Townsville cruises destination information
| Townsville itinerary and upcoming sailing dates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2021 | Far East, 24 nights | from $6303 |
| Mar 20, 2020 | Komodo and the Australian Coast, 16 nights | from $16868 |
| Apr 26, 2021 | Far East, 22 nights | from $22597 |
| Feb 12, 2020 | World Cruise Cape Town to Sydney Sector, 77 nights | from $73658 |
| Mar 8, 2020 | Austral Autumn and Coral Coast, 30 nights | from $25765 |
| Mar 8, 2020 | Sydney to Singapore, 40 nights | from $33843 |
The Stunning Main Port of Townsville
With the balmy weather, waterfront Esplanade and world renowned Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep, it’s easy to see why an increasing number of cruise lines are adding tropical Townsville to their itineraries. Sometimes referred as the unofficial capital of Queensland, this city welcomes all its guests with friendly smiles, live music, and volunteers ready to help with directions, tips and/or information regarding their visit. The near-new cruise ship terminal adds to this welcoming atmosphere, providing top-quality facilities and excellent service.
Main Cruise Ships Departing Townsville
- Pacific Aria
- Pacific Eden
- Azamara Journey
- Regent Seven Seas Voyager
- Seabourn Encore
- Silversea Silver Shadow
- Oceania Insignia
Major cruise brands that depart from Townsville
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is Australia’s largest cruise line visiting over 30 port cities, towns and islands. Enjoy cheap fares and nonstop fun from the cruise line’s range of five great ships.
Azamara Club Cruises
Azamara Club Cruises are designed for travellers who like to indulge in a bit of luxury and prefer an intimate setting.The two boutique vessels are smaller than the mainstream cruise lines and offer all-inclusive voyages off the beaten path.
Regent Seven Seas
Regent Seven Seas cruises offer “six star” luxury voyages on their 4-ship fleet travelling around the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Guests relax on the all-inclusive ships whose fares include shore excursions, specialty restaurants, open bars and more.
Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn’s lavish voyages cover most corners of the globe on their 3-ship fleet. The line’s comparatively small vessels offer unique destinations with all-inclusive pricing at the luxury level.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises are the boutique hotels of the sea. With exceptional service and all-inclusive amenities, passengers love the adventurous itineraries and luxurious ships that carry a maximum of 500 guests.
Destinations - Where can you cruise from Townsville?
Cruises visiting Townsville include voyages within Australia as well as to the South Pacific, Asia and beyond. Find out where you can sail next from Townsville:
Australia - Most ships depart from Sydney or Brisbane and journey north along the east coast visiting the best coastal spots in Queensland. Visit Airlie Beach (The Whitsundays), Cairns, Hamilton Island, Townsville and more depending on your route. After exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the majority of voyages will return to the port of departure.
New Zealand - After visiting Townsville, cruise south with stops in New South Wales before crossing the Tasman Strait to circumnavigate New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Cruise through stunning Milford Sound, where waterfalls cascade from every direction and enjoy views of the breathtaking Southern Alps.
Asia - Cruises visit Townsville before and after exploring Indonesia’s exotic islands such as Bali and Komodo Island. Travel to Singapore, a multicultural metropolis famous for its captivating city garden.
Passenger numbers - How many Australians cruise out of Townsville?
Although Townsville is a smaller port and visited less frequently by major cruise lines, the city has a fantastic opportunity to succeed in the industry with Queensland being the second largest cruise shipping market in Australia, after New South Wales. It was announced in May 2017 that partial turnarounds would be made in the Townsville port starting in 2018, so passengers can get onboard there for their cruise holidays.
Australians on the whole are booking more cruise holidays than ever before. Passenger numbers hit the one million mark in 2015 with a 14.6% increase from the year before. In that same year 4.5% of Australia’s population took a cruise. Compare that number (1,058,781) to 12 years ago when only 158,415 residents holidayed by cruise ship. Domestic cruise numbers are skyrocketing with a growth of 42% from 2014 to 2015 making it clear that Australians are enjoying touring their own country with a view to the ocean.
Asia and the South Pacific follow as the next two favourite cruise destinations and the sampler cruises, four days or less, are proving to be very popular with a 25% increase in 2015. In that year, most Australians opted for 14 days or less at sea.
Capacity of ports - Where is Townsville’s cruise terminal located and what is its capacity?
The Townsville Port provides world class facilities and hopes to be a venue for ‘homeporting’ by 2021.
