Townsville to Ayr road trip: Distance, drive time & best attractions
The drive from Townsville to Ayr covers an 88km distance in a driving time of around 1h2m. The best road trip stop along the way is Bowling Green Bay National Park.
The drive from Townsville to Ayr is a relatively short hop along the Bruce Highway from the biggest city in North Queensland. It is easy to tackle as a day trip, but some visitors may be more interested in a weekend break.
Townsville is where you can take the ferry to gorgeous Magnetic Island, enjoy sunset cruises and visit the Museum of Underwater Art. For more Townsville experiences, explore here. To ferret out the best Townsville accommodation deals, look here.
To have a look at accommodation options in Ayr, head this way…
Townsville to Ayr distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Townsville to Ayr is 88km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and two minutes. There aren’t many road trip stops along the way to make it worth breaking the journey, although some choose to stop at the Ampol fuel station in Alligator Creek.
The best accommodation in Ayr
The top accommodation picks in Ayr are:
- For a family-friendly holiday park: Discovery Parks Ayr.
- For a motel that gets it right: Country Ayr Motel.
- For cheap rates and a pool: Ayr Max Motel.
Townsville to Ayr road trip stops: Bowling Green Bay National Park
Much nicer is Bowling Green Bay National Park, which is about 28km south of Townsville. It’s a good spot for camping and fishing, but there are also a few walking tracks to enjoy.
The 30 minute, 1km return walk to the Alligator Creek Lookout is arguably the best bet if you’re just wanting a quick stretch of the legs and a nice photo stop.
Otherwise, there’s the Horseshoe Lagoon by the Haughton River Bridge, but that’s nothing to get too excited about.
Things to do in Ayr, Queensland, include catching a movie at the Stardust Drive-In Cinema and looking at dead animals in jars at the Ayr Nature Display.
Accommodation picks in Ayr, Queensland, include the Discovery Parks holiday park, plus well-rated motor inns such as the Ayr Country Motel and Ayr Traveller’s Motel.
6 Townsville experiences to book in advance
- Magnetic Island ferry tickets – head over to one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.
- SS Yongala wreck dive – sea how coral and marine life have made the shipwreck home.
- Great Barrier Reef and Museum of Underwater Art cruise – witness the extraordinary underwater art project up close.
- Helicopter ride along the coast – get amazing views from above.
- Sunset sailing cruise – watch the colours over the water, with alcoholic drinks included.
- Jetski tour to Cape Pallarenda – whizz past beaches and giant boulders.
Townsville accommodation recommendations
The best bets for Townsville accommodation are…
- For beachside location: Water’s Edge The Strand.
- For a good value, well located motel: Yongala Lodge By The Strand.
- For a sassy, chic resort: Rambutan Resort.
- For families: Discovery Parks Townsville.
- For business-friendly apartments: Quest Townsville on Eyre.
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