AALL About Townsville

About Townsville

Welcome to Townsville

Townsville is situated in the country of the Wulgurukaba and Bindal peoples. The Wulgurukaba are also known as canoe people, reflecting their strong connection to the sea and waterways. Their traditional lands extend around Magnetic Island (Yunbenun) and the mainland coast and they have deep cultural ties to the ocean, marine life, and the Great Barrier Reef. The Bindal lands encompass the Ross River in the north, the Burdekin River in the south, the ocean to the east and where the Hervey and Leichhardt Ranges meet in the west.

Townsville is an historic port town, established in 1864. The CBD and inner suburbs are home to historic buildings and old Queenslander-style homes and pubs. Known as the unofficial capital of the north, Townsville has a population of about 200,000. It has all the amenities you would expect from a small city, benefiting from proximity to bush, beach, and the Barrier Reef.

Check out our City Guide to Townsville here.

Why not stay after the conference and explore the region? https://www.townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au/

Welcome to JCU Townsville

James Cook University (JCU) Douglas campus is situated in the country of the Bindal people, whose lands are south of Ross River, covering parts of Townsville and surrounding regions. Their totem is the Eel (Burdell), an important symbol of their identity and connection to water sources. Skilled in hunting, fishing, and land management, they used fire to shape the landscape.

JCU was established in 1970 and has a focus on the tropics and sustainability. It now has campuses in Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane, and Singapore and has a strong reputation for research in marine biology and environmental science, attracting interstate and international students. The Townsville campus is expansive and set in a natural bushland environment that is home to wallabies, dingos, scrub turkeys, and swooping kookaburras.

The conference will be held in Building 142, Science Place. The building is walking distance to the library, post office, chemist and cafes.

December is one of the hottest months of the year in north Queensland, with high humidity and an average temperature of 25c min to 31c max. Situated in the dry tropics, the wet season in Townsville can be unreliable; however, monsoonal storms can occur in December, especially in the afternoon.

The conference venues are air-conditioned and walkways to other buildings are covered, but you should be prepared for the tropical climate. Dress accordingly! You should pack:

loose, breathable clothing

sunscreen

umbrella

insect repellent

water bottle

Most hotels have pools and the beaches along the Strand have stinger nets. You may enjoy a swim to cool down in your free time.

By air

Townsville Airport is located a 10-minute drive to the CBD. The airport is a transport hub, offering pick-up points for taxis, ride shares and the airport shuttle to a range of hotels (bookings required). Rental cars are also available from the airport.

By rail

The Spirit of Queensland has regular services each week from Brisbane and Cairns to Townville.

Visit Queensland Rail to book your rail travel.

By road

Townsville is on the Bruce Hwy/A1, 1492 km north of Brisbane and 348km south of Cairns.

JCU Douglas Campus is 13km from the CBD or a 30-minute drive during peak hour. For this reason, you need to consider transport options below when planning your conference visit.

Conference shuttle bus

Departs CBD and Strand – 8am

Departs JCU – 4:15 pm

Cost: $50

You must book the conference shuttle on the registration page. Registrations to use this service will close on November 15th.

Rental cars

Several rental car companies are located at Townsville airport. https://www.townsvilleairport.com.au/parking-transport/car-rentals

Public transport

Bus route 201 takes 40-45 minutes from the CBD.

See the Translink website for more information.

Airport Shuttle Service

Townsville Shuttle Services offers affordable, door-to-door transport between Townsville Airport, city hotels, and the Magnetic Island ferry terminals. Operating daily from 6:15 am to 8:00 pm, they align their schedule with major flight arrivals and departures.

Routes: Townsville Airport ↔ City Hotels (CBD, Strand, Palmer Street) ↔ Magnetic Island Ferry Terminals.
Operating Hours: 7 days a week, 6:15 am – 8:00 pm .
Pricing:
- $10 for a single passenger
- $15 for a couple
- $5 per person for groups of 3 or more
Booking: Online bookings should be made at least 3 hours in advance. For pickups within 3 hours, call 0478 160 036

As a small city that attracts many visitors, Townsville can fill up on weekends and during holiday times, so you would be wise to book accommodation early. Because the campus is on the outskirts of the city, many JCU visitors prefer to stay close to the action of the waterfront and do the 30-minute commute each day. You may like to consider:

The Strand

The Strand is a 2.2km beachfront promenade. Situated in the suburb of North Ward, close to the CBD, it has waterfront gardens, walking paths, beaches with stinger nets, Tobruk swimming baths, a wide range of restaurants and bars, and expansive views to Magnetic Island. Many mid-priced hotels are located here. The Conference shuttle will stop in this location. This must be booked when you register.

The CBD

The CBD is a central hub with easy access to the Queensland Museum of the Tropics and the bars on Flinders St. Using Victoria Bridge to cross the Ross River, you can visit Palmer St cafes and the Maritime Museum. Bus 201 departs from Flinders St. The Conference shuttle will stop in this location. This must be booked when you register.

Wallet friendly options