Castle Hill
Townsville, Queensland
Castle Hill is a 938-foot (286-meter), pink granite, heritage-listed hill that stands behind central Townsville. It’s a popular lookout point with sweeping views of Townsville, the ocean, and Magnetic Island. The hill also offers 15 different hiking trails of various levels of difficulty.
Castle Hill is one of Townsville’s most dominant natural features and is visible from many parts of the city. Locals often hike up the hill for exercise; the Goat Track, which follows a rough path up the hill, includes approximately 1,300 stairs. Visitors can also see a WWII bunker, which was used by U.S. forces as a lookout point during the war.
If you want to hike up Castle Hill, be sure to take plenty of water; there are some drinking fountains by the lookout.
When driving on the hill, keep an eye out for hikers; the road is winding, and there are sometimes pedestrians on the route.
There are public toilets at the lookout.
Castle Hill is visible from many parts of Townsville, so it’s difficult to miss. To drive to the top to the hill, take Stanley Street, which turns into Castle Hill Road and leads all the way to the summit. There is a parking lot a short distance from the lookout. Walking tracks start from different points at the bottom of the hill, and there are parking lots there as well.
For the best views, start your hike up Castle Hill just before sunrise and sunset. Avoid hikin in the heat of the afternoon; Townsville has a tropical climate, and it would be easy to overheat.
Magnetic Island, 5 miles (8 kilometers) offshore from Townsville, is visible from the Castle Hill lookout. With a permanent population of around 2,000 people and plenty of ferry connections to the mainland, Magnetic Island is also a popular destination for visitors. Head to the island to enjoy gorgeous beaches, hiking, and encounters with wildlife.
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