Where to live in Townsville?

Question

I am planning on attending James Cook University in Townsville, what are the closest/nicest suburbs close by?

Is townsville a nice place to live?

Answer 1

Hi,

I live in Townsville.  

Douglas, Riverside Gardens and Annandale are all close suburbs but can be quite expensive to live in. Prices for rentals could be roughly $350+ per week even for a unit.  Aitkenvale and Cranbrook are a the next suburbs out and rental prices would be more reasonable.  

Aitkenvale and Cranbrook are both close to Stockland & Kmart shopping centres and major bus routes.

Next closest could be Kirwan and Condon which are just over the river from Riverside and connected buy footbridge and the ring road.  University is about 10 minute drive away.  Dependent on where you live in these suburbs would determine the price.  Both are close to Willows shopping centre and a major bus route as well.  Also dependent on where you live in these suburbs would determine the 'nice' factor.  I've lived in Kirwan for 8 years and have never had a problem though.

There's the beach aka the Strand with a few restaurants and bars and stinger nets for swimming.  Also check out Riverway in Kirwan which is a great facility.  It has two pools, bbq facilities and festivals at different times of the year.

The Cowboys NRL team are also based in Townsville about 5 minutes drive from Kirwan.  Great to catch a game with friends for down time.  

Just north of Townsville there is Paluma Rainforest, Crystal Creek and Jourama Falls.  Crystal Creek and Jourama falls are great places to swim in Summer to beat the heat.

Generally it's a pretty good place to live.

Answer 2

Aitkenvale is a good suburb, it is near Stockland (shopping centre), and other shops, and is a short distance away from the uni. Also, if you're doing any art courses, it is approximately in between the campuses (at least, when I went uni they had art courses at Vincent, I don't know if they still do that). So, handy if you need to commute to both.

I haven't lived in Townsville for a good eight years now, but I know that new houses have gone up closer to the uni, and that a bridge has (finally) been built over the river, so it is connected with the Upper Ross area. That is also a nice area, I grew up in Kelso. They are developing the area, and doing up the riverbank, so rental prices in the area have probably gone up a bit. I know house prices have gone up quite a bit in that area.

There are nice areas of Townsville. Personally, growing up there I was always a bit bored, but vistors always seem to like it, plus they've developed a lot of it since I left.

North of Townsville is quite nice, Paluma and that area is beautiful, very green and lush. You'll probably end up picnicing at Crystal Creek. Everyone goes to The Strand (which looks great since the development), and Pallerenda. Both nice enough beach areas, but don't expect any waves :-)

Magnetic Island is a great day-trip/weekend stay, there are plenty of places to explore, and fantastic fish and chips. The water is beautiful, but beware of jellyfish (actually, apply this rule to North Queensland generally, the hurt like you wouldn't believe).

Other things to see are the Billabong Sanctuary, and what used to be the Great Barrier Reef Wonderland, but I think the name has changed.

Good luck with your studies :-)