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

Friday 28 August is shaping up to be a fantastic day along our beautiful coastline, with partly cloudy conditions expected throughout the day. The current temperature is a pleasant 19C, with a humidity level of 87% and a gentle breeze blowing at 7 km/h from the south. With a high of 24C and a low of 7C predicted, it's going to be a great day to get out and enjoy the sunshine.



The ocean conditions are looking perfect for a range of activities, with a wave height of 0.62m making it ideal for longboarders to catch some fun waves. The water temperature is a warm 23.1C, so you can leave the wetsuit at home and enjoy the tropical swimming conditions. High tide is at 08:37 am, with a height of 2.6m, and low tide is at 02:42 pm, with a height of -4.2m, so make sure to plan your beach activities accordingly.



If you're looking to get active today, the conditions are perfect for a range of sports and fitness activities. Surfers will love the knee to waist high waves, while runners and cyclists will enjoy the gentle breeze and partly cloudy skies. Anglers can try their luck in the warm waters, and paddleboarders will have a great time exploring the coastline. With the UV index low and air quality at a moderate 53, it's a great day to get outdoors and make the most of our beautiful coastal environment.



As we head into the afternoon, the partly cloudy conditions are expected to continue, with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. It's going to be a fantastic day to soak up the sun and enjoy the beach, so make sure to grab your sunscreen and head on down to the coast. With the warm water and fun waves, it's shaping up to be a perfect day for a swim, surf, or paddle, so get out there and make the most of it – we'll see you back here tomorrow with another update on the coastal weather.

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.