The Strand & Beaches
| NOTICE |
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The Strand Rockpool will be closed for maintenance from Monday 13 July - Friday 17 July, 2020. |
Closure Notice |
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Following the Australian Government’s new social distancing restrictions, Council has made the decision to close the following facilities to the public in order to help slow the spread of coronavirus. |
Discover The Strand
The Strand is a 2.2km world-class beachfront promenade custom-built for enjoyment. Along this palm tree lined stretch are bike and walkway paths, safe swimming beaches, picturesque picnic spots, playgrounds, exercise stations, a water park and restaurants and bars with to-die-for water views.
You can enjoy the free family fun of The Strand Water Park, fish off the pier, choose to get active with a jog, or simply laze on the beach and enjoy the million-dollar views of Magnetic Island. The Strand offers the best of all worlds.
The Strand Rockpool
The Strand Rockpool is a stinger resistant seawater pool located on the northern end of The Strand. With easy access to a wide range of facilities, The Strand Rockpool is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic or BBQ and cool off for free! The pool is gently sloped with a shallow area suitable for wheelchair access and children, which leads into a deeper pool for swimming.
Facilities
- Toilets (male, female and disabled access)
- BBQ/picnic facilities
- Children’s playground
- Outdoor showers
- Parking available on Howitt Street and The Strand promenade (including four (4) disabled parking bays)
Opening hours
- Lifeguard on duty 9am – 6pm summer school holidays
- Closed every Wednesday for cleaning, excluding public holidays.
Rockpool Virtual Tour
Strand Park
Strand Park is a family-friendly space offering something for everyone. With a sprawling grass playing field, half basketball court, playground and accessible beach, Strand Park is ideal for the active beachgoer.
Facilities
- Grass playing field
- Toilets (male, female and disabled access)
- BBQ/picnic facilities
- Half basketball court
- Teenage playground (near the playing field)
- Junior playground on the pier side of the beach
- Outdoor showers
- Beach access mats onto The Strand Beach (Every Friday 10:30am to Saturday 3:00pm and special events on the Strand Beach).
- Parking available on The Strand promenade surrounding the playing field (including six (6) disabled parking bays)
The Strand Water Park
The Strand Water Park is ever popular with families with kids. Kids will have a blast cooling off in the Water Park, with slides, water cannons and much more to enjoy.
Facilities
- Children’s water park
- Junior children’s playground
- Toilets (male, female and disabled access)
- BBQ/picnic facilities
- Outdoor showers
- Parking available along The Strand promenade (including four (4) disabled parking bays)
Opening hours
- Open 9am – 8pm daily (1 December – 6 May)
- Open 9am – 6pm daily (7 May – 30 November)
- Closed every Tuesday for maintenance, excluding public school holidays.
The Strand Water Park
Half basketball court – Strand Park
The Strand Pier
BBQ & Picnic facilities
The Strand Water Park
Strand Beach
Outdoor fitness equipment
The Strand Rockpool
Rockpool Swings
Strand Park
Beach Access Mats
Wheelchairs, prams and strollers can access Townsville’s beaches on mats in the following locations:
| Beach | Mat Availability |
|---|---|
| The Strand | Every Friday 10:30am to Saturday 3pm and special events on the Strand Beach (in front of Strand Park). |
| Pallarenda | TBA |
For more information on Beach Accessibility Mats visit our disabilities webpage.
Lifeguard hours and status
Information has been provided courtesy of Surf Life Saving Queensland.
Stinger nets are installed at many of Townsville’s beaches over the stinger season, which runs from November to May. Nets are only removed after the stinger season ends and once no stingers are caught in daily net drags for 14 days.
Stinger nets will be removed from The Strand, Pallarenda, Balgal Beach and Magnetic Island week commencing Monday 1 June.
| Beach | Stinger Nets | Current Status | Lifeguard Patrols |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Strand | Two locations - Strand Beach and Rockpool | Open | 9am - 5pm daily 9am - 6pm summer school holidays |
| Strand Rockpool | No | Open | 9am - 5pm Easter & September Queensland school holidays Strand Rockpool is closed every Wednesday for cleaning except during Queensland School holidays. 9am - 6pm summer school holidays |
| Strand Water Park | n/a | CLOSED | 9am - 8pm, December - 6 May 9am - 6pm, 7 May - November Strand Water Park is closed every Tuesday for maintenance except during Queensland school holidays. |
| Pallarenda | Yes | Open | Serviced by lifeguards when stinger enclosure deployed (1 November - mid May) 9am - 6pm summer school holidays 9am - 5pm Easter school holidays, weekends and public holidays. |
| Magnetic Island Alma Bay | No | Open | 9am - 4pm weekdays 10am - 4:45pm weekends (Start time may vary due to lifeguards conducting stinger drags and net checks at other beaches during stinger season 1 Nov - 31 May) 8:30am - 4:45pm summer school holidays |
| Magnetic Island Horseshoe Bay | Yes | Open | 9am - 4pm weekdays 10am - 4:45pm weekends (Start time may vary due to lifeguards conducting stinger drags and net checks at other beaches during stinger season 1 Nov - 31 May) 8:30am - 4:45pm summer school holidays |
| Magnetic Island Picnic Bay | Yes | Open | No Lifeguard Service. Site is covered by the emergency call beacon deployed by Magnetic Island Rove during all Queensland school holidays. Stinger Nets deployed during stinger season. |
| Magnetic Island Roving Lifeguard (Systematic patrols by roving lifeguard of all Magnetic Island beaches by vehicle and jetski) | N/A | 9am - 4:45pm Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3 school holidays 8:30am - 4:45pm summer school holidays | |
| Balgal Beach | Yes | Open | 9am - 5pm summer/Easter school holidays only |
| Rollingstone | No | Open | No lifeguard on duty |
| Toomulla | No | Open | No lifeguard on duty |
| Toolakea | No | Open | No lifeguard on duty |
| Saunders Beach | No | Open | No lifeguard on duty |
| Bushland Beach | No | Open | No lifeguard on duty |
