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Beaches Near Townsville 2026, Best Spots & Magnetic Island

Discover the best beaches near Townsville: The Strand, Magnetic Island (Alma Bay, Horseshoe Bay), and day trip options. Stinger season guide included.

By Townsville Daily · Published 20 July 2026

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Beaches Near Townsville 2026, Best Spots & Magnetic Island — Photo by Mic V. / flickr (by)

Townsville Beaches 2026, Overview

Townsville has a beautiful foreshore on Cleveland Bay with The Strand as the main beach precinct, but the real beach highlight near Townsville is Magnetic Island, a 52km² national park island just 20 minutes by ferry, home to some of Queensland's most spectacular and uncrowded beaches. Note: stinger season (October-May) requires wearing stinger suits for ocean swimming across Tropical North Queensland. Here's a guide to beaches in and around Townsville.

The Strand, Townsville's Main Beach

The Strand, The Strand, Townsville. Townsville's foreshore promenade and beach precinct stretches 2.2km along Cleveland Bay. The Strand features The Rockpool (a free ocean swimming pool safe from marine stingers year-round), volleyball courts, playgrounds, barbecue areas, a water park and walking and cycling paths. The beach itself is patrolled and has a stinger net enclosure during stinger season. An excellent community beach facility by any standard.

Magnetic Island, The Real Beach Destination

Magnetic Island (IATA: MAG) is 20 minutes by ferry from the Townsville terminal. The island is 52km² with approximately 50% national park, abundant wildlife (koalas in the wild, wallabies, sea eagles) and some of Queensland's finest uncrowded tropical beaches.

Alma Bay, Arcadia, Magnetic Island. Beautiful sheltered cove with granite boulders framing the beach. Calm and ideal for families. Popular for snorkelling over coral.
Horseshoe Bay, Northern Magnetic Island. The island's most popular beach, a long, beautiful bay with calm swimming, water sports hire, the famous Noodies Beach Bar and the Forts Walk (WWII gun emplacements above the beach).
Picnic Bay, Southern Magnetic Island (ferry terminus). Quiet and uncrowded. Good for families. Historical fishing village atmosphere.
Florence Bay, Walk-in beach on the eastern side of the island. More remote, quieter. Excellent snorkelling.

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