there are over 60 in total. Most can be found on Mosman and Gill Streets. We recommend visiting the Stock Exchange Arcade which was built in the 1880’s and was one of Australia’s first regional stock exchanges. And if you’re eager to learn more about the rich history of the region (the kids can even pan for gold), the Miner’s Cottage is a mini museum that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time and has hundreds of gold mining relics to help tick that off your ‘Get Snappy’ bingo card. 2. Find epic Texas Longhorns With one of the last horse draw wagon rides in the country, the Texas Longhorn Tours are for the whole family. Choose between a wagon ride tour or jump on an ATV for a safe safari the kids will love. The Texas Longhorn Tours close in mid-October (until May the following year), so get in now before you have to wait until 2022 to see these beautiful bovines. 3. Find the perfect photo frame Looking for something to frame your Charters Towers photos? Pop up to Towers Hill and you’ll find a giant picture frame with a picturesque outlook over the region. Standing two and a half metres tall, it’s just the thing for your next family photo together. Towers Hill is also a great place to catch a glimpse of friendly rock wallabies, and other macropods - sunset is the best time for this view! 4. Find your ultimate camping spot Why not make a weekend of your trip to Charters Towers and uncover your new favourite camping spot? The region has some of the best bush camping in Australia, set up on the sandy banks of the mighty Burdekin River, where there’s great 4WD tracks & fishing. If you’re lucky you might even reel in an inland barramundi. The competition opens on the first day of school holidays, September 18 and ends October 4, 2021. To enter the “Get Snappy” competition, simply download the scavenger hunt form and share your Instagram-worthy snaps with the hashtags #townsvilleshines and #getsnappynq to win. Read full terms and conditions HERE.

"Get Snappy" Series: Townsville & Magnetic Island

14 September 2021

With another school holiday just around the corner, now is the perfect time for families to explore the wonders of Townsville North Queensland. For this September, we've launched a special “Get Snappy” school holiday photo scavenger hunt, giving families hints on where to visit, and the chance to win a $250 Ultimate Experiences Pass to use on a holiday in Townsville North Queensland. If you’re looking to make the most of your school holidays and try new things, boy have we got the list for you! Get all the tips with our "Get Snappy" Series - with our top tips for each region in our patch of paradise. Townsville and Magnetic Island is nature’s playground, with dozens of snap-worthy spots for a fantastic family day out. To help you plan the perfect day hopping, skipping and jumping around Townsville and Magnetic Island, here is our list of the top four places for memory-making photo locations (in no particular order). 1. Soak up the sun at one of Townsville’s beaches Whether it’s the Strand, Pallarenda or further north to Toolakea, Townsville has beaches to be admired and explored. Have a family sandcastle building competition, find shells to decorate your masterpiece or make your own waves in the ocean. But don’t forget to get a snap and share it to social media using the #townsvilleshines and #getsnappynq. And with 300 days of sunshine don’t forget your sunscreen, hat and rashie! 2. Dive into the Great Barrier Reef Head out on the open water and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef – one of the natural wonders of the world. Many tour operators have kid-friendly snorkelling options with all the safety gear required. A day on the reef will be sure to give the kids something to talk about when they head back into the classroom, having learnt all about coral reef and marine life. A few options: Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive take snorkelling trips to John Brewer Reef where you can see the Southern Hemisphere's first - Museum of Underwater Art, the minimum age is 6 years old. Yongala Dive off Ayr takes trips to Stanley Reef, some of the most untouched and rarely visited parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Pro Dive Magnetic Island departs from the stunning Magnetic Island, and visits several of the best reefs including Keeper, John Brewer, Lodestone and Grub Reef. 3. Take a walk on the wild side Capture a moment with our iconic Aussie wildlife, whether that be a must-have rock wallaby selfie, or spot one of Northern Australia's largest colony of wild koalas hidden among the trees along the Forts Walk - Magnetic Island is the place to go if you want to spot animals in the wild. Psst… we’ll let you in on a secret! If you can’t find any wildlife in the wild, we know a place you can go – the beloved Billabong Sanctuary, and now home to mainland Queensland's largest captive crocodile - Krakatoa. 4. Explore Magnetic Island’s hidden bays and beaches with Aquascene Charters Recently named one of TripAdvisor’s best experiences in the world, Aquascene Charters know all the hidden gems around Magnetic Island and has perfected the family-friendly itinerary. They will take you spots you’ve probably never heard of, and places to let the kids curiosity run wild. Better yet, get educated with both owner/operators also qualified Master Reef Guides. Looking for your own exclusive experience at one of Magnetic Island’s private beaches with a family picnic? The Beach Club Magnetic Island's Picnic and Play offer is a unique 4-hour island experience that does all the work for you. The competition opens on the first day of school holidays, September 18 and ends October 4. To enter the “Get Snappy” competition, simply download the scavenger hunt form and share your Instagram-worthy snaps with the hashtags #townsvilleshines and #getsnappynq to win. Read full terms and conditions HERE.

