Thuringowa

Thuringowa is a suburban region in the west of Townsville, Central Queensland.

Local Weather
Thuringowa lies in the wet-dry tropics of North Queensland, which are characterized by hot and rainy summers (wet season) and warm and dry winters (dry season). However, to the area of the city known as the Paluma Range, is characterized by a year-round relatively cool and moist climate, due to being in the Wet Tropics of Queensland and is also a World Heritage area.

Schooling
Thuringowa has both private and public schools with all Primary schools having Prep classrooms on the grounds.

Get in
Thuringowa is serviced by many major arterial routes as well as numerous state routes. The Northern Beaches district is serviced by the A1 (Bruce Highway) or the National Highway 1.

Urban Thuringowa is part of the A1 route, as the Thuringowa Ring Road (known as The Ring Road) will become the new National Highway route through the city. The first stage, the 5.3 km Douglas Arterial Road, opened to traffic in April 2005.

By plane
Thuringowa is serviced by the nearby Townsville International Airport.

By bus
Public transport in Thuringowa consists of bus services run by Sunbus. Sunbus provides services for most parts of the city with runs from the Thuringowa CBD to most suburbs and thought-out Townsville, plus special services for the football nights at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Tony Ireland Stadium at Riverway and any major events at Black River Stadium, for bus times and runs please visit the Sunbus website timetable or Phone: +61 7 4725 8482. Detours is another bus service that can take care of your charter or tour needs.

By Taxi
Taxis operate 24 hours and service all parts of Thuringowa.

See

 * Village Boulevard is the name of the Road into Pioneer Park and forms the city/park integration. from the car park it extends through the park as a pedestrian spine that follows the rivers edge and forms the heart of Pioneer Park.
 * Tony Ireland Stadium is the Second stage of Riverway, and consists of an international standard AFL and Cricket stadium, capable of holding 10'000+ people, and was first used to host the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash cricket match on the 31st of December 2007.
 * Riverway Arts Centre is a geographical formation with a grass roof that is incorporating the parkland without a decrease in the amount of grassed area. It also lowers the interior temperature by reducing the roof surface temperature.
 * The Rollingstone Community Hall holds a fish BBQ on the first Sunday of each month at 5pm.
 * the Fisherman`s Landing Kiosk is a licensed cafe and can supply you with ice, bait and groceries, Plus there is accommodation at any of the following, the Balgal Beach Holiday Units, Balgal Bed & Breakfast Retreat, the Thuringowa city Council`s two tent camping and vehicle camping areas.
 * Rollingstone Park(51km north of Thuringowa Central) is a camping area that is popular due to the freshwater creek swimming area next to the park. Community markets are held on the first Saturday of each month, April to September from 8am. Rollingstone also has a Museum, Caravan Resort and shop.
 * Paluma is a township of around 25 permanent residents in the Mount Spec ranges of Thuringowa's heritage listed Wet Tropics.
 * Piper`s Lookout on Hervey Range lets you view over the land below Hervey Range and all the way out to sea. While you in the area you can check out the Hervey`s Range Heritage Tea Rooms here they serve refreshments and offer all the info about the local history.
 * Dairy Farmers Stadium is located in the suburb of Kirwan, and was constructed in 1995 with a seating capacity of 30,000 after it was announced that the Twin Cities would be home to an Australian Rugby League team. The stadium is today the home ground for the North Queensland Cowboys. The stadium was previously known as Stockland Stadium and Malanda Stadium.
 * Greenwood Park Sporting Complex was officially opened on February 15, 2007. It features 8 fully lit Touch Football fields as well as carparking and a fully licenced clubhouse which is home to Redskins Touch Club and Thuringowa Touch Association.
 * The Willows Golf Club is an international-standard golf course with a 72-hectare (180-acre) golf wildlife sanctuary and also home to the Queensland Masters. The area is also home to a residential estate.
 * Thuringowa also has a 1/4 mile drag strip, sealed go-cart track, motocross training track, fishing farm, rodeo and a gun club. The speedway was closed due to a housing estate but there are talks of a new complex being built.
 * Ocean Palms Resort is right on the beach. One of the most popular attractions here is the barramundi feeding.

