Townsville is hiding a world-class arts scene

From galleries to the Great Barrier Reef – Townsville is turning heads.

North Queensland is often associated with hot weather and beautiful beaches, acting as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. But one of the state’s biggest cities is on the rise for something different. Townsville is drawing a new crowd: a growing number of visitors who come for the city’s burgeoning arts scene – and stay for everything else.

Who knew this North Queensland city had this much creative flair? From hands-on pottery workshops to galleries buzzing with local talent, Townsville is carving out a name for itself on the art scene.

When did Townsville become an arts capital?

Historically a port city established to service the expanding pastoral industries of North Queensland, Townsville has long been an important hub for trade and manufacturing. But in recent years, a growing arts community has been shifting the perspective. And now more than ever, the city is embracing its creativity.

The Strand in Townsville, Queensland — Townsville was originally a port city. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

With the firm backing of Townsville City Council, the movement has flourished, perfectly capturing the city’s essence and elevating daily life for residents and tourists alike. But its impact goes beyond aesthetics – generating space for cultural exchange and paying respects to the land’s Traditional Owners. The Wulgurukaba and Bindal peoples have been creating art in Townsville for thousands of years, which can be observed on an Indigenous-led Bush Tukka & Rock Art Tour with Gudjuda.

Several art galleries around the city showcase First Nations art, as well as works by a diverse range of emerging and well-known creators. By platforming the artists that call it home, Townsville has built an arts scene that rivals any major Aussie capital – and it’s attracting visitors from near and far.

Townsville’s arts scene: 5 must-visit places

Keen to get amongst it but not sure where to start? We hit the streets to uncover Townsville’s top five ultimate art experiences.

1. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville, Qld — Perc Tucker exhibits a dynamic range of artworks across its two levels. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Located in the heart of the CBD, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is home to a range of artworks exhibited across two levels – from permanent collections by local artists to international exhibitions on tour.

The gallery recently welcomed Wedgwood: Artist & Industry, on loan from London’s iconic Victoria and Albert Museum – a sure sign of Townsville’s artistic expansion. The landmark exhibition, on display until 24 August, spans over 200 years of original designs and ceramics from the famous fine China manufacturer. Take it up a notch with Restaurant 1889’s Wedgwood dining experience just across the road.

2. Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts in Townsville, Qld — Purchase handmade trinkets by local artists. (Image: Taylah Darnell)

A quick walk down the street and you’ll stumble upon Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts . Wander through the open-plan arts space to browse a constantly rotating cycle of eclectic exhibitions from local and national artists. Visitors can also purchase the perfect souvenir to take home, as handmade one-of-a-kind trinkets line the walls, too.

But there’s more to this locally run gallery than meets the eye. At its heart is The Studio – a supportive space where local artists have 24-hour access to tools and resources that are typically hard to come by for just $50 a month. From silversmithing equipment and printing facilities to an etching press and photography darkroom, all creative forms are catered for.

3. North Queensland Potters Association

North Queensland Potters Association in Townsville, Qld — Join a ceramics workshop. (Image: Taylah Darnell)

The North Queensland Potters Association invites you to embrace your inner artist, even if you’re only visiting. Just a 10-minute drive out of Townsville’s CBD, this hub of community and creativity is the best place for a hands-on art experience – literally.

While it’s mainly a studio space for local potters and ceramicists, the not-for-profit also hosts a range of weekly workshops that are open to the public. No matter your skill level, an instructor from the association will guide you through crafting your masterpiece, which can be fired, glazed and sent home to you at an additional cost.

4. Street Art Walking Trail

Street art in Townsville, Queensland — Townsville’s street art is a great way to experience the city’s creativity. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Want to do it in your own time, at your own pace? Just follow the Street Art Walking Trail . The itinerary includes 26 public artworks, easily admired on a stroll around the city. Start at the top of Flinders Street with From the treetops… by local artist Jon Electros, which depicts the endangered Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo.

From there, the tour will take you past more murals, from large-scale portraits that span entire buildings to geometric patterns that dance along walls. Be sure to fuel up with a coffee at Hoi Polloi along the way – not only is it one of Townsville’s best cafes, it’s covered in cool art, too!

5. Museum of Underwater Art

Museum of Underwater Art in Townsville, Qld — MOUA is the only underwater art gallery in Australia. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

One of just eight underwater art galleries in the world and the only one of its kind in Australia, the Museum of Underwater Art is truly one of the best ways to spend your time in Townsville. Located 70 kilometres off the coast at John Brewer Reef, it can be visited on a day trip from Magnetic Island with local tour operators like SeaLink .

Don your scuba kit and you’ll witness Jason deCaires Taylor’s Ocean Sentinals, eight 2.2-metre-tall figures weighing between one and three tons. And The Coral Greenhouse, which holds the Guinness Book of World Record’s title for Largest Underwater Art Structure. Prefer to stay on land? Hang out with the four-metre Ocean Siren sculpture back on The Strand.

Planning a trip? Check out our guide on where to eat, play and stay in Townsville.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

This unexpected Aussie city is hiding a world-class arts scene