Best Family Activities in Townsville: Reef HQ, Billabong Sanctuary and Magnetic Island

Townsville offers outstanding family-friendly attractions anchored by the world's largest living coral reef aquarium and natural wildlife experiences that make the most of the city's North Queensland tropical location. Reef HQ Aquarium on Flinders Street East is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium, operated by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and provides one of the most immersive reef experiences available without getting on a boat, with a walk-through tunnel beneath the shark exhibit and a turtle rehabilitation centre. Billabong Sanctuary on Bruce Highway 17 km south of the city is a leading North Queensland wildlife park with Queensland's most extensive crocodile show program, snake handling, wombat encounters and a particularly strong collection of Australian reptiles and birds alongside the standard mammals. Magnetic Island, 20-30 minutes by fast ferry from the Townsville ferry terminal, is a family-favourite day trip with koalas visible on the walking tracks between Arcadia and Radical Bay, snorkelling on the Alma Bay fringing reef and safe swimming at Horseshoe Bay. The Museum of Tropical Queensland on Flinders Street houses artefacts from the Pandora shipwreck (the ship sent to capture the Bounty mutineers) and is one of Australia's best regional maritime museums. The Strand Water Park on The Strand is a free family water play area.