Townsville Port at Quayside Terminal - The nearly new Quayside Terminal offers exceptional views and provides top-notch service. Upon arrival, enjoy perks of the welcoming party who are ready to assist you with any questions for your visit to Townsville. The port is within walking distance to the city centre and the Esplanade where you can relax along the boardwalk at restaurants, cafes and bars. Bring your swimsuit to take a dip in the lagoon or play at the Strand waterpark, a favourite spot for the kids. Head up Castle Hill to enjoy 360 views of the city and ocean.
Facilities
Cool down in the fully air-conditioned terminal located only a short distance from seaside restaurants, shopping and the beach. Enjoy uninterrupted views of the city and Magnetic Island from the main hall’s glass walls or relax outdoors in the shade at the undercover meet and greet area. A convenient passenger pick-up and drop-off facility is located in front of Quayside Terminal. Catch a taxi here or enjoy a 20-30 minute stroll into the city.
For parking at the terminal, use the parking lot on Creek Street only 400 metres away opposite Fantasea Cruising Magnetic Island.
How to get to the Quayside Terminal at Townsville Port
The Quayside Terminal is conveniently located 2 kilometres from Townsville CBD on Lennon Drive in south Townsville. Walking can take up to 30 minutes if you don’t mind the heat, otherwise hail a taxi for the quickest route.
Getting there from Townsville airport
- It takes roughly 15 minutes via car or taxi, depending on traffic (Roughly $30)
- For the quickest trip, hop on State Route 16 to Mcilwraith Street and follow signs to the terminal entrance.
Walking from the CBD
- If you can handle the heat and prefer a leisure stroll, cross Ross Creek via Flinders Street along State Route 16. Turn left on Palmer St and follow the canal to Ross Street to arrive at the terminal.
Weather - What is the best time to cruise out of Townsville?
Townsville is in the dry tropics region with warm temperatures year round and 320 days of sunshine. The climate allows ships to sail at any given time of the year. While some cruise lines only spend their summers in the Oceania region, cruises in the Queensland territory prosper all months of the year.
- Depart Townsville in the off-season months to enjoy warm weather without the strong heat index.
- Australia’s peak season runs from October through to April when it’s the hottest and most humid in this region.
If you have time...
Hit “The Strand,” the city’s man-made pristine beach and boardwalk featuring a free swimming lagoon (the Rockpool) and water park plus oceanfront restaurants and bars. If you value staying dry above snorkeling or scuba diving, visit The Reef HQ Aquarium that showcases marine life and coral from the Great Barrier Reef and has a sea turtle hospital on site. Make friends with Aussie’s favourite furry creatures at the Billabong Sanctuary wildlife park or book an excursion out to Magnetic Island when you book a cruise from Townsville.
Cruise Port: What to do in Townsville
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts
Tropical Townsville isn’t all beaches and rainforest - look closer and you’ll find a bit of culture. The Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts on Flinders Street is an example of this, displaying some amazing exhibitions of contemporary art in a beautiful space. The not-for-profit organisation behind Umbrella Studio aims to drive innovation, experimentation and appreciation for art in the Townsville community, and as well as the exhibitions it offers special events, workshops and more. Entry to the gallery is free. Understand more about Northern Queensland when you include a visit to Umbrella Studio in your Townsville cruise. It is easy to find, located close by the town centre and near the north bank of Ross Creek. As well as viewing the diverse and ever-changing art, you can purchase a contemporary creation in the shop, an incredible memento of your time in the region.
Where: 482 Flinders St, Townsville City QLD 4810, Australia
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm, weekends 9am to 1pm.
Townsville Brewery
Top off your cruise with a taste of Townsville at the city’s award winning brewery! Townsville Brewery is all about brewing and bottling right there onsite, so you can enjoy one of their various tipples just metres from where it was born. Along with the famous Townsville Bitter, you could sip on a lager, a Belgian blonde, a stout or one of two different ales in the cosy tavern - or opt for a tasting paddle. While beer is understandably the focus of the establishment, Townsville Brewery also has the Malt restaurant, with a menu full of stylish and contemporary but hearty classic dishes to enjoy with a brew, and a banquet centre which hosts all kinds of events. It is easy to locate on Flinders Street right in the heart of the downtown area.
Where: 252 Flinders St, Townsville City QLD 4810, Australia
Opening Hours: Tavern open 11:30am till late Mon - Sat, closed on Sundays. Restaurant open for lunch and dinner Mon - Fri, dinner on Sat.
