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Learn about the history, culture, and environment of Northern Queensland at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. A branch of the Queensland Museum Network, this government-run museum educates locals and visitors about this unique part of the country through permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits, talks, and tours.
At the Museum of Tropical Queensland you can find out what life has been like in Northern Queensland over the centuries, from prehistoric times until the modern day. Highlights include the Enchanted Rainforest section, which replicates a rainforest, and the HMS Pandora gallery, which displays hundreds of artifacts from the wreck of the ship of the same name, which sank off Cape York in 1791. The museum also puts on a lot of public programs, including daily talks about various aspects of the collection. Most travelers visit the museum independently while spending time in central Townsville.
The museum is in central Townsville, about ten minutes’ walk from the Flinders Street Mall. Paid parking is available outside the museum, and free parking can be found just down the road, on The Strand. The Sunbus 1A travels between the mall and the ferry terminal, and can stop outside the museum.
The museum is open daily from morning until early evening. It’s closed on some Australian public holidays. Locals get free entry on the second Tuesday of the month, making this a good day to visit.
The Museum of Tropical Queensland is next door to another educational attraction, the Reef HQ Aquarium. The 660 thousand gallon (2.5 million liter) tank houses the world’s largest living coral reef within an aquarium. More than 150 species of fish and 120 species of coral can be found here. The two attractions can be visited on the same day.