Bushland Beach Townsville is a residential Halifax Bay suburb about 25 minutes from the CBD, with the Bushland Beach dog park and playgrounds at Peggy Banfield Park and the Bushland Beach boat ramp on Marina Drive. Dogs are on-leash on the sand.

🏝️Why Visit Bushland Beach Townsville?

BusThis is a suburban beach, not a tourist strip. The sand is wide and shallow, Magnetic Island sits on the horizon, and the family kit is inland at the park: playgrounds, skate, BBQs and two fenced dog yards. There is no stinger net and no lifeguard. Swim with care from November to May. Stay overnight in a holiday rental here, or book the council camps at Saunders Beach and Balgal Beach.

🏖️Things to Do at Bushland Beach

🎣 Fishing — sand, tidal flats and from the ramp into Stony Creek
🚶 Beach walks — long flat foreshore with island views
🐶 Dog park — two fenced yards at Peggy Banfield Park
🚤 Boating — public ramp and floating walkway on Marina Drive
📷 Shipwreck — old wooden wreck on the sand at low tide
🍖 Picnic and BBQ — shade and tables at the park
🍺 Tavern — sunset meals looking over Halifax Bay

🐶 Bushland Beach Dog Park

🏞️ Two fenced yards — general yard plus a small-dog yard at 11 Lionel Turner Drive
🐕 Leash on until you are inside the gate — and leash on again when you leave
🏖️ Sand is on-leash — the beach, paths and car parks are not off-leash
🧹 Pick up — bins on site
🚫 Off-leash beaches are elsewhere — Pallarenda and Benwell Road, not this sand

🚤Bushland Beach boat ramp

⚓ End of Marina Drive — floating walkway into Stony Creek, then Halifax Bay
🌊 Tide window — Stony Creek mouth is shallow. Most boats need around a metre or more
🅿️ Do not park in the rigging lanes — they are for hitching and reversing, not all-day parking
🦈 Crocwise — creek and mangrove edges
🚫 No beach launching — use the ramp only
🚿Wash the trailer before you leave the apron.

🏞️Peggy Banfield Park

📍 11 Lionel Turner Drive — the suburb’s main family park, not on the sand
🛝 Junior and senior playgrounds — fenced junior area with accessible play
🛹 Skate park, basketball and sports fields
🍖 BBQs, shelters and toilets
🐕 The two fenced dog yards sit inside this park
🅿️ Off-street parking — walk to the beach from here
😎Shade is better under the shelters than on the open foreshore.
🌳Toilets and parking are at the park, not on the beach.

🛠️Facilities

🚻 Public toilets at the park
🍖 BBQs, picnic tables and shade
🛝 Playgrounds, skate and exercise gear
🐕 Fenced off-leash yards
🚤 Ramp and floating walkway
🅿️ Free parking at the park and along the Esplanade
🍺 Bushland Beach Tavern nearby

🌤️Best Time to Visit Bushland Beach Townsville

☀️ May to October — drier, milder days
🪼 November to May — stingers possible. No enclosure on this beach
🌡️ Year-round tropical — hot humid summers

🗺️ Getting There

🚗 About 23 km / 25 minutes northwest of Townsville CBD
➡️ Bruce Highway, then Mount Low Parkway / Shaw Road
🅿️ Free parking at Peggy Banfield Park and the Esplanade
🚌 Limited Sunbus to nearby stops, not a door-to-sand service
🚗 No 4WD — sealed suburban streets only

💡 Local Tips

🐕 Do the park first if the dog needs a run — then leash up for the sand
📷 Low tide for the wreck — it disappears on the incoming tide
🌊 Ramp traffic peaks on weekends — launch early
🐊 Stay back from the creek mouth
🪼 No net means open water from November to May
🍺 Tavern is the meal — there is no cafe strip on the sand

📍Nearby Attractions

🏙️ Townsville — about 23 km. Magnetic Island ferry, shops and dining
🏖️ Toolakea Beach — about 10 km. Quieter sand, no fenced dog park
🏖️ Saunders Beach — next booked 48-hour council camp
🏖️ Balgal Beach — booked camp, stinger net and creek-mouth ramp
🌲 Paluma Range National Park — about 45 km. Rainforest walks

📅 Events & Markets Nearby

🛍️ Bushland Beach Markets — monthly produce, crafts and food
🍉 Townsville Cotters Market — Sundays in the city
🌴 North Shore Markets — monthly stalls
🎶 Townsville foreshore events — seasonal music and food
🎄 Townsville Christmas Markets — December

For a full list of what’s on in the region, visit the
👉 Townsville & Magnetic Island Attractions | Best Things to Do in North Queensland

🏕️Accommodation Near Bushland Beach Townsville

🏡 Holiday rentals and apartments in the suburb
🚫 No free camp and no overnight parking on this beach or park
⛺ Nearest booked council camps — Saunders Beach and Balgal Beach
🏨 Townsville hotels — about 25 minutes

📖 Read Accommodation Reviews
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💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.

🍴 Places to Eat & Drink

🍺 Bushland Beach Tavern — the local sit-down with bay views
🥪 Park BBQs — pack food and use the shelters
🏙️ More choice — Townsville, not on this sand

📖 Read Food & Drinks Reviews
📸 Submit Your Food & Drinks Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.

🧭Plan Your Trip to Bushland Beach Townsville

Park at Peggy Banfield Park if you have kids or a dog. Walk to the sand with the dog leashed. Launch only in the tide window. Do not plan a swim inside a net — there is not one. If you need a booked free camp, that is Saunders or Balgal, not here. Bring drinking water for the sand. There is no kiosk on the foreshore. If you need a booked free camp tonight, leave time to reach Saunders Beach or Balgal Beach before the 10 am turnover fills the next day’s bays.

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📸 We’d love to see your favourite moments from the Townsville & Magnetic Island Region! Upload your photos, share your experiences, and leave a review to help other visitors discover the stunning tropical beaches and relaxed North Queensland lifestyle.

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💙 Explore More Beaches Nearby

Discover more of the Townsville & Magnetic Island Region:
Balgal Beach ➜ | Saunders Beach ➜ | Toolakea Beach ➜ | The Strand – Townsville ➜

🌊 About This Beach Directory

🌴 Note: This directory doesn’t include every beach in Queensland — there are simply too many! We’ve selected the most significant and unique beaches based on a range of factors including natural beauty, accessibility, and local popularity.

💌 If you think we’ve missed one that deserves to be featured, we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Email us at Admin@QldBeach.com with your photos and tell us why your favourite beach should be added.

☀️ Happy surfing, swimming and sunning from the Queensland Beach Guide team!

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_{Last updated: June 2026}

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