Maritime Museum of Townsville

The Maritime Museum of Townsville was established in 1986 and has grown over the decades to encompass its eclectic collections. You'll find many cool and curious artifacts in this traditional-leaning museum, which is heavy on glass cabinets and information boards. Most travelers visit independently while spending time in central Townsville. The museum will be of most interest if you have a local connection or an abiding interest in maritime history.

• Activity sheets are available for kids that encourage them to look for particular artifacts as they tour the museum.

• You'll need to buy an admission ticket for the museum. There are different prices for adults, concessionaires, and kids. Toddlers aged two and under go free.

• The museum is wheelchair accessible and has ramps and boardwalks connecting the different buildings.

The museum is on Palmer Street in South Townsville, close to the city center. If you’re staying beyond the center, you can get there by bus or private car. Translink bus number 208 travels via Palmer Street, while most other buses begin and end in the city center, a short walk from the museum. Free parking is available at the museum’s parking lot or on nearby streets.

The museum is open from mid-morning until mid-afternoon, with slightly extended hours between May and September. It’s closed between Christmas and New Year, and on Good Friday and Australia Day (January 26). The museum is run by volunteer staff so it may sometimes close unexpectedly when staff are not available.

Stick to the nautical theme by visiting the nearby Townsville Yacht Club after your time at the museum. The 70-plus-year-old institution is more than “just” a yacht club as the waterside deck is a great place to sit with a cold drink and lunch (Wednesday–Sunday) or dinner (Wednesday–Saturday), and there’s live music on Sundays. The club is a prime spot to watch the yachts coming and going from the marina.