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The Strand & Beaches

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 – 7pm daily (1 December – 31 March)
Open 9am – 6pm daily (1 April – 30 November)
Closed every Tuesday for maintenance, excluding public school holidays.

Stinger Nets

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 are installed and they are located at The Strand North and South, Pallarenda, Balgal Beach, Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay.

Installation dates:

Balgal Beach - Monday 31 October 2022 (Please note this net has been removed due to damage and will be installed as soon as possible mid-December.)
Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay - Tuesday 1 November 2022
Pallarenda - Tuesday 1 November 2022
The Strand North and South - Wednesday 2 November 2022

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.

Christmas lifeguard hours and status

Information has been provided courtesy of Surf Life Saving Queensland.

The Strand Roving Lifeguard

Roving Lifeguard commences at 8am and ends when the Strand Water Park closes on weekends, public holidays, and Queensland holidays. All other days conclude at 5pm.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Daily	8am to 7pm

The Strand Net 1

There is one lifeguard.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Daily	9am to 6pm

The Strand Net 2

There is one lifeguard. Winter months and public holidays not manned – beacon on site.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Sunday to Friday Saturday Except Public Holidays	9am to 6pm 9am to 1pm

The Strand Rockpool

There are 1-2 lifeguards present 6 days a week, closed Wednesday for maintenance.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Thursday to Tuesday Closed Wednesday	9am to 6pm

The Strand Water Park

There is one lifeguard present 6 days a week, closed Tuesday for maintenance, excluding Queensland State School holidays and public holidays.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Daily	9am to 7pm

Pallarenda Beach

There is one lifeguard present during Christmas and Easter school holidays and on weekends from November to May. Stinger nets are in use on this beach.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Daily	9am to 6pm

Magnetic Island Roving Lifeguard

Systematic patrols by roving lifeguard of all Magnetic Island beaches by vehicle and jet ski.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Daily	8:30am to 4:30pm

Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island

There is one lifeguard and stinger nets are in use on this beach.

Start time may vary due to lifeguards conducting stinger drags and net checks at other beaches during stinger season 1 November - 31 May.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Daily	8:30am to 4:30pm

Alma Bay, Magnetic Island

There is one lifeguard and no stinger nets in use on this beach.

Start time may vary due to lifeguards conducting stinger drags and net checks at other beaches during stinger season 1 November - 31 May.

Dates	Days	Hours
10 December 2022 to 22 January 2023	Monday to Friday Except Public Holidays	8:30am to 4:30pm

Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island

There is no lifeguard service on this beach. The beach is covered by the emergency call beacon deployed by Magnetic Island Rove during all Queensland school holidays. Stinger nets are in use at this beach.