Castle Hill Townsville Walk – North Queensland, Australia

Castle Hill Townsville Walk – North Queensland, Australia

Castle Hill Townsville is a 286 meter tall granite monolith that proudly overlooks the city of Townsville.

Although it's not a strenuous hike, hiking to Castle Hill Townsville is one of the best things to do in the city for those looking for a bit of adventure before heading to Magnetic Island.

From the Castle Hill viewpoint you can enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views of the city of Townsville, Magnetic Island and even as far as the Great Palm Islands and Cape Cleveland.
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Where to stay in Townsville

Depending on your budget, these are some of the best places to stay in Townsville.

BEST BUDGET HOSTEL: REEF LODGE BACKPACKERS – One of the cheapest options for backpackers in Townsville with several dorms to choose from. It is also conveniently located just 500 meters from the Magnetic Island Ferries

BEST GUEST HOUSE WITH POOL: THE AVENUE GUEST HOUSE – One of the top ranked accommodations in Townsville. This is also popular with backpackers as dormitories are available. There is also an outdoor pool!

HOSTEL WITH FREE BREAKFAST AND POOL: ADVENTURE BACKPACKER – A pool and free breakfast, what more could you want? It's also a highly rated hostel in the heart of Townsville.

How to get to Castle Hill Townsville Hike

The hike to Castle Hill Viewpoint starts not far from town. While you can drive almost all the way up, the best way to reach the viewpoint is via the windy goat path.

I have marked the start of the route in the map below.

Castle Hill Townsville – The Goat Trail

There are two main hiking trails that lead to the top of the granite rock formation. The best track is known as Goat Track. From Metro-Townsville, it takes no more than an hour to reach the top of Castle Hill.
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Directions

Begin the hike at the location marked on the map above.

You can then follow the signs through some pedestrian streets for about 5 minutes before gaining access to the Goat Track Trail.

It's a fairly steep climb to the top of Castle Hill Lookout. However, the trail is clearly marked and maintained for hikers with clear tracks and even built-in steps for the steeper parts.

The Goat Track ends and you have to continue the last part of the hike on a steep road for about 5 minutes before reaching the summit.
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Beware of snakes

The hot, exposed sun and tall grass surrounding the Castle Hill range are prime territory for snakes. During our hike we saw a small brown snake that could easily send hikers to the emergency room pretty quickly.

Although we didn't see any, there are also signs of wild dog populations on the trails. So it's best to be careful.
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We did this short hike on our quick stopover in Townsville, READ THE SAILING LOG

Castle Hill Townsville Viewpoints

If you're looking for a viewpoint that you can have all to yourself, then you're out of luck.

You will most likely see several people hiking to the top of Castle Hill Townsville as it is one of the most popular activities in the city.

However, once you get to Castle Hill car park you have a few options for different viewing points.

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View of Townsville and Magnetic Island from Castle Hill

The best view is on the right when you reach the parking lot. You can take the paths and steel steps that lead to some rocky outcroppings.

All viewpoints on this site offer surprising views of the city and Magnetic Island.
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The Summit Circuit – Views of Palm Islands, Townsville Suburbs and Halifax Bay

The Summit Circuit is right in front of you as you reach the top of Castle Hill parking lot.

The peak itself is used as a communications tower, but you can walk around to get better views of the distant mountains and far out across Halifax Bay.
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The return journey

Complete the Castle Hill Townsville walk by walking down the Goat Track or take the alternative route down from the base of the Castle Hill outcrop.

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