JAM Restaurant Townsville
Every holidaymaker yearns for that perfect dining combination of delectable food, wonderful location and relaxing atmosphere. At JAM Restaurant Townsville, you’ll find all of that and more. Dine in for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and enjoy one (or two!) of the delicious, award-winning meals that make JAM one of Townsville’s most popular restaurants. Made with fresh ingredients, the JAM menu is an eclectic mix of international flavours and locally inspired dishes. The only problem will be deciding what to order! With a prime location at the top of Townsville’s popular Palmer Street, JAM has a spectacular view over the CBD and across the Ross River. Whether you’re beginning or ending your cruise in Townsville, make sure JAM is on your must-visit list.
Where: 1 Palmer Street, South Townsville, 4810, Queensland, Australia
Hours: Hours vary day to day. Visit the website see a full list of hours.
City Lane & City Arcade
In the heart of Townsville, you’ll find the buzzing City Lane and City Arcade complex. The collection of cafés, bars and restaurants at City Lane will entice you with delectable dishes, while the adjoining City Arcade mall will tempt you with excellent shopping opportunities. It doesn’t stop with divine dishes and fabulous stores however, a wide range of musical events, art installations and exhibitions are also held at City Lane and City Arcade. Whether you’re stopping for a day or two in the middle of your Townsville cruise, or beginning or ending your adventure in this great city, it’s well worth setting aside multiple hours to visit this great facility in downtown Townsville. City Land and City Arcade is just a six-minute drive from the Townsville cruise ports.
Where: 373/401 Flinders St, Townsville City QLD 4810, Australia
Hours: Monday - Sunday, 7:00am - 12:00 midnight
Maritime Museum of Townsville
If it’s ship related, you’ll find it at the Maritime Museum of Townsville. This gallery and museum are full to the brim of fascinating displays, featuring the best of maritime history in Townsville. Peruse the halls of the Maritime Museum of Townsville and view model ships, monuments, photographs from days gone by, and interesting historical marine equipment. As well as the beautifully displayed items and images, facilities on site are available for hire. Past guests have used the space for information presentations, exhibitions, award ceremonies and more. The museum is in South Townsville right near the waterfront and about a 20-minute walk from the cruise terminal.
Where: 42-68 Palmer Street, South Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
Opening hours: Daily 10 am - 3 pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Park Regis Anchorage
In the heart of Townsville right along the banks of Ross Creek river sits the beautiful Park Regis Anchorage hotel. Spacious, contemporary rooms await you when you book into the Park Regis Anchorage. Whether there’s just two of you, or you’ve brought your whole family along, there are rooms to suit every group. The day spa, fitness centre, and hair salon are all available at the hotel for relaxation after a day of exploring this lovely beach city, and nearby restaurants, bars and cafés are just a wander away for an evening out. Extend your Townsville cruise by making a reservation at the Park Regis Anchorage. Just a 20-minute walk from the Townsville ports or a four-minute taxi ride away.
Where: 51 Palmer Street, South Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
Phone: +61 7 4722 6200
Venus Gold Battery
Back in 1872, gold was discovered in Charters Towers in Queensland, and that same year, the Venus Gold Battery (a place to process the metal) was built. Almost half a century later, most of the batteries in the area had closed down, so the Mines Department purchased the Venus Gold Battery to ensure that the gold mines in the area would still have at least one mill on hand.
Today, the Venus Gold Battery is a fantastic option for something a little different during your time onshore in Brisbane QLD. It’s ideal for anyone with a penchant for history, as a tour will introduce you to the site, and your guide will talk through some of the gold mining history of Queensland.
This walking tour takes roughly 75 minutes total, and you’ll need to make a booking to secure a spot.
Where: Millchester Rd, Millchester QLD 4820, Australia
Office hours: 10.30 am to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday
Townsville Rotary Markets
Visiting one of Townsville’s fascinating Rotary markets is one of the best ways to get introduced to local life. The Willows Rotary Market (held on a Sunday) is a general market where you’ll find everything from fruit and vegetables, baked goods, clothing, arts and crafts, jewellery and preserves to books and more! The Strands Night Market held on the first Friday of every month is a great night out for everyone. Pick up dinner from one of our many local food trucks, and browse the shops for a selection of gifts, souvenirs, candles, soaps, arts, plants and more. Take a break from perusing and watch some of the many musicians and live performances. There is always something unique to find, and it feels good to support local, small businesses. Put Townsville Rotary Markets on your to-do list, and don’t leave on your cruise from Brisbane without a visit.
Where: Willows Rotary Markets - Willows Shopping Centre, Corner Thuringowa Dr & Hervey Range Rd The Strand Night Markets - Strand Park, Townsville
Opening Hours: Willows Rotary Markets - Every Sunday, 7.30am to 11.30am
The Strand Night Markets - First Friday of the Month, February to December, 5.00pm to 9.00pm
Cruises visiting Townsville
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