Balgal Beach, just north of Townsville, is the kind of place you can take the whole family and create cherished holiday memories. Thanks to its wide creek mouth, this popular seaside community is famous for its superb fishing and glorious sandy beaches. You and the kids can swim all day in clear blue waters thanks to the patrolled stinger net (November to May) and the first-rate boat ramp facility allows easy access to the nearby islands in the Palm Island group. Hire a boat, grab some bait from the kiosk and talk to a local to find out where the fish are biting. Ample picnic, barbecue and camping facilities, along with a friendly cafe or two, allow you to enjoy the beauty of the area at ease and on budget. 15 minutes drive to the west you’ll find the Paluma National Park. Here you’ll discover lush rainforest, crystal-clear mountain creeks, rock pools and thundering waterfalls. Golf and lawn bowls facilities are nearby. Or for a slower pace, grab a drink, put your feet up and enjoy the abundance of birdlife as you watch the waves roll in on your very own piece of North Queensland paradise. Balgal Beach is an easy 15 minutes drive north of Townsville on the Bruce Highway. Accommodation options in the area include self-contained units, bed-and-breakfasts and camping.