Hi Wade, Hi Rose,
Hope it goes well for you. I enjoyed my time in Townsville back in '77-'81.
Pay a visit to Crystal Creek There's a small waterfall there. Also it was a swimming hole. The water lives up to its namesake. Crystal clear and cool.
The drive to Cairns has some fantastic scenery. Particularly around Hinchinbrook Island.
You'll find all the sights in time. It took me a few years to find them, but that was in the bad ol' days of no internet and no computers.
Enjoy