Townsville Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Townsville Airport is less than 5 km from the centre and about 10 minutes by car from both Flinders Street Mall and the Strand waterfront: there's no real airport hotel precinct, so the choice comes down to staying in the city or on the beach. The centre is worth it for those travelling on business or wanting restaurants and venues within walking distance, while the Strand, with its free lagoon pool and beach, is the natural choice for those staying a few days before or after an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef or Magnetic Island.

Flinders Street and the centre

City centre · 8-10 minutes by taxi or car from the airport; there are no dedicated airport trains or buses.

Best for: Those travelling on business or wanting restaurants, bars and the ferry to Magnetic Island within walking distance.

Pros

Flinders Street Mall with restaurants and bars within walking distance
SeaLink ferry terminal for Magnetic Island nearby

Cons

A taxi or a 10-15 minute walk is still needed to reach the Strand and the beach
Few international-standard hotels: the choice is mostly between motels and mid-range chain hotels

Recommended hotels in this area

Clarion Hotel Townsville: On Sturt Street, a 5-minute walk from Flinders Street Mall; in-house restaurant and rooms renovated in 2015 in a 1960s building.
Mercure Townsville: Set on 11 acres of tropical gardens overlooking the artificial lake The Lakes, with Townsville's largest infinity pool; about 4 km from the centre and 2 km from the airport.

See more hotels in this area →

The Strand

Neighbourhood · 10-15 minutes by taxi from the airport, or 10-15 minutes on foot or a few minutes by car from the city centre.

Best for: Those who want the beach, the free lagoon pool and walks along the waterfront, accepting a few extra minutes to the centre.

Pros

Beach, free lagoon pool and cycle paths along the Strand within walking distance of the hotel
A quieter area than the centre, away from the traffic of Flinders Street

Cons

Few restaurants compared with the centre: for the evening you often go back towards Flinders Street
From October to May, jellyfish season, open-sea swimming is limited to protected net enclosures