The Strand is Townsville's waterfront promenade — a 2.2 km stretch of palm-lined path running along the foreshore north of the CBD. It has a mix of parks, picnic areas, a water park for children, and Tobruk Memorial Pool, an Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool. The main attraction for most visitors is the rockpool lagoon, a large netted swimming area at the northern end that keeps out jellyfish and stingers, making ocean swimming safe year-round.
In the late afternoon, the Strand fills with walkers, joggers, and families. The views across to Magnetic Island are best at sunset. The foreshore has a good strip of casual cafes and the occasional food truck. It is free to use and one of the better urban waterfronts in regional Queensland.