Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of
Queensland, Australia. Adjacent to the central section of
the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of
Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre
north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2014 population
estimate of 178,649. Considered the unofficial capital of
North Queensland, Townsville hosts a significant number
of governmental, community and major business
administrative offices for the northern half of the state.

Popular attractions include "The Strand", a long tropical
beach and garden strip; Riverway, a riverfront parkland
attraction located on the banks of Ross River; Reef HQ, a
large tropical aquarium holding many of the Great
Barrier Reef's native flora and fauna; the Museum of
Tropical Queensland, built around a display of relics
from the sunken British warship HMS Pandora; The
Townsville Sports Reserve; and Magnetic Island, a large
neighbouring island, the vast majority of which is
national park.