Townsville North Queensland World Class Products on Offer

Magnetic Island

Townsville North Queensland is an emerging international tourism destination featuring world class education institutions and tourism products.

As one of the only places on earth that is home to two World Heritage listed sites, Townsville Enterprise is pitching the region's world class tourism products to international buyers.

Townsville Enterprise General Manager Tourism and Events, Patricia O'Callaghan, said the region has emerged as a destination of excellence in the educational tourism field and the delegation provides an opportunity to showcase to an international audience what the region has to offer.

“Since launching 16 educational tourism (edutourism) experiences in Townsville North Queensland last year, we have seen a number of student groups, both domestic and international, come to the region specifically for these immersive hands-on experiences.”

“With Reef HQ Aquarium, the National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and world leading James Cook University all located in Townsville, the region is well positioned for diverse edutourism experiences and now we need to promote them to the rest of the world”.

“The city has an entrenched reputation as a thriving centre of learning excellence both in an academic and recreational sense and the next step is to use local attractions to position the region as an ideal family holiday destination where visitors can take home more than just photographs.”

“More and more families are heading overseas for holidays, and it's our ambitious goal to turn that around and encourage the younger generation to gain an appreciation of their rich Australian heritage.”

“Townsville North Queensland is home to an extraordinary range of natural wonders that are proving incredibly attractive for students, children and families who are curious about Australia's wildlife, environment and maritime history.”

“Here visitors will learn about marine life, ecology and the environment in a real life classroom from people who are passionate about sharing their knowledge with others

Townsville

With over 300 days of sunshine each year, Townsville North Queensland retains its local character indicative of the 'Real Australia' the world has come to love and is the gateway to the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, tropical islands, wet tropics, rainforests, national parks, wetlands and historical, military and outback experiences.


Download the Townsville North Queensland Edutourism Manual
Explore Townsville North Queensland online @ http://www.townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au/

Townsville North Queensland at a glance

• Townsville is situated between two UNESCO World Heritage listed ecosystems, the Great Barrier Reef and Paluma Range.
• Magnetic Island, just 20 minutes off the coast of Townsville, is made up of two-thirds National Park with 24 kilometres of walking trails plus 23 beaches and bays. It is also home to the largest koala colony in Northern Australia.
• Hidden Valley Cabins in the Paluma Range is Australia's first carbon neutral resort, powered by solar energy.
• Reef HQ Aquarium is the largest coral reef exhibit in the world, made up of 2.5 million litres of water and housing 150 species of reef fish, a variety of sharks, turtles, crocodiles, crabs and many other under water inhabitants.
• Billabong Sanctuary offers a once in a lifetime animal encounter, where visitors can sleep next to the resident four metre salt water crocodile.
• The Town Common, just 10 minutes outside of the Townsville CBD, is a 7,413 acre haven flourishing with deep water lagoons, mangroves, coastal woodlands and sheltered beaches to investigate.
• The Museum of Tropical Queensland and Maritime Museum of Townsville showcase the region's rich history including the S. S. Yongala and H.M.S Pandora shipwrecks.
• The Nywaigi Aboriginal people have inhabited the Townsville North Queensland region for 45,000 years, with tours discovering their amazing history and culture. Throw a boomerang, weave a basket and indulge in a traditional Kup-Murri meal.
• Townsville North Queensland played an integral role in the Battle of the Coral Sea and World War II as the base for more than 50,000 American and Australian troops.

Background: 

Magnetic Island

Located 1500 km north of Brisbane, Townsville North Queensland has a population of approximately 230,000 and offers a mix of rainforests, reefs, sandy beaches and heritage outback towns seasoned with the friendly, easy going lifestyle which is a Queensland trademark. Home to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) the nerve centre for the single largest living organism in the world, Townsville also boasts Australia's largest aquarium with its own dedicated turtle hospital. The city is flanked by two world-heritage listed sites, the Great Barrier Reef and the Paluma Range National Park.