Townsville is a hidden gem. It is a university town and Australia’s largest garrison city. Visitors are often surprised with it's size - it's population is currently larger than each of Cairns, Darwin and Ballarat. Located in the dry tropics, Townsville doesn’t experience the excessive humidity most commonly expected in North Queensland and with 300 days of sunshine each year, it is a great place to visit any time of the year. Most rain falls in January and February. Centrally located, Townsville is 4 hours south of Cairns and 3-1/2 hours north of the Whitsundays. Magnetic Island is only a 20 minute ferry ride away and makes a lovely destination for a day trip or weekend break. Townsville is the home of the Museum of Tropical Queensland showcasing natural history, archaeology and the history of northern Queensland. There are a number of museums and galleries and the Billabong Sanctuary wildlife park to the south, and of course, for Rugby League fans, there is Country Bank Stadium.