15 Top Things to do in Ayr for First-timers (With Map)

If you’re exploring North Queensland, you might be wondering what are the best things do in Ayr and if it’s worth a stop. Located just an hour south of Townsville, this friendly community is best known as the gateway to world-class diving at the SS Yongala wreck, but it has plenty more for first-time visitors to discover.

The challenge is that Ayr often flies under the radar. Many travellers pass through on their way up the coast without realising the hidden gems waiting here. Without some guidance, it’s easy to miss the highlights.

After spending time in Ayr myself, I’ve rounded up the very best things to do that make it a rewarding stop on your North Queensland adventure. Whether you’re a road tripper, or simply curious about authentic small-town Queensland, this guide will help you uncover what makes Ayr worth visiting for the first time.

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15 Best Things To Do In Ayr & Map

The town of Ayr is a rural district in North Queensland and is best known for its sugar industry. It’s located between Townsville and Bowen, and is populated by just less than 10 thousand people.

There is anything up to 8 thousand hectares of sugar cane growing in the region, which can produce 1.25 million tonnes of raw sugar every year.  Obviously, well known as one of the most productive sugarcane-growing areas in Queensland.

The Burdekin river runs close by and the town is situated on the northern side of the river. But, if you need help locating everything listed below, please click here for my specially pinned map on Ayr’s attractions.

Fun Fact – There is a Scottish town of Ayr located in the southwest of the Scotland

1. Dive Tour on the SS Yongala Ship Wreck

The SS Yongala was travelling on her 99th voyage from Melbourne to Cairns in 1911. She encountered a common cyclone in North Queensland and sank off the coast in the Great Barrier Reef. It was a steel passenger ship, named after a small town in South Australia, and had been sailing the seas for roughly 8 years. 

➡  Book the SS Yongala Dive Trip HERE with GYG, or HERE with Viator

Today, its a dive site and tour operators run boat tours out to the SS Yongala Ship to explore the fish life, and plant growth in and around the vessel.

After more than 100 years under the water, you’ll be surprised to explore this intact historic and famous wreck. 

2. Check out Plantation Park 

Plantation Park is located on the southern side of town, with a small deviation from the major A1 Bruce highway.

This is a great place to stop for a picnic, stretch your legs, and wander around the gardens. It’s a nature-based play area for the kids with swings, lookout points, rocks, rope climbs, and a small flowing creek passing you by. 

The Gudjuda Deck Café helps service the visitors by serving breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, or always great for a quick coffee stop. One of the more popular landmarks would be the Giant Snake, which is called the Gubulla Munda Giant Carpet Snake.

It’s 60 metres in size and is the aboriginal totem for the Birri Gubba People.

3. Nature Display Museum

Unique and very Australia is one way to describe the Nature Display and Museum.

What is a Nature Display? Its art pieces made from the surrounding nature in the Burdekin region. This includes butterflies, Bugs, moths, beetles, shells, crustaceans, timber, stone, fossils, and even cockroaches.

Time and patience were needed to place each item in the desired format. Therefore, items like a diamond saw, tile cutters, and an emery wheel were used to space and arrange these beautiful displays. 

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

4. Burdekin Visitor Information Centre

The Burdekin Information Centre is a truck trailer which has been redeveloped into an office and is conveniently located at Plantation Park.

There is enough parking and even room for the Caravans, RVs, and Motorhomes. 

Knowledgeable local staff will be there to provide you advice and let you gather reading material and maps to take away. You can also find out the best place to eat and where to stay, or just keep reading below to find out more through this blog. 

5. Visit Alva Beach

Alva beach is one of the more popular spots and you can visit throughout the day, for a varied experience.

At low tide, you will find muddy banks with thousands of tiny crabs scurrying about. At high tide, the sand will disappear, and you’ll have views of a nice calm beachfront. While in between, you’ll find tidal pools safe for kids to go swimming.

While Queensland lies on the east coast of Australia, the sun will cross the water’s horizon in the mornings. However, Alva Beach does make a calm walking location for sunrise or sunset and is one of our relaxing activities. 

6. Try Kite Surfing

I haven’t actually tried Kite Surfing myself but looks like a lot of fun.

However, I’ve heard that Alva Beach area has great conditions for kite surfing. The tides create floodwaters, and tidal lagoons (as mentioned before), and the area allows for a lot of wind to help guide you around. 

