2 Best Nightlife in Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

A prime waterside location and a big, breezy deck draw an upbeat, mixed crowd to The Pier Bar. They flock here for wood-fired pizzas, well-priced drinks, and laid-back Sunday sessions with live music and DJs. The bar gets noisier, younger, and more crowded as the night wears on, but service is friendly and food is palatable, even when the bar’s jam-packed.

Dominating Townsville's waterfront, this high-rise casino-hotel complex is an entertainment hub, containing a luxury hotel, six on-site restaurants and bars, performance space featuring regular live shows, and more than 370 slot machines and 20-plus gaming tables. If you choose to stay over, the 194-room hotel has well-appointed rooms, suites, and a two-bedroom apartment.