Townsville, QLD

North Queensland's largest city — The Strand's rock pool and Magnetic Island's bays offer tropical swimming beneath Castle Hill.

Live AI Coastal Briefing

Saturday 11 July is shaping up to be a fantastic day here at the coast, with partly cloudy skies and a gentle breeze blowing in from the southeast at 8 km/h, gusting up to 16 km/h. The current temperature is a pleasant 18C, with a humidity level of 89%, making it feel nice and comfortable. The air quality is also looking good, with an AQI of 23, perfect for a day outdoors.



The ocean conditions are looking great for all you water enthusiasts out there, with a wave height of 0.48m, which is perfect for beginners to catch some waves. The water temperature is a warm 22.2C, making it ideal for a swim or a surf in just your boardshorts. With high tide at 07:18 pm and low tide at 12:41 pm, there's plenty of opportunity to get out and enjoy the water throughout the day.



For all you sports and fitness enthusiasts, today is a great day to get out and enjoy your favourite activities. Surfers will love the gentle waves, while runners and cyclists will appreciate the cool morning temperatures and gentle breeze. Anglers can look forward to a great day of fishing, and paddleboarders will enjoy the calm waters. With the sun shining and the sea breeze blowing, it's a perfect day to get outdoors and stay active.



As we head into the afternoon, the temperature is expected to rise to a maximum of 20C, with a 20% chance of a shower, so make sure to pack a light jacket or umbrella just in case. The UV index is looking low, with a rating of 0.05, so you don't need to worry too much about sun protection. All in all, it's shaping up to be a fantastic day here at the coast, so get out and make the most of it – we'll see you back here tomorrow with another update.

About This Coastline

Townsville is a major North Queensland city with a long waterfront promenade, a working port and direct views across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island.

Its identity has developed through the constant exchange between land and sea, leaving natural and cultural features closely interwoven.

The Vibe

The Strand gives the city a relaxed coastal face, balancing exercise, family recreation and dining with the practical character of a regional centre and defence hub.

Island ferries and marine activity keep the waterfront in constant use. The prevailing mood is determined less by organised entertainment than by the weather, water and patterns of local use.

The Local Anchor

Castle Hill rises behind the city and provides its dominant landward landmark, while The Strand and its oceanfront rock pool anchor public life at the water’s edge.

Magnetic Island, reached by ferry, adds beaches, walking tracks and wildlife close offshore. The anchor remains important precisely because it is rooted in this particular coastline and cannot be transferred to another destination.

The Landscape

Cleveland Bay is generally shallower and more sheltered than an open-ocean surf coast.

Tropical hazards, including seasonal marine stingers, make the protected swimming enclosure, rock pool and current safety advice especially important. Viewed from shore or headland, the landscape demonstrates how quickly Australian coastal environments can move from sheltered to exposed.

It is this overlap of landscape, history and daily use that gives Townsville its particular atmosphere.