Continue
travelling south of Cardwell and you'll discover the
magic of Townsville, Mackay and
the beautiful Whitsundays.
Australia's
best sailing destination and a ridiculous
amount of tropical
islands are just a few of the highlights
of this beautiful region.
Population
Ingham
13 000
Townsville 160 000
Bowen 7 500
Proserpine 3 000
Airlie Beach 2 700
Hamilton Island 5 000
Mackay 82 000
Free
Family Fun in this region
Ingham,
an hour south of Cardwell, has a strong Italian heritage
and each year celebrates the Australian-Italian
festival with a 4 day program of events
held in May each year attended by thousands of people
from all over the world. Wallaman Falls,
Australia's highest sheer drop is 50km southwest
of Ingham.
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Townsville,
the long standing rival of Cairns, claims the unofficial
title of 'the Capital of North Queensland'.
Beautiful Magnetic Island is just
a short boat or ferry trip away and an excellent place
for a family holiday. Magnetic Island is quite large
and you can hire a mini moke or take the bus around
the island. Townsville is also home
to a number of other great family attractions including
the Reef HQ which showcases the Great
Barrier Reef in a large walkthrough aquarium,
the Billabong Sanctuary a wildlife
park just south of Townsville and the Strand an
excellent public park, right on the beach, which has
a number of playgrounds and swimming
areas to choose from. |
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Ayr and Home
Hill are small rural towns just south of Townsville,
Ayr is located near the Burdekin River delta an
important irrigation source for the region's farmers.
In Ayr there's a great place to stop just near the
highway with picnic tables, a big snake for kids to
play on, barbeques and other facilities. Alva
Beach is just 16km east of Ayr and the base
for those wanting to dive on the wreck of the SS
Yongala - recommended for experienced divers
only. |
Bowen,
where the bush meets the beach, claims to have the
best climate in Australia, warm winters, mild summers,
low humiditiy and endless sunshine! Boasting seven
great beaches all within a short drive from
the township makes Bowen a great choice for
families. Bowen was made
famous in 2007 when Baz Luhrmann chose
to film him his patriotic tribute 'Australia' here
with Hugh Jackman and Nicole
Kidman in the leading roles. |
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The Whitsunday
Archipelago is made up of 74 tropical
islands. The majority of them are National Parks
with only 8 inhabitated. Lindeman, Daydream, Hamilton,
Hayman, Long Island and South
Molle Islands are all great for families
travelling with kids.
Sailing
aboard a family-friendly
vessel is
another great option for families and the best way
to really see the natural beauty of these islands.
Make sure that your itinerary includes a stop at
magical Whitehaven
Beach.
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Airlie
Beach and Proserpine are
quite close to each other, Airlie Beach is the
gateway to the beautiful Whitsunday
Islands yet a holiday destination
in itself with an excellent swimming
lagoon and playground in
the park by the foreshore, a range of interesting boutiques
and cafes and a relaxed holiday feel
all year round! The Airlie Beach markets feature
all sorts of interesting artistic creations and
are held every Saturday.
Mackay is
a great city to explore, take a self guided walk,
discover the art gallery and museum or
picnic in the Mackay Regional Botanical gardens.
An hour out from Mackay is the beautiful Eungella
National Park, spot platypus in Broken
River, admire the views from Sky
Window lookout or take a walk on one of
the rainforest trails found here. Markets are
held in Victoria Street in Mackay's city centre every
Sunday morning.
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Review:
There's a lot to love about the beautiful Whitsundays region. Read our review of Airlie Beach and the Whitsudays here |
Whitsunday Lodge B & B
Welcome to Whitsunday’s newest traditional Bed & Breakfast. Enjoy the quiet atmosphere of this stately home with 3 Queen sized rooms and 1 King twin room that are all modern and tastefully decorated. A fully equipped guest lounge is provided for you to enjoy. Your hosts Peter & Cathy are committed to welcoming you with the friendliest hospitality, whether you are on holiday or on business.
Seagulls
Resort
Located
on the seafront in tranquil Rowes Bay, Seagulls Resort is
set amongst three acres of lush tropical landscaped gardens.
Just 5 minutes from the airport and central business district
and only a 10 minute stroll from Townsville's premier beach
promenade “The Strand ". The resort includes 2
large lagoon style swimming pools and a children’s
playground.
Bright Point Deluxe Magnetic Island
From the time you walk into our spacious units, your spirits will soar. Light-filled rooms lead to dreamy balconies, with sweeping, uninterrupted views over the rock-edged pool and out to the Coral Sea
Airlie Waterfront B & B
Airlie Waterfront Bed and Breakfast is quietly and centrally located on the waters edge in the heart of Airlie Beach. We're just a 20m stroll to the beach, 200m to the all year swimming lagoons, shops and restaurants and a 5 minute walk to the marina. Relax and enjoy air conditioned comfort in your private Spa Suite, One Bedroom Spa Apartment or Two Bedroom Apartment.
Cook
Street Holiday House
Relax
in the comfort of a beautifully renovated High set Queenslander
in North Ward just a short
stroll from The Strand.
Three bedrooms, fully air-air-condtioned,
two bathrooms and self contained kitchen.
Bed linen, bath & beach towels,
and blanket supplied.
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