Townsville has a tropical climate with a distinct wet season (November to April) and a dry season (May to October). The dry season is the better time to visit — temperatures are warm but manageable, humidity is low, and the weather is reliable. Days are typically in the mid-20s Celsius, with cool evenings.
The wet season brings high humidity, heavy rain, and the occasional cyclone. The sea can also be dangerous during this period due to stingers (box jellyfish), which appear along the foreshore from October to May. The Strand's netted lagoon remains safe year-round.
The Coral Sea Jazz Festival in May is worth timing a trip around. The annual ANZAC Day dawn service on 25 April is also significant, drawing large crowds to ANZAC Memorial Park on The Strand.