The Strand & Beaches
| NOTICE | |
|---|---|
For safety reasons, the following beach pedestrian access pathways are currently closed due to erosion from recent heavy rainfall, storm surges and king tides. Maintenance will be carried out in the coming weeks in these areas. For your safety, please adhere to all signage when visiting these beaches. | |
| Beach | Pedestrian Access Path closures |
| Balgal – Mystic Sands |
Access from Borton Street is closed including access via the nearby creek area. Alternate access via Justin Street. |
| Pallarenda | Alternate access via the Walter Nesbit Park (north access) or from the nearby North Barrier Branch Surf Lifesavers. |
| Rowes Bay | Alternate access via Heatley’s Parade (south access) and Cape Pallarenda Road (north access). |
| Toomulla | Access closed from The Esplanade only. |
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 – 31 March)
- Open 9am – 6pm daily (1 April – 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 installed at The Strand, Pallarenda, Balgal Beach and Magnetic Island week commencing Monday 2 November 2020.
| Location | No. of Lifeguards | Stinger Nets | Lifeguard Patrols |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Strand | 1 & The Roving Lifeguard | Two locations - The Strand Net 1 & Net 2 | Net 1 & 2 9am – 5pm standard hours. 9am – 6pm during Christmas school holidays. (Winter months not manned – beacon on site.) Roving Lifeguard commences at 8:30am and ends when Waterpark closes on weekends, public holidays, and Queensland holidays. All other days conclude at 5pm. |
| Strand Rockpool | 1-2 | Yes | 9am – 5pm during September and Easter school holidays. 9am – 6pm during Christmas holidays. |
| Strand Water Park | 1 | N/A |
9am – 8pm from 1 December to 31 March. 9am – 6pm from 1 April to 30 November. Lifeguards present 6 days a week, closed Tuesday for maintenance, excluding Queensland State School holidays and public holidays. |
| Pallarenda Beach | 1 | Yes | 9am – 6pm during Christmas school holidays. 9am – 5pm during Queensland and public holidays. |
| Alma Bay, Magnetic Island | 1 | No | 7:45am – 4:30pm standard hours including public and school holidays. 8:45am – 5:10pm on weekends. 7:45am – 5:10pm on Monday to Friday during Christmas school holidays, and 8:45am - 6:40pm on weekends. (Start time may vary due to lifeguards conducting stinger drags and net checks at other beaches during stinger season 1 November - 31 May.) |
| Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island | 1 | Yes | 7:45am – 4:25pm standard hours including public and school holidays. 8:45am – 5:10pm on weekends. 7:45am – 5:10pm on Monday to Friday during Christmas school holidays, and 8:45am – 6:40pm on weekends.. (Start time may vary due to lifeguards conducting stinger drags and net checks at other beaches during stinger season 1 November - 31 May.) |
| Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island | 1 | Yes | No Lifeguard Service. Site is covered by the emergency call beacon deployed by Magnetic Island Rove during all Queensland school holidays. 7 days per week during school holidays. |
| Magnetic Island Roving Lifeguard (Systematic patrols by roving lifeguard of all Magnetic Island beaches by vehicle and jet ski.) | 1 | N/A |
7:45am – 4:30pm during public/school holidays. 7:45am – 5:15pm during Christmas school holidays. Lifeguards present 7 days per week during school holidays. |
| Balgal Beach | 1 | Yes |
9am – 5pm - 24 December 2021 - 2 January 2022. 9am - 5pm - Easter Weekend (4 Days) Lifeguards present 7 days per week during school holidays. |
| Rollingstone Beach | N/A | No | No lifeguard on duty. |
| Toomulla Beach | N/A | No | No lifeguard on duty. |
| Toolakea Beach | N/A | No | No lifeguard on duty. |
| Saunders Beach | N/A | No | No lifeguard on duty. |
| Bushland Beach | N/A | No | No lifeguard on duty. |
| Riverway Lagoons | 2-4 | N/A | Hours will vary due to seasonal requirements. See Riverway Lagoons webpage |