You won’t get a huge amount of waves, but travelling on a kite surfer will certainly gain distance in a short time. Also, keep in mind there can be strong currents, so if you fall off, try and grab your board quickly to recover. 

7. Drive over the Burdekin Bridge

Seeing the spectacular Burdekin River Bridge is one of the more monumental activities, but it really can’t be missed when travelling the highway.

Located on the south side of town, about 8 minutes away, and an icon for the Shire of Burdekin. It’s known as the Silver link and helps connect the north and south areas of the highway from the floodwaters of the Burdekin River. 

Driving over this Bridge is as extraordinary as the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. In Fact, the Burdekin Bridge is 1.1 kilometres in length and only 46 metres shorter than the Harbour Bridge.

It has been built on sand with massive concrete caissons placed 30 metres deep into the foundation.

8. Visit the Wetlands

If you’re a photographer like me, then you going to love the Wetland areas of town. You might just want high-powered zoom lens on your camera, in order to capture the wildlife at a distance.

Alternatively, the contrast of colours between the green trees, muddy banks, and blue waters will certainly impress. Even better at low light times, after sunrise, and before sunset with reflections in the waters. 

The area is filled with estuaries, saltmarshes, mangroves, flood plains, and herb swamps. Not only that, but the wildlife and Bird Watching will be extraordinary. 

9. Admire the Burdekin River

Ways to enjoy the Burdekin River include Sunrises, sunsets, fishing, or birdwatching.

Its 886 kilometres in length, descends 620 metres and is the fourth largest river system in Australia by volume and flow.  

It flows in between Home Hill and the town of Ayr, so it’s easy to get to. And, you’ll find multiple access points depending on what you want to do. The river is brown in colour most of the time, however, reflections and times of day can appear a variety of colours. 

10. Watch or photograph the local Birds

Do I have any Bird Lovers out there, then you might like to give this area a look in. There are Birdwatching opportunities and I’ve been told that the Horseshoe Lagoon Reserve might be a great place to start, along with the beaches, coastal areas, and the town itself. 

Try finding the Wedge Tail Eagle with a wing span stretching up to 2.3 metres and known for being Australia’s largest “Bird of Prey”. Additionally, with Swallows, finches, Grass birds, song larks, robins, flycatchers, and crows. You could even get a glimpse of the cotton pygmy-goose, which is listed as endangered in New South Wales.

11. Climb or drive to the top of Mount Inkerman

About 25 kilometres south of town and over the Burdekin Bridge, you have the Mt Inkerman Lookout point.

This is only a short via off the highway, and you have two options to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Burdekin region.

• Either park at the bottom and walk up (Takes about 1 hour return),
• or drive to the top car park for a 30 minute return journey. 

It’s a small car park at the top, well-maintained toilet facilities and a short stroll to the newly paved lookout point. This will provide your absolute best views of the Burdekin shire region, with farmland, river ways, and grassland.

As it’s facing north, it would be a great sunset or sunrise location, or you could even see the lights of Ayr in the evenings. 

12. Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

With blow-up paddle boards so readily purchased these days, you’ll find them very easy to travel on your road trips.

Just like Kite Surfing, Alva Beach has the perfect conditions and areas for Paddle boarding and will be a whole lot of fun for the kids. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t anywhere to hire equipment like this in town, but you can bring your own. 

13. Beach Fishing and Boating

Considering there are boat ramps, creeks, rivers, and streams, it’s no wonder why fishing is popular.

Try out places like the Ocean Creek Boat Ramp, Plantation Creek Boat Ramp, Philips Land Boat Ramp, Kierles Landing Boat Ramp, or Grouper Creek Boat Ramp. 

If you have access to a boat, then the Burdekin River has areas for fishing. Get your best catch with a nice big Barramundi, but you can also find whiting, flathead, grunter, mangrove jack, and bream. Plus, the mangrove areas are also great for Mud Crab. 

14. Check out the Heritage Town Walk

The Heritage Town Walk is said to take about 1.5 hours through the town. This will visit old school architecture and old buildings like:

• the Memorial town Clock,
• Court House,
• Post office,
• a couple of churches,
• and the Burdekin hotel.

Anzac Park holds the Memorial Gates, or Memorial Arch which commemorate the first and second World War, along with the Korean war.

