Thursday, April 15, 2010

You Wont Want To Miss Visiting Tropical North Queensland

By Jerry Duncan

Townsville's faultless blue skies ,long beachfront esplanade means that Queenslands third largest city retains the relaxed tropical atmosphere of its smaller counterparts. It is endowed with a grand coastal position,park lands,purpose built attractions, a lively cafe and restaurant scene and lofty Castle Hill, from whose peak you can survey the lot.

The Great Barrier Reef is just a few hours away out by a fast catamaran and its closeness has allowed Townsville to be increasingly recognized as a center for research into marine life. Reef HQ is home to the headquarters to The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This underwater observatory is both informative and visually breathtaking. Its living reef is the largest captive reef in the world. Townsville is home to a major armed forces base and James Cook University, giving it a significant population of young adults and a better-than-average nightlife. Many o Townsville's pubs and bars serve food. Most of the action is along Flinders Street and winds down around 1am. There is also Jupiter's Casino, famous for its flashing neon faux fireworks, cinemas and nightclubs that are licensed until 5am. Restaurants are numerous and wherever you go seafood is always amazing. For dining with a view, head to C Bar which has a broad outdoor deck. Naked Fish is obviously famed for its seafood menu but also includes Cajun and Moroccan dishes.

The historic buildings around Cleveland Bay are a reminder of the heritage related to Robert Towns, form the year 1864. Robert Towns began kidnapping kanakas from their homeland and bringing them to Australia for cheap labor The Kanakas were used in the Sugar Industry and were paid a pittance. The kidnapping was outlawed in 1868 and but only in 1901 was the use of island labor completely stopped.

Magnetic Island , 8km offshore, named by Captain Cook has 2,500 inhabitants and is the only reef island with a permanent population. There are 12,000 acres of largely mountainous terrain including varied vegetation and half the island is designated as a national park. It is a great place for day trips and walks. Sandy bay is a great place to swim or snorkel with spectacular views from old WWII forts.

Bowling Green Bay National Park, a coastal park, offers much for the self-sufficient guest. Walk along Alligator Creek to see cascades and waterfalls. Stay overnight on the campsite and go spotlighting to see brush tail possums and sugar gliders. Granite Mountains blends a variety of landscapes including saltpans and mangrove country.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment