As part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, you'd expect there to be aquatic life aplenty, and Lodestone Reef doesn't disappoint; graceful sea turtles and rays, brilliant corals and hundreds of species of reef fish all call the area home.

Location: 89km South-East of Townsville

Widely regarded as Australia's best wreck dive, the SS Yongala off Townsville's coast is an immensely popular diving site for enthusiasts all over the country.

Located in waters teeming with a large range of sea life ranging from graceful manta rays to fierce-looking bull sharks and everything in-between, it's a site that combines both varieties with generally good visibility.

The wreck requires a fair journey from Townsville – expect roughly a 3 hour boat trip from the coast – and thus many aspiring divers choose to instead leave from the nearby town of Ayr further down the coast before heading to the launch point of Alva Beach in order to maximise dive time.

Once out and under the water, it's easy to see why the dive is so popular – although it sank over 100 years ago, the Yongala is still in remarkably good condition due to its isolated location, and now serves as a fully-fledged artificial reef draped in all the characteristic colours of the World Heritage-protected Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Coral cover the body of the ship, with both soft and hard types contributing their individual colours and hues to the proceedings, while fish are numerous and range from smaller species all the way up to immense Maori Wrasse and other species of grouper.

Although it sank over 100 years ago, the Yongala is still in remarkably good condition due to its isolated location, and now serves as a fully-fledged artificial reef draped in all the characteristic colours of the World Heritage-protected Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Various parts of the ship are also still clearly exposed and make for some great exploration opportunities; rudder, forward and aft masts, engine, steam rooms and more are visible and sits in a channel that is only roughly 30 metres deep.

On clearer days, the site is truly spectacular; the lack of depth and the quantity of life blend with the impressive skeleton to more than justify its status as one of the world's best wreck dives – with perhaps the only downside being the often-unpredictable inclement weather typical of Tropical QLD that can make the surrounding waters anywhere from difficult to dangerous.

Dive masters who run daily services out to the wreck know the area and conditions like the back of their hand, however, and will be sure to do their best to ensure your safety or postpone a trip if the climate takes a turn for the worse.

Simply put, if you're a veteran diver and visiting the greater Townsville region during a time when the sun is shining and the waters are calm, you'll want to sign up for a trip to the SS Yongala – it's an underwater experience that is truly “epic” in every sense of the word.

Most major cities have one spot that serves as the clear best lookout point, and Townsville's Castle Hill is it. The hill's central location coupled with its distinct red-pink colouring is a popular hiking location with great views.

Location: The Strand, North Ward, Townsville

Townsville's popular beachfront promenade of The Strand is perhaps the city's centrepiece and serves as a central hub for all sorts of entertainment and outdoor enjoyment.

Stretching for a length of over 2 kilometres, the Strand is home to a variety of facilities – from accommodation to barbecue areas to playgrounds to walking and biking tracks and more; it's a spot that's both relaxed and energetic at the same time, and provides great views out to nearby Magnetic Island to boot.

There's something here to appeal to all ages – families will be in their element here as kids will have access to a massive FREE water park surrounded by spacious grassed areas presenting plenty of play opportunities, while older visitors can take a stroll and enjoy the array of beaches, shopping, art and well-maintained landscaping that make the place a joy at which to spend time.

Those looking for a bite to eat will find The Strand more than fits the bill as well – it's home to a range of cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs many of which offer great outlooks that are almost as enjoyable for the people-watching as the food and beverages they provide.

Townsville's popular beachfront promenade of The Strand is perhaps the city's centrepiece and serves as a central hub for all sorts of entertainment and outdoor enjoyment.

Eateries of all sizes can be found here, with your choice of restaurant likely coming down to personal preference and budget – fish and chip joints exist alongside higher-profile gourmet dining options, and while the array of restaurants on offer is not staggering, they are almost all of a universally-high quality.

Capping off the offerings is the city's casino, which not only serves as a decent spot for a flutter but also adds to the skyline with its sleek architecture and lights reflecting on the waterfront.

The Strand is a place that accurately reflects Townsville's balance between being a growing city while still retaining a strong sense of community; the family environment here persists even during crowded travel periods, and with beaches on one side and grassed areas on the other bordering the lovely waters of the Coral Sea, it's a great balance of colours and spectacles all on offer for free that the city should be commended for.

Safe, secure, scenic and satisfying, Townsville's Strand is simply one of the best-developed esplanade areas in any Australian city.