The tinnie lives on its trailer down the side of the house, the caravan is back from the dry-season trip south, and the second car hasn't moved since the posting started. Then November arrives in Townsville, cyclone season opens, the wet brings months of heavy humidity, and everything sitting outside becomes a risk — to itself, to the house, and to your relationship with the neighbours.
This guide sets out the real options for storing a car, boat or caravan in Townsville, what Townsville City Council says about leaving them on the street, the questions to ask a storage provider before you sign, and how to prepare each vehicle so it comes out in the same condition it went in.
The short answer: most Townsville vehicle storage is in the industrial and outer suburbs — Bohle, Mount Low, Mount St John, Garbutt and Mount Louisa — and comes as open hardstand, covered bays or fully enclosed storage. Most providers we checked don't publish caravan or boat prices online, so ask for a quote and compare security, access hours and cyclone procedures, not just the monthly rate. Standard self storage units, including ours at French Street, aren't designed for vehicles.
Why Storing a Car, Boat or Caravan in Townsville Is Harder Than It Looks
Townsville is a city of boats, vans and second vehicles. Defence postings to Lavarack Barracks, FIFO rosters, long dry-season trips and weekends on the water mean plenty of households own something with wheels or a hull that sits still for months at a time. The trouble is where to keep it.
Many of the older inner suburbs — Pimlico, Hyde Park, Hermit Park, North Ward — have compact blocks with narrow or no side access. A caravan in the driveway blocks the car, a boat on the front lawn bakes in the sun, and anything left on the street can draw complaints. Newer estates often have covenants or body corporate rules that limit where a van or boat can be parked.
Then there's the climate. Townsville's cyclone season officially runs from 1 November to 30 April, and Cyclone Kirrily crossed the coast just north of the city in January 2024. A boat or caravan left loose in a yard can be damaged or become a hazard in high winds. The wet season brings its own problem: as we covered in our guide to storing furniture through Townsville's wet season, average morning humidity sits above the level most moulds need from January to March. A closed-up caravan, a boat cabin or a car interior can grow mould in weeks. Add year-round UV that cracks vinyl, fades paint and perishes tyres, and "just leave it in the yard" gets expensive.
Can You Park a Caravan or Boat on the Street in Townsville?
Townsville City Council's guidance on parking in residential areas says a registered vehicle can generally park on the street as long as it isn't in a time-limited zone. It must park parallel to the left side of a two-way street where there are no signs, leave at least three metres of clear roadway, and must not park on a footpath, nature strip or across a kerb ramp. Council says it doesn't actively enforce parking in residential streets, and police usually act on complaints only where a vehicle creates a dangerous situation.
That's the general rule, not permission for long-term storage. A van or boat trailer parked for weeks still blocks sightlines, takes neighbours' parking and is exposed to weather and theft. Unregistered trailers and caravans shouldn't be on the road at all. If you're unsure about a particular situation, Council's general enquiries line is 13 48 10.
Your Vehicle Storage Options in Townsville
Vehicle storage in Townsville comes in three broad types. The right one depends on what you're storing, for how long, and how much protection it needs.
| Type | What it is | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open hardstand | A marked bay in a fenced, gated yard | Boats on trailers, caravans and work trailers stored short to medium term | Full sun and rain; you'll need good covers, and cyclone tie-down arrangements matter |
| Covered bay | A roofed, open-sided bay, like a large carport | Caravans and boats stored through summer | Height and length limits; wind-driven rain still gets in |
| Indoor or enclosed | Inside a shed, warehouse or container | Classic cars, long postings, anything valuable | Usually the most expensive; some require notice before you collect |
To see what's actually on offer, we checked the websites of several Townsville vehicle storage providers on 28 October 2026. Townsville Premier Storage at Mount Low advertises indoor and outdoor storage for caravans, boats and vehicles, with pin-code access, flood lighting and 24/7 CCTV, outdoor access from 5am to 8pm daily, and 24 hours' notice to collect from indoor storage. Bono's Storage at Bohle stores cars, caravans, motorhomes and boats — boats must be on a trailer — in a secure yard, with motorbikes kept in shipping containers. National Storage lists covered and uncovered vehicle, caravan and boat storage across several Townsville sites, billed monthly with a one-month minimum. Local directories also list vehicle and RV storage businesses in Garbutt, Mount Louisa and Mount St John.
None of these three providers published caravan or boat storage prices on their websites when we checked, so the only reliable way to compare cost is to ask for a quote. For general self storage prices by unit size, see our guide to storage unit prices in Townsville.
Questions to Ask Before You Book Vehicle Storage
The monthly rate is only part of the picture. These are the questions that separate a good fit from a frustrating one:
- What length and height can the bay take? Measure the whole rig — drawbar, outboard, bow sprit, bike racks, air conditioner on the roof — not just the van body or hull.
