Car Rental in Townsville

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Pick-up location

Townsville, Australia

Return car in same location

Pick-up date

Drop-off date

Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65

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Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Townsville Airport

Standard

MG 5 or similar

5
2
5
A/C
Auto.

per day

Townsville Airport

Intermediate

Skoda Scala or similar

5
2
5
A/C
Auto.

per day

Townsville Airport

Compact

MG 3 or similar

5
2
4
A/C
Auto.

per day

Townsville Airport

Economy

Suzuki Swift or similar

5
2
4
A/C
Auto.

per day

Travel Information

Languages

English

Currency

AUD

Drive on

Left-hand side

Country code

+61

Average car rental price

$67 per day

Average car rental length

6 days

Speed limit within town

50 km/h or 31 mph

Speed limit out of town

100 - 130 km/h or 62 - 81 mph

Acceptable limit of BAC

0.05%

Rating

10.0 / 10

Average gas price

$1.11 per liter or $4.19 per gallon

Lowest gas price

$1.08 per liter or $4.09 per gallon

Highest gas price

$1.33 per liter or $5.05 per gallon

Why rent a car in Townsville?

One of the main cities and regional centre of North Queensland, Townsville is best known for its nearby natural attractions. The cozy city of 180,000 souls offers access to the southern portions of one of the world’s natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the amazing Magnetic Island, the famous Outback and the northern Australian rainforest. There’s no need to be in a great rush to leave the city, though, as there’s also plenty of attractions inside its borders, such as heritage sites, beautiful public beaches, and lots of art and culture.

One-Way Car Rentals in Townsville

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Townsville and drop off in another city include:

From Townsville to Cairns - 26 offers from $88.62 per day
From Townsville to Sydney - 26 offers from $103.47 per day

Top ways to enter Townsville

Townsville Airport. Serving about 1.6 million travelers every year, this cozy airport offers access to Australian metropolises like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, as well as more exotic and isolated destinations like Mackay, Toowoomba, and Palm Island. Located about 7 km (4.3 miles) west of the city center, the airport can be reached in ten minutes.
Cairns Airport. The biggest airport of North Queensland, it serves plenty of domestic destinations, as well as flights to and from China, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and Papua New-Guinea. Located some 350 km (217 miles) north of Townsville, the trip between the two takes about four and a half hours, and most of the drive takes you near the coast, passing attractions like Mission Beach and Hinchinbrook Island along the way.

Top sights and activities

Museums. Despite its relatively small size, Townsville has a decent amount of interesting museums. The standout amongst them is the Museum of Tropical Queensland with its impressive collections of corals, other marine flora and fauna, and artifacts from the wreck of the famous HMS Pandora. Others include the Army Museum of North Queensland, the Maritime Museum (located in the Townsville Harbour area), and the Rolling Stone Park Museum and community markets.
The Strand. One of the most famous city beaches in Australia, the Strand is characterized by its golden sands, surrounding gardens, impressive views, and relaxed atmosphere. The ocean is generally very calm here and safe to swim in at many places along it. Located in the suburb of North Ward, The Strand can be easily accessed from anywhere in the city.
Reef HQ. While many trips and tours to the Great Barrier Reef depart from Townsville, the first impression of that unique ecosystem can be gained without leaving the city. An impressive aquarium, the Reef HQ has not only corals, but also other mesmerizing ocean dwellers like sea cucumbers, urchins, and stars. Other sections of the aquarium house the impressive blacktip reef and leopard sharks, as well as the Turtle Hospital dedicated to the recovery of injured marine animals. Visit the aquarium's official site to learn more about opening hours, tickets, and the conservation efforts of the center.
Magnetic Island. A stunning tropical island located just a short 40-minute car ferry away from Townsville. “Maggie” as locals call it, is known for its crystal clear waters, abundant wildlife, and secluded bays. This is often recommended as a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Townsville. Find out more in this great guide to Magnetic Island.

Traffic and parking

As a moderately sized Australian city, traffic congestion is generally not as severe as in larger cities like Sydney or Brisbane. The road network is also well maintained.
There is free and paid parking available in the city. Generally, the free parking is found a few streets back from the Strand. There are plenty of spots usually available near the Ross River, within walking idstance of the main attract
One of the largest road hazards in Australia is the wildlife. Take extra caution when driving in bad weather or after dark as this is when most of the collisions with wildlife take place.
Mobile coverage is very rarely available outside of major highways and population centers, so take extra caution when traveling in rural areas.
Another great risk when traveling outside of main highways is the heat. The temperatures can reach extremes very easily, especially during the summer months and in inland areas. Always stay properly hydrated and plan your route in advance to be able to supplement your water supplies.
Laws concerning driving under the influence differ from territory to territory in Australia. In Queensland, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers and drivers with provisional licenses. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and a driver license ban.
Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
The primary, nationwide emergency number in Australia is 000.

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads in Australia, mainly in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In New South Wales, there are nine currently active toll roads, which is more than in the rest of the country combined.

Most toll roads in Australia use an open toll system with mainline barrier toll points. All toll roads in Australia use a cashless payment system. You can purchase a prepaid pass for most toll roads. Some rental cars in Australia are equipped with electronic transponders, the price of which may or may not be included in the rental price. Ask your car rental provider about it in advance.

Different toll roads are operated by different companies, so there is no nation-wide fee system in place.

The main freeway bypassing Townsville is called the Townsville Ring Road, which forms the new A1 motorway connecting the southern Queensland cities to Cairns. This is a toll-free road, and tolls in general are not found in the Townsville region.

For more information about the toll roads in the state of Queensland, visit the state’s toll road website.

