If your trip to Townsville is all locked in but your travel itinerary is looking a bit empty, we can give you a helping hand.Stop by Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal. It’s one attraction you’ll find on many travelers’ must-do lists. If you still have some space on your itinerary, Castle Hill and Strand Park will keep you on the go too.

If you’re searching for day-trip inspiration from Townsville, you certainly won’t be disappointed! Ayr, just 45 miles away, has some fantastic sights that’ll keep you occupied. Want an excuse to go check it out? Nelsons Lagoon Park and Ayr Golf Course ought to do nicely. If you need any more persuading, also consider Burdekin Theatre.

Load the trunk with delicious treats and drinks and make your way to one of the glorious beaches near Townsville. Some of the most popular places to go for a seaside picnic are:

• Horseshoe Bay Beach (10 miles away).
• Toolakea Beach (17 miles away).

Having your own set of wheels in Townsville will give you the freedom to go where you want, when you want. Maybe you want to leave town, explore country lanes, and see where the wind takes you. If so, drive off in one of our mid-size or full-size SUVs and explore the coral reefs in the area. If you just can’t get enough of the bright lights of the city, opt for something small. Navigating busy streets will be a whole lot easier with a mini or compact car.

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to rental cars in Townsville. From sporty models with all the mod cons to agile compacts, you’ll find it all here. Choosing your perfect match depends on how much you want to spend and what activities you’ve got planned. There are some road trips that are just begging you to splurge on your dream ride, whereas others don’t need much more than a bargain, no-frills type model. Which will it be this time?

The left side of the road is where you’ll be driving in Townsville. Be aware that the controls of your rental car here, like the steering wheel and stick shift (if your car has manual transmission), will be on the other side of what you’re used to.

Finding a parking space in Townsville is a breeze. You won’t need to repeatedly go around the block in dense traffic here — and that’s what the locals love about it. There’s plenty of on and off-street parking to take your pick of.

One awesome thing about escaping to a smaller city is less traffic, so you won’t need to stress too much about rush-hour gridlock. With a population of about 196,200, you can look forward to a smooth Townsville driving experience.

The residential zones in Townsville have a 50km/h speed limit. Outside these areas, the speed limits generally range between 40km/h and 110km/h.

Provided you have hands-free functions like Bluetooth enabled, it’s fine to use your cell phone while driving in Townsville. But make sure you keep your eyes on the road.

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit while driving in Townsville is 0.05%. If you’re planning on partying, leave your rental wheels behind and organize some other way of getting home instead.

Turning on a red light is illegal in Townsville. Always be on the alert for traffic lights and signs to make sure you don’t breach any road rules.

Seat belts should always be worn in Townsville City. That being said, these rules may differ for some vehicles, like those used by public transportation networks.