Cruise Whitsundays ferries sail between Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, Long Island and South Molle Island. The ferry to Hamilton Island costs $56 each way.
Ferries depart from the Maritime Terminal at the Port of Airlie complex east of the town centre.
This is a small, but excellent, national park easily accessible from the centre of Noosa Heads. The park has great beaches plus wildlife including koalas.
Premier Motor Service coaches stop at the bus stop outside the Bowling Green in Mooloolaba. This stop is handy if you’re staying at Mooloolaba Beach Backpackers.
Blue Water Kayak Tours run kayaking trips to Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay Marine Park that allow you to paddle over to secluded beaches on Bribie Island. Half day tours cost $90.
If you’re preparing your own food you can find a couple of supermarkets in Townsville including a big Woolworths supermarket on the corner of Sturt & Stokes Streets in the city centre.
The lookout at the summit of Castle Hill offers great views of Townsville. Some hostels operate trips up here although it is more rewarding to hike up the steep trail to the top.
Fantasea Cruises is a slower alternative to SeaLink but they are cheaper and are the only boats that take cars to Magnetic Island. The return fare is $25 and they depart from the terminal on Ross Street in South Townsville, directly across the river from SeaLink’s Breakwater terminal. They sail to Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island.
SeaLink is the more popular of the two ferry companies that link Townsville with Magnetic Island. The return fare from Townsville to Magnetic Island costs $32 with SeaLink.
SeaLink ferries depart from the Breakwater terminal on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive in Townsville and go to Nelly Bay Harbour on Magnetic Island. SeaLink has the fastest boats but they’re restricted to passengers only.