Car rental prices in Townsville

Station wagons - from $80 per day
Large cars - from $33 per day
Medium cars - from $36 per day
Vans - from $80 per day
Premium cars - from $116 per day
Small cars - from $54 per day
SUVs - from $39 per day

This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Fact checked by

Olly Gaspar

This article was reviewed and updated by Olly Gaspar, a professional adventure travel photographer and writer. He has spent the past five years documenting his full-time travels around the world on his blog We Seek Travel.

Top 20 cities near Townsville

Proserpine from $82.41 per day

231.6 km / 143.9 miles away
Cairns from $12.88 per day

284.3 km / 176.7 miles away
Mackay from $45.54 per day

329.9 km / 205 miles away
Port Douglas from $69.24 per day

337.4 km / 209.7 miles away
Moranbah from $25.88 per day

340.4 km / 211.5 miles away
Emerald from $59.49 per day

501.4 km / 311.6 miles away
Rockhampton from $59.47 per day

598.3 km / 371.8 miles away
Gladstone from $44.15 per day

689.6 km / 428.5 miles away
Bundaberg from $40.13 per day

848.4 km / 527.2 miles away
Hervey Bay from $40.27 per day

921.8 km / 572.8 miles away
Noosa Heads from $40.69 per day

1,024.8 km / 636.8 miles away
Marcoola from $12.83 per day

1,042.2 km / 647.6 miles away
Toowoomba from $24.22 per day

1,060.6 km / 659 miles away
North Lakes from $53.79 per day

1,092.6 km / 678.9 miles away
Brisbane from $10.72 per day

1,112 km / 691 miles away
Ipswich from $39.64 per day

1,113.5 km / 691.9 miles away
Moree from $36.28 per day

1,178.4 km / 732.2 miles away
Surfers Paradise from $33.10 per day

1,185.6 km / 736.7 miles away
Gold Coast from $12.08 per day

1,204.4 km / 748.4 miles away
Coolangatta from $66.67 per day

1,206.7 km / 749.8 miles away

Top 20 locations near Townsville

Townsville Airport from $32.92 per day
Whitsunday Coast Airport from $82.41 per day

231.6 km / 143.9 miles away
Cairns Airport from $12.88 per day

284.3 km / 176.7 miles away
Mackay Airport from $82.83 per day

329.9 km / 205 miles away
Emerald Airport from $59.49 per day

501.4 km / 311.6 miles away
Rockhampton Airport from $59.47 per day

598.3 km / 371.8 miles away
Gladstone Airport from $44.15 per day

689.6 km / 428.5 miles away
Bundaberg Downtown from $40.13 per day

848.4 km / 527.2 miles away
Bundaberg Airport from $40.13 per day

849.3 km / 527.7 miles away
Hervey Bay Downtown from $40.27 per day

911.2 km / 566.2 miles away
Hervey Bay Airport from $47.94 per day

921.8 km / 572.8 miles away
Sunshine Coast Airport from $12.83 per day

1,042.2 km / 647.6 miles away
Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport from $24.22 per day

1,060.6 km / 659 miles away
Brisbane Airport from $10.72 per day

1,112 km / 691 miles away
Brisbane Ascot from $69.07 per day

1,113.4 km / 691.8 miles away
Brisbane Fortitude Valley from $36.18 per day

1,113.7 km / 692 miles away
Downtown from $33.68 per day

1,113.8 km / 692.1 miles away
Brisbane Tingalpa from $39.64 per day

1,118.4 km / 694.9 miles away
Brisbane Rocklea from $41.36 per day

1,120.7 km / 696.4 miles away
Brisbane Archerfield from $40.19 per day

1,122.6 km / 697.6 miles away

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Townsville?

Car rental prices in Townsville vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.

Average rental costs per day in Townsville

$39.57

January

$51.87

February

$52.44

March

$45.94

April

$38.05

May

$45.94

June

$61.05

July

$61.49

August

$101.76

September

$77.30

October

$77.02

November

$47.74

December

The cheapest month to rent a car in Townsville is May (when prices average $38.05 per day). This is 35% cheaper than the yearly average and 63% cheaper than renting in September (when prices average $101.76).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Townsville?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in July, the average renter keeps their car for 8 days, and in October, they keep their car for 4 days.

Average number of rental days in Townsville

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Townsville?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Townsville is December, and the least popular is June.

Monthly searches in Townsville by pick-up date relative to the average

212%

January

64%

February

45%

March

68%

April

117%

May

38%

June

91%

July

102%

August

38%

September

53%

October

121%

November

250%

December

Car rental information

Car rental locations	2
Airport locations	1
Popular suppliers	Bargain Car Rentals, Alamo, Thrifty, Dollar, Budget
Popular car categories	Medium cars, SUVs, Large cars, Small cars
Lowest price	$33 per day
Cheapest supplier	Bargain Car Rentals

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier	Model	Doors	Luggage	Type
Bargain Car Rentals	Hyundai Accent	4	2	Medium cars
Bargain Car Rentals	Kia Stonic	4	2	SUVs
Bargain Car Rentals	MG 5	5	2	Large cars
Alamo	Toyota Yaris	4	2	Medium cars
Thrifty	Suzuki Swift	4	2	Small cars
Bargain Car Rentals	MG HS	4	2	SUVs
Bargain Car Rentals	Holden Acadia	5	3	SUVs
Bargain Car Rentals	Toyota Hiace	5	2	Vans
Alamo	Hyundai i30	5	2	Large cars
Alamo	Skoda Kamiq	5	2	SUVs

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

Australia

Hyundai i30