Supercars roll into Townsville

07 July 2021

Supercars teams will officially roll into town for the annual Townsville Transporter Parade, ahead of three days of on-track action including two 250km Repco Supercars Championship races!

Origin in Paradise

04 June 2021

Planning a visit to Townsville North Queensland ahead of the region's biggest sporting event in history? Whether you’ve got a spare hour or few days to explore, Townsville North Queensland has something for you!

Come for the event, stay for the destination!

24 May 2021

Get revved up Townsville North Queensland! For culture, adrenaline, dazzling displays and artistic masterpieces. Dance to fresh beats, enjoy blissful bites, and find your 'ticket' to shine!

How to do Easter in Townsville North Queensland

01 April 2021

With the Easter holidays just around the corner, here is the complete list of ‘How to do Easter in Townsville North Queensland’ covering everything from local spots for chocolate sustenance, to cute Bilby encounters. Positioned within 90-minutes’ drive of all of Australia’s most iconic landscapes of the rainforest, reef and Outback, Townsville North Queensland is the gateway to some of the most unique experiences available, and it’s just waiting to be explored. So, what are you waiting for? Come on, join us – and Find Your Shine in Townsville North Queensland with these top tips! Easter breakfast Trust us, we know that Easter is probably the only day of the year it is socially acceptable to eat chocolate for breakfast, but if you are looking for something more to make you really ‘hop’ out of bed, then you’re in luck because we’re blessed with a number of award-winning restaurants that you should get egg-cited about! Recently awarded a Chef’s Hat in the Australian Good Food Guide Awards – JAM Townsville is the perfect place to start the day with the traditional favourites as well some more interesting creations to stimulate your morning (reopening on Tuesday 6 April). Or if you’re after a brekky with a view – check out The Strand with a number of cafes that will WOW you!

Best places to celebrate National Cocktail Day

22 March 2021

Mark your calendars, and refine your taste buds for some locally-inspired bevvies to celebrate National Cocktail Day (24 March). These days it seems that literally every single day there is someone celebrating National something day, it is because it is true. At some point in history, the National Days Wizard joined the ranks of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Mother Nature, and the Tooth Fairy as some omnipotent holiday powerhouse telling us when to celebrate. But hey, we love celebrating with a drink in hand, so mark your calendars - because its National Cocktail Day (24 March) - and we're here for it! It's no secret that the ultimate picture of a tropical holiday in Townsville North Queensland is one spent in paradise with a cool drink in hand. And with outstanding restaurants and bars making up the region's vibrant dining scene, we've got you covered with our top picks for places to spend this auspicious occasion. classic tropics Recently awarded a Chef's Hat in the annual Australian Good Food Guide awards, JAM aims to provide you with a taste of North Queensland while offering a warm and welcoming experience. Their Gourmet Traveller awarded wine list offers over 100 wines ranging from small Australian producers through to stunning international champagne and wines. Their exclusive offering for National Cocktail Day mixes Australia's best produce with world-class spirits for a tantalizing Cooper VS.

Hack your holidays

05 March 2021

Make the most of the public holidays and book leave in with 'the Boss' to get you out and exploring this big beautiful backyard we like to call home.