As they say, the best views often come from the toughest climbs - but lucky for us, some of the best views in Townsville North Queensland are easily accessible and offer up some stunning sights that will literally stop you in your tracks!

Here's our list of the top lookouts in Townsville North Queensland! 
Looking for something more 'off the beaten track', then one of our many trails or hiking tracks also offer up some stunning views, but take a little more effort and definitely well worth it!

Townsville

A beautiful blend of city meets the sea, views over Townsville are captivating both day and night, especially as the horizon centres on the jewel in its crown with Magnetic Island taking centre stage.  

• Castle Hill - the city's towering pink granite monolith is hard to miss, and doesn't disappoint with 360 views of the city. No matter which way you choose to ascend 'The Hill' - be it by road, by bike, or on foot (up the locally infamous 'goat track'), make sure you include this on your visit to Townsville.
• Mount Stuart - coined as the second-best view of Townsville, Mount Stuart is Townsville's outdoor playground with many outdoor recreational activities like drift trikes, luging, downhill mountain biking, rock climbing, road cycling and walking up and down the hill and it offers spectacular views out across Townsville itself. Tip: be there are sunset to see the glittering city lights from afar - breathtaking!
• Cape Cleveland - an active, heritage-listed lighthouse (1879) at the edge of Bowling Green Bay National Park is amoung the many spectacular sights on Cape Cleveland. Accessible by boat or on foot, this area of Townsville is rugged and rich in military history. Check out this documentary to learn more!
• Cape Pallarenda - mountain bike riding, rock climbing, bushwalking, bird watching and wildlife viewing are a few of the activities on offer here, along with discovering secret beaches with ocean views, all within 20min of the Townsville CBD.

• Forts lookout - possibly the most popular lookout on Magnetic Island - and its no reason why! With 360 views of the island, and steeped in military history, this leisurely 4.5km return walk to the lookout is worth every step. Tip: Forts walk is also the prime location to see a koala in the wild, with Magnetic Island home to Northern Australia's largest colony!
• Hawkings Point - our pick for one of the best places to watch sunrise or sunset, the Hawkings Point lookout is only a brisk 1.2km return trip to the top... and when we say top, we mean literally perched on top of one of Maggie's signature boulders. 
• Sphinx lookout - along the Nelly Bay to Arcadia Bay track, a sneaky side track will take you to the Sphinx lookout which is the perfect place for a picnic.
• Rocky Bay and Picnic Bay lookout - a short 100m return track that goes from the road to a large rocky outcrop - rugged beauty at its finest!
• Horseshoe Bay lagoon - not technically classed as a lookout, but this wet season wonder is a unique landscape to the island; one the meanders through the melaleuca woodlands overlooking a wetland oasis, then out to the Horseshoe Bay foreshore

Charters Towers

The gateway to the Outback, Charters Towers offers spectactular views across the open horizon that seem to go for miles - and in reality, they probably do - North Queensland is a big place after all.

• Towers Hill - look out over the Outback metropolis that is Charters Towers. While you're there explore the WWII fortifications (now with an AR experience), and even meet some friendly locals at sunset with rock wallabies also calling this location home.
• Rotary Lookout, at Bucklands Hill - pack a picnic and gaze out across the horizon with magnificent views of the historic gold-mining epicentre.

Burdekin

A kaleidoscope of scenic delights, the Burdekin region is diverse in its landscapes covering everything from native bushland, cane fields to the coast.

• Alva beach lookout - a short stroll over the sand dune, Alva Beach - especially at low tide - is great for exploring, with lots of small crabs, shells and birdlife. Outer sand bars create inshore lagoon areas popular with kite surfers, and fisherman/women on weekends.
• Cornford's lookout - Milaroo - stunning view over the mighty Burdekin River, and even gives you a bird's eye view of some of the track that is used to transport sugar cane back to the mills. 
• Mt Inkerman - panoramic views of the Burdekin region and also provides a wealth of information about the significance to local indigenous tribes.
• Mt Kelly lookout - ascending to the top of Mount Kelly showcases excellent views of the Burdekin Region's contrasting scenery of native bushland, cane farms and coastline.

Hinchinbrook

The Hinchinbrook region is Mother Nature's playground, with spectacular environments that cover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics, Hinchinbrook Island National Park and of course waterfalls that will have you falling in love! 

• Hinchinbrook lookout - breathtaking views across the Hinchinbrook Channel to Hinchinbrook Island, right off the highway!
• Wallaman Falls lookout - as the Southern Hemisphere's largest single-drop waterfall, you can witness its sheer size and tranquility and if you're lucky the perfect photographic opportunity, but if you're bold, trekking down to the bottom of the falls will leave you breathless.  
• Hinchinbrook Channel lookout via Forest Drive
• Blencoe Falls lookout - hear the rumbling of the Herbert River Gorge as the water cascades down the 90m drop of Blencoe Falls
• Jourama Falls track - a pleasant walk through the forest and across a small creek will reward with views of Jourama Falls