Flights from Townsville to Seattle

Need to know

Set on the west coast of the United States, Seattle is a vibrant, diverse city made up of eclectic neighbourhoods. The largest city in the Pacific Northwest, it's known as the birthplace of grunge, but there’s more to this cool, sprawling city than its music. Known as ‘the emerald city’, it’s also surrounded by mountainous forests, which means that nature abounds, as do beautiful views.

Explore Seattle’s varied neighborhoods to get a true feel of this vibrant city; visit stately Queen Anne, hippie-dippy Freemont, and cutting-edge Capitol Hill. Make sure you stop by Pike Place Market, a quintessentially Seattle sight overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront. Established in 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the US.

Another beloved landmark is the Space Needle, a 184-metre-tall observation tower set in the heart of the city. From here, you can enjoy an incredible bird's-eye view of the city. Close by is the Olympic Sculpture Centre, a landscaped park peppered with modern sculptures.

Seattle is synonymous with specialty coffee and cafe culture; after all, this is where Starbucks started in 1971 and, along with espresso wunderkinds Espresso Vivace, sparked a coffee revolution. It’s not surprising, then, that good cup of coffee is easy to come by in Seattle. Try Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Analog Coffee, Stumptown Coffee or Espresso Vivace.

Getting around

Whatever method of transport you prefer, chances are you’ll find it fairly easy to use in Seattle. Seattle’s buses cover a vast network of routes. Fares are paid upon boarding, with adult passengers paying a flat fee of $2.75 during peak hours. The Seattle light rail runs between the airport and the University of Washington every 6 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. There are also two streetcar lines: one from Westlake Center to South Lake Union; the other from Pioneer Square to Capitol Hill. Seattle is also home to extensive and well-maintained bicycle lanes, although the city’s hills and wet weather can be deterring. For short stays, consider buying an all-day travel pass to enjoy unlimited travel on most forms of public transport for US$8 per day. 

Seattle features an oceanic climate with dry, pleasant summers and wet, chilly winters. A summertime visit will allow you to enjoy average highs between 21 and 25 degrees, however you should book early and be prepared to pay peak season rates. Late summer and early autumn will see the crowds thin slightly, however the hours of sunshine decreases rapidly after August. In fact, Seattle receives only 71 completely sunny days on average each year, with cloudy skies on six out of every seven days during autumn and winter. On the plus side, those who brave Seattle’s relatively dreary winters will usually be compensated by cheaper airfares and accommodation.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located about 22 km south of downtown Seattle. Flights travel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from a number of locations, including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Dubai, New Orleans and Honolulu. A bus or taxi from the airport should take about 30 minutes to reach the city centre.