Put on your favourite trucker cap and let out an “Amen!” – Jelly Roll is rollin' into Townsville North Queensland, and we’ve put together your holiday plan. Roll into town early and saddle up for one of Townsville’s wildest weekends – the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals. Feel the dirt fly and the crowd roar as Australia’s toughest cowboys go head-to-head for the crown (well, belt buckle). It’s country grit at its best, and the perfect way to kick off a country-sized week.

Get ready for a week where the music collides with adventure, flavour, and a backdrop that could hold its own on any stage. Think southern charm with a tropical twist.

Need a Favour? Grab Your Feed – Country Style

Even a cowboy’s got to eat, right? Packed with local flavour and the freshest produce, Townsville’s cuisine has you sorted. After a day chasing thrills or arena action, swing by Tiny Mountain Brewery - where the only thing bucking is the flavour. Local brews, good tunes, and laid-back vibes make it a winning pit stop.

Add in a steak with a five-star touch at Marmor or keep it lowkey at Shaw & Co or Rambutan. Head on down to city lane for a taste of Tex-Mex with Polola. For fine dining filled with local flavour, Shorehouse pairs modern Asian–inspired plates with cocktails and reef views – you’ll feel like you’ve hit the lyrical sweet spot.

Perched right on The Strand, The Beach Hotel features fresh pastel interiors and sweeping ocean views. After dinner, why not take a late-night stroll along The Strand.

Looking for a drink with a view? Ardo Rooftop delivers horizon-to-horizon views, perfect for a cool-down cocktail after chasing dusty roads. Don’t miss the local spirit of Tan Lines Distilling, where North Queensland-inspired gins capture the laid-back North Queensland vibe.

Let’s not forget Galactic Donuts’ Jam Donuts… or should we say Jelly Rolls.

Dress It Up for Dusk

Wild Ones Welcome – Chase Adventure, Not Just the Beat

Before the music kicks in, or the bulls start buckin’, channel that pre-event energy with a bit of tropical thrill. Magnetic Island is just a 20-minute ferry with SeaLink, landing you amidst fringing reefs, bush trails, and the largest colony of koalas in Northern Australia.

Got wheels? Bring ’em along with Magnetic Island Ferries and cruise the island at your own pace - from hidden bays to local bars, you’ll find plenty of places to kick off your boots and stay awhile.

And while you can’t ride bulls… you can ride jet skis! Skim across the ocean and take in some of the best views of Townsville and Magnetic Island with Poseidon Adventures' Jet Ski Tours.

Dive a little deeper and explore our section of the Great Barrier Reef! For underwater adventurers and certified divers, explore the SS Yongala, from the Burdekin, just over an hour south of Townsville. Not certified? No problem! Snorkel vibrant stretches of the Great Barrier Reef, or swim past towering sculptures at the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA).

It wouldn’t be a visit to Townsville without seeing the biggest crocodile in Queensland (in captivity), at Billabong Sanctuary. 

If nature calls, Crystal Creek in the Paluma Range offers swimming holes, waterfalls, and sliding rocks worthy of an adrenaline-seeker’s playlist.*

And if there’s one place that could steal the spotlight, it’s Wallaman Falls, Australia’s highest single-drop waterfall. Towering, untamed, and unforgettable at 268m, it’s a natural showstopper – the kind of wonder that makes you pause, take it all in, and feel nature’s melody a little deeper.

For a true country feel, hit the road for a scenic 90-minutes switching island lust for Outback dust to visit Charters Towers, where dusty outback roads, heritage charm, and campfire vibes await.

Explore Townsville’s ink

Jelly Roll wears his story on his skin – and so does the city, in its own way. The Great Barrier Reef’s coral gardens and turquoise waters are nature’s colour story, while the city adds its own splash of ink through vibrant street art trails. And don’t forget the iconic Saint painted on the face of the pink granite monolith - Castle Hill. Take a wander and soak in the colours that make this town bold and unforgettable.

For the Late Night Legends

When the encore’s still ringing in your head and the night’s just too good to call it done, Townsville’s nightlife steps up. Mad Cow, Hooch & Fellow, Molly Malone’s, Heritage Exchange, and The Underground in Flinders Lane keep the music flowing and the good times rolling until the early hours. Let’s not forget The Warehouse, where the country crowd meets the city beat and the night runs long. It’s the perfect place to wrap your night after the encore fades — or to keep it rolling ‘til sunrise.

Wrap-up: Sunset, Smoke & Soul

In Townsville, the Outback meets the ocean, the beat meets the reef, and Jelly Roll’s “Wild Ones” energy finds home in BBQ, brews, sunsets, and two-stepping under tropical stars. Whether you’re humming ‘Liar’ while chasing crystal-water creeks, riding jet skis across blue water, snorkelling the reef, or toasting ‘Amen’ to a reef-front cocktail – your Townsville North Queensland trip will turn a gig-night into a show-stealing memory.

*Disclaimer: Permit required to drive on Mt Spec Road.