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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 daily - see schedule below for availability.
Closed every Wednesday for cleaning, excluding public holidays.

Services may be subject to change.

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
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.
Lifeguard on duty daily - see schedule below for availability.

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.

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, as well as for special events on the beach in front of Strand Park.
Pallarenda	None currently

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.

The Strand Roving Lifeguard

Roving Lifeguard commences at 9am and ends when the Strand Water Park closes on weekends, public holidays, and Queensland holidays. All other days conclude at 5pm.

Dates	Days	Hours
All year round	Monday - Friday Weekends, Public & School Holidays	9am to 5pm Same time as Waterpark Lifeguard hours.

Services may be subject to change.

The Strand Net 1

There is one lifeguard.

July 2023 School Holidays - Lifeguards will not be on duty on 26 and 30 July 2023.

Dates	Days	Hours
All year round	Daily Christmas School Holidays	9am to 5pm 9am to 6pm

Services may be subject to change.

The Strand Net 2

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

Dates	Days	Hours
September - May	Monday - Sunday Christmas School Holidays Except Public Holidays	9am to 5pm 9am to 6pm

Services may be subject to change.

The Strand Rockpool

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

July 2023 School Holidays

Please note Lifeguards will not be on duty for the following dates:

1 July 2023
4 July 2023
5 July 2023
8 July 2023
9 July 2023

Dates	Days	Hours
All year round	Monday - Sunday Easter & September School Holidays Christmas School Holidays Closed Wednesday	9am to 5pm 9am to 5pm 9am to 6pm

Services may be subject to change.

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.

July 2023 School Holidays - Lifeguards will be providing full coverage.

Dates	Days	Hours
April - November December - March	Wednesday - Monday Closed Tuesday except during School Holidays or on Public Holidays	9am to 6pm 9am to 7pm

Services may be subject to change.

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
November - May	Weekends, Public Holidays & Qld School Holidays Christmas School Holidays	9am to 5pm 9am to 6pm

Services may be subject to change.

Magnetic Island Roving Lifeguard

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

Dates	Days	Hours
During School Holidays	Monday - Sunday Christmas School Holidays	8:30am to 4:30pm 8:30am to 5:15pm

Services may be subject to change.

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
All year around	Monday to Sunday	9:00am to 4:00pm

Services may be subject to change.

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
All year round	Monday to Sunday	9:00am to 4:00pm

Services may be subject to change.

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.