The Memorial Town clock stands in the centre of town on Queen Street. It was unveiled in the 1930s as a memorial to the prime sugar industry.

You’ll notice when driving around the region is the Sugar Cane fields and trains transporting the sugar. Know that John Drysdale helped pioneer the Sugar industry in the area and the Memorial clock stands in memory of him. 

15. Stardust Drive-in Movie Theatre

Step back in time and enjoy one of the drive-in movie theatres still around and running. It opened in 1964 and screens double features on its one and only screen, and will cost around $12 per person.

You will find the latest movies available, while oldies will show from time to time. 

Animals are allowed in the Stardust, but they must be on a leash the entire time and never brought to the concession stand. You’ll need to bring cash for entry, and a café with hot food will keep those munchie addictions at bay. Although, If you’re after a normal movie theatre, then Stardust has an onsite indoor cinema as well. 

Where To Stay

With a small town with less than 10 Thousand people, there isn’t a huge amount of choice in accommodation. However, you will find suitable options for your style and budget, even if it’s just a short visit. 

➡  Find Ayr Accommodation HERE with Booking.com

You will have a choice between staying in Ayr itself, or closer to the water’s edge at Alva Beach. Either way, you won’t regret your stay!

• Plantation Park Motor Inn (Budget Friendly option < $100) is conveniently located on Queen Street near the centre of town and contains double, twin and family rooms. There is air-conditioning, a microwave, an outdoor pool, and an ensuite bathroom. 
• Country Motel (Mid-Range option < $200) is another option on Queen Street but closer to town than the option mentioned above. Features an outdoor pool, restaurant, free parking, and comes with double or twin room options. There is Asian cuisine served at the onsite restaurant, or you have others within walking distance to the town centre. 
• Alva Beach Tourist Park ( Beach Option) is your Caravan Park option, but also contains fixed accommodation close to the beach. It’s a 6-minute walk to the beach for the afternoon stroll and has double, twin, and family room options available. Take advantage of its facilities with an outdoor pool, movie nights, table tennis, and a games room. There is also free Wi-Fi, a full-service kitchen, and a private bathroom for the rooms. 

Apart from that, you will see Mangos, melons, and other fruits and vegetables ,and it’s a prime spot for overseas travellers to stay for a season of picking fruit. 

Fun fact – You’ll find the Big Mango just off the highway in Bowen. This is one of the “Big Things in Australia” you’ll encounter on the roads. 

Best time to visit?

As Ayr is located in Tropical North Queensland, so the weather stays on the warmer side most of the year. I tend to mostly travel during the winter season, but it averages between:

• 30 degree Celsius in the Summer time ( December to February)
• and 15 degrees in the wintertime ( June to August).

Obviously, the wet season happens in the summer and the highest rainfall in Journey/February coming close to 400mm.

History of Ayr!

• The Town was named after the Scottish town, which was the birthplace of the Queensland Premier, Thomas McIlwraith.
• The Burdekin area was first explored in the 1840s. However, it was already home to the local indigenous people.
• In the 1869’s the Europeans first moved to the area and the township of Wickham was formed in 1864.
• They started growing sugar cane in the 1870s, and by 1879 the Burdekin Delta sugar company was formed on the northern side of the Burdekin River. 

• A sugar crushing mill was developed in 1883, and another 2 mills in 1884.
• The first state school opened in 1886, and local government was formed in 1888.
• In 1903, the town was severely damaged by Cyclone Leonta. In the same year, it was connected to Bowen by rail, and soon after, with electricity.
• In 1930 the Memorial town clock was unveiled, and the Burdekin Bridge was being developed to connect the town with Home Hill.
• In 2019, the Burdekin Flooded and cut the Town of Ayr from both Home hill in the south and Townsville in the North. 

Wrap Up!

Thanks so much for reading this blog today on the best Things to do in Ayr Qld, and I hope you found what you were looking for. 

However, if you’re still researching please explore more Queensland Posts here for planning and inspiration.

• Things to see on a Brisbane to Cairns Road trip
• Best Place to Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
• Is Mission Beach Worth Visiting?
• Exposing the Downsides to a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Tour
• Tips to know BEFORE planning a Queensland Road Trip
• Best 5 day Itinerary in Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays
• Is Magnetic Island Worth visiting & Free Things to do