10 things North Shore Clinic Coordinator, Mel Morris, loves about Townsville

Mel Morris, Clinic Coordinator at Tropical Vets North Shore

I was born on Magnetic Island and have called Townsville home for fifty-six years. Between the beaches, national parks, sport and a full calendar of events, there's always something to get out and enjoy. Here are ten things I love most about living in the Reef City.

1. The Strand, and Townsville’s dining scene

I love walking along The Strand. This 2.2km waterfront walkway looks straight across to Magnetic Island, with netted swimming beaches, the Strand Rockpool, a free water park for the kids, and plenty of cafes and eateries along the way. Townsville's food scene has really grown in recent years. For a special night out, the restaurants at the Ardo, beside The Ville on the waterfront, have beautiful views and great food, and A Touch of Salt in the city is another favourite.

2. The beauty of Magnetic Island

I spent the first eight years of my life on Maggie, where my dad was the mechanic and drove the buses, so it holds a special place for me. It's just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville and an easy day trip, with buses connecting the main bays. With more than 23 beaches, horse riding, a koala population and stunning national park, there's plenty to do on Magnetic Island. The Forts Walk is a must, and my dad helped build the stairs along the track years ago. In stinger season, head to one of the protected bays for a swim.

3. Meaningful events like Flynn's Walk

Tropical Vets was proud to sponsor Flynn's Walk, held in its second year in Townsville on 24 May  2026. Flynn's Walk started in 2018 to honour the memory of Dr Flynn Hargreaves. The walks bring the community together and raise awareness of the mental health and wellbeing challenges faced by people working in the veterinary industry. It's a cause close to our hearts, and a great way for pet owners to show their support for the people who care for their animals.

4. James Cook University

JCU is at the heart of the Townsville community, and its veterinary students are the future of our profession. Tropical Vets supports a range of JCU events each year, including the first-year cocktail night, the vet student open day, and the vet balls, from the halfway ball through to the graduation ball. It's lovely to see students progress through their degree and into the profession.

5. Walks to Castle Hill lookout

The pink granite monolith that towers over the city is one of Townsville's best-known landmarks, rising 286 metres above sea level. Locals walk, run, and cycle it every day, either up the road or via the steep Goat Track, and the 360-degree views from the top across the city and out to Magnetic Island are magnificent. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to beat the heat.

6. Cowboys and Townsville Fire games

Townsville is a passionate sporting city, and I love getting along to the North Queensland Cowboys' NRL home games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. In the warmer months, it's all about the Townsville Fire, who play their WNBL home games at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. The Fire are the reigning champions, after winning the WNBL26 Championship in an overtime thriller against Perth in March, the club's fifth title.

7. Ladies Day at the winter racing carnival

Winter is the perfect time of year in Townsville, and the Townsville Turf Club's winter racing carnival at Cluden Park makes the most of the gorgeous weather. I never miss Ladies Day, with fashions on the field and a great social atmosphere, and the carnival builds to the Townsville Cup, the pinnacle of the local racing calendar.

8. Going the distance by the beach

The Townsville Running Festival is held each winter, with this year's event on 2 August. It began more than 50 years ago as the Townsville Marathon and now offers distances from 2.5km through to the full marathon, with the course running along the beachfront. I'm not a runner myself, but it brings a lot of people to town. 

9. Queensland Museum Tropics

There's a lot of North Queensland history to explore at the Queensland Museum Tropics in the city. A highlight is the story of HMS Pandora, the ship that went down on the Great Barrier Reef off our coast in 1791 and is now a dive site. The Queensland Museum Tropics houses a collection of over 7500 artefacts from the ship, which can be found in the Pandora Gallery. 

10. Paluma Range National Park

North of Townsville, heading towards our Ingham clinic, Paluma is one of my favourite places to get out into nature. There are beautiful freshwater swimming spots and plenty of good camping areas. Winter is the best time to go, when the weather is mild and the mozzies are fewer.

There's always something to do in Townsville, from a walk along The Strand to a day on Maggie. It's one of the reasons the Tropical Vets North Shore team loves calling this city home.