1 The Strand Beach
North Ward 4810, QLD
The Strand is Townsville's main beach. A wide road of the same name parallels the back of the beach, with residential and tourist development occupying the entire length of the western side of the road. The beach is 2.7 km long and faces north-east toward Magnetic Island. It runs from northern Kissing Point south to the 1.5 km long western breakwater of Townsville harbour (Fig. 4.31). Between the road and the beach is a raised seawall, to protect the city from tropical cyclone storm surges, and a foreshore reserve including a tree-lined walkway. The entire reserve and beachfront underwent a major redevelopment in the late 1990's, which substantially improved beach access, parking and facilities, including the development of five protruding nodes containing a range of recreational facilities. These nodes also divide the once continous beach into six beach compartments between 200 m and 400 m in length. A new jetty extends seward of the largest central node. The beach is protected by both the breakwater and offshore islands, including Magnetic Island. Waves are usually less than 0.5 m and at high tide surge against the narrow beach, while at low tide there is a 50 m wide bar attached to the beach.
The best swimming is at Kissing Point, either in the circular rock pool constructed at the point, with its own little beach, or immediately south of the pool, where there is a stinger net and lifeguard on duty (Fig. 4.32).