Beaches and other water attractions

 * Bushland Beach is Thuringowa`s most popular residential beachside community (approximately 19km from Thuringowa Central). At low tide you can walk to a wooden shipwreck and some fantastic ponds that are full of marine life that the whole family can enjoy. There is a boat ramp for public use at the beach plus BBQs and kids playgrounds, Bushland Beach also has a hotel, resort and a small shopping center.
 * Saunders Beach is a sandy beach which stretches for kilometers, Saunders beach is one of Thuringowa's more popular beaches but you can often have this beach to yourself due to the long length. there is also a boat ramp.
 * Toolakea Beach is a quiet beach, ideal for birdwatchers and fishing or a quiet day on sand. This area has a picnic area as well as public toilets.
 * Toomulla Beach is somewhat of an isolated beach, but boasts and a great free camping area, picnic area, public toilets and a boat ramp for public use. This is also another great area for bird watching.
 * Balgal Beach is a small community 53km north of Thuringowa Central (located a few minutes from Rollingstone) and is the perfect day or overnight destination for locals and tourists that visit Thuringowa and Townsville. Balgal Beach features clean, white sand, a stinger net that is patrolled from November to May for safe swimming. A boat ramp is available to allow easy access to Palm Islands area. Apart from the beach the wide creek mouth is a great fishing location. Other activities in here include the ANZAC memorial,a picnic and BBQ at the park, bird watching, golf and lawn bowls at Mystic Sands Golf & Country Club.
 * Riverway is a riverfront parkland attraction located in the Thuringowa CBD that opened in July 2006. The area is a cultural hub opening up the rivers habitat for residents and tourists, the main attractions are the public art gallery, cultural centre, swimming lagoons and cafe. Riverway runs for 11km of the Ross River, with areas at Pioneer Park, Loam Island, Apex Park and Ross Park at the Ross River Dam where the community, visitors and tourists can enjoy all sorts of activities from sport, swimming, entertainment, dining and shopping in one of Queensland’s most spectacular river settings.
 * Lake Ross (at the end of Riverway Drive) is part of the Ross River Dam and stores over 215,000 mega liters of water, water is held by an earth rock embankment 8.35 kilometers in length and 27 metres in height (the longest in the southern hemisphere) and occupies a catchment area of 750km2 with a concrete spillway that flows into the Ross River, Visitors can view the dam from a viewing platform at Ross park. Lake Ross is a Wetland of National Significance. The shallow areas of the lake provide a habitat for a large number of water birds, Over 220 species of bird have been recorded around the lake area. You can book a tour of the lake by contacting NQ River and Road Tours or phone 4788 9600. Ross Park is located in front of the dam wall and has picnic and toilet facilities. The Bird Observers Club holds bird-watching walks on the 3rd Sunday of each month, for more info please call 4778 1945
 * Ross River - Thuringowa`s riverway centerpiece, with a large range of sporting and leisure activities. The Riverwalk is a pathway that overlooks Ross River. Loam Island and Pioneer Park are part of the Riverway development and provide locals and visitors with entertainment such as, Skiing and wakeboarding plus some good fishing spots. Other areas along Ross River are Apex Park and Ross Park.
 * Big Crystal Creek is part of Paluma Range National Park (approximately 65km from Thuringowa Central). It features large deep swimming holes that are very popular with locals and visitors. The picnic areas, BBQ's, camping, and toilets are wheelchair accessible. Free bookings for the campsite can be made or by phoning Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on 13 13 04.
 * Little Crystal Creek(60km from Thuringowa Central) is one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists where you can swim in the crystal clear water, have a picnic or BBQ and there are toilet facilities here with wheelchair access.
 * Bluewater is a fresh water attraction (approximately 28km north of Thuringowa Central) that is very popular for picnic's and family fun, the area includes BBQ`s, play equipment, toilets and showers. The best place to access the creek is near the bridge at the Bluewater Store or Bluewater Park. Bluewater Park has a limited free tent and vehicle camping area . There is also an urban forest located next to Bluewater Park this is a fitness trail around 800m long with 8 activity's along a pathway. There is also a boat ramp available near Bluewater Drive.
 * Bluewater is a fresh water attraction (approximately 28km north of Thuringowa Central) that is very popular for picnic's and family fun, the area includes BBQ`s, play equipment, toilets and showers. The best place to access the creek is near the bridge at the Bluewater Store or Bluewater Park. Bluewater Park has a limited free tent and vehicle camping area . There is also an urban forest located next to Bluewater Park this is a fitness trail around 800m long with 8 activity's along a pathway. There is also a boat ramp available near Bluewater Drive.

Tour Operators

 * North Queensland River and Road Tours
 * Pop Sullivan Tours
 * Tropical Tours
 * David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along Tours

Buy

 * Willows Shoppingtown
 * Parkside Plaza
 * MountView Plaza 
 * Sunland Plaza 
 * Canon Park City Centre
 * Centro Deeragun (Woodlands)
 * Upper Ross Shopping Centre

Restaurants

 * Cactus Jacks Bar and Grill
 * Fasta Pasta
 * Hog's Breath Cafe
 * Giardini Pizza and Pasta Bar
 * La Cucina Pizza and Pasta House
 * Joy Thai Restaurant
 * Tom Yum Thai Restaurant
 * Ocean Palms Bistro
 * Brothers Leagues Club
 * Hobbo's Hut (opened 2007 in the old BJ's night club on Thuringowa Drv)
 * Chinese Tea House
 * Nanking Restaurant

Fast Food Restaurants

 * Eagle Boys Pizza
 * Mount View Cafe and Takeaway
 * Richshaw Chinese Takeaway and Noodle bar

Sleep

 * Jollymosh Retreat House
 * Lake Paluma Camp & Picnic Ground
 * Ocean Palms Resort
 * Paluma Environmental Education Centre
 * Paluma Misthaven Units
 * Paluma Rainforest Cottages
 * Paluma Dreaming 
 * Rainforest Inn 
 * Range Caravan Park
 * Rollingstone Beach Caravan Resort
 * Rollingstone Hotel 
 * Saunders Beach Ocean View Units 
 * Ocean Palms Resort
 * Paluma Environmental Education Centre
 * Paluma Misthaven Units
 * Paluma Rainforest Cottages
 * Paluma Dreaming 
 * Rainforest Inn 
 * Range Caravan Park
 * Rollingstone Beach Caravan Resort
 * Rollingstone Hotel 
 * Saunders Beach Ocean View Units