- Is it open, covered or indoor? And if it's covered, how far does rain blow in?
- What are the access hours? Early starts for the boat ramp, or late returns from a trip, need matching gate hours. Ask whether you need notice to collect.
- What security is in place? Fencing, lighting, cameras, gate codes and whether anyone is on site.
- What happens in a cyclone? Ask whether there are tie-down points, whether you're expected to secure your own vehicle, and how you'll be contacted when a warning is issued.
- Is the yard prone to flooding? Ask how the site drained during recent wet seasons.
- What does insurance cover? The facility's insurance usually covers the facility, not your vehicle. Check your own policy covers the vehicle while it's in storage at that address.
- What's the minimum term and notice period? And can you stay month to month after that?
- Are gas bottles, fuel or batteries allowed? Many facilities restrict what can stay on board.
How to Prepare a Car for Storage
Clean the car inside and out before it goes in — food crumbs and damp floor mats are an open invitation to mould and pests in Townsville's humidity. Top up the fuel tank to reduce condensation, check tyre pressures, and either fit a battery maintainer (if the facility allows power) or disconnect the battery for long stays. A breathable car cover is better than a plastic tarp, which traps moisture against the paint. If someone else will start the car occasionally, leave clear instructions and a key arrangement the facility approves.
How to Prepare a Boat for Storage in Townsville
Flush the outboard with fresh water after its last saltwater run, and wash salt off the hull, trailer and winch. Remove the bung if your trailer and cover allow rain to drain, so water can't pool in the hull. Take electronics, safety gear, cushions and anything absorbent home, or store them dry. Check trailer bearings, tyres and rollers before the boat goes into storage, not when you're hitching up for the first trip. Before the wet season, make sure the cover is tight enough that it won't flog itself to pieces in a storm.
How to Prepare a Caravan for Storage
Empty the fridge completely and prop its door open. Remove all food and anything that could attract pests. Clean and dry the interior, drain the water tanks and lines, and leave cupboard doors slightly open so air can move. Moisture absorbers in the van help through the wet season — check and replace them whenever you visit. Cover tyres to protect them from UV, set the van level, and follow the facility's rules on gas bottles. Close windows and roof hatches firmly, and check the seals before summer storms arrive.
Registration, CTP and Insurance While It's in Storage
In Queensland, a registered caravan or trailer doesn't need its own compulsory third party (CTP) insurance — the towing vehicle's CTP covers personal injury involving the attached trailer. CTP doesn't cover damage to the caravan, boat or anyone's property, so comprehensive insurance is a separate decision.
If a car, caravan or trailer will be off the road for a long time, you can cancel its registration through the Department of Transport and Main Roads and may get a refund of the unused portion, minus a cancellation fee and some non-refundable charges. Standard plates must be surrendered. Bear in mind that an unregistered vehicle can't simply be towed or driven home again — moving an unregistered trailer on Queensland roads may need an unregistered vehicle permit and a CTP certificate. Weigh the refund against that hassle before you cancel.
Where French Street Self Storage Fits In
Our units at French Street Centre in Pimlico are drive-up self storage units, not vehicle bays, so they aren't the place for a car, boat or caravan — our guide to what you can and can't store in a Townsville storage unit explains why. Where a unit helps is with everything that comes with a vehicle: the camping gear, fishing tackle, spare tyres and tools that fill a garage. Moving those into a unit can free the garage for the car itself. If cyclone season is on your mind, our Townsville cyclone season storage checklist, linked below, covers what to secure around the yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does caravan storage cost in Townsville?
Most Townsville providers we checked on 28 October 2026 didn't publish caravan or boat storage prices online, so you'll need to ask for a quote. The price depends mainly on whether the bay is open, covered or indoor, the length of the caravan or boat, and how long you're storing it.
Can I park my caravan or boat on the street in Townsville?
Townsville City Council's general guidance is that a registered vehicle can park on a residential street if it isn't in a time-limited zone, parks legally and leaves at least three metres of clear roadway. It can't park on footpaths or nature strips. Long-term street parking still exposes a van or boat to weather and theft, so a storage facility is usually the better option.
Can I store a car in a self storage unit in Townsville?
Standard self storage units, including the units at French Street Self Storage in Pimlico, aren't designed for vehicle storage. For a car, boat or caravan, look for a facility with dedicated vehicle bays, covered parking or enclosed vehicle storage.
Should I cancel my caravan registration while it's in storage?
You can cancel a Queensland registration through the Department of Transport and Main Roads and may get a refund of the unused portion, minus a cancellation fee. But moving an unregistered caravan or trailer on the road later may need an unregistered vehicle permit, so it's usually only worth cancelling for very long storage.
How do I stop mould in a stored caravan in Townsville?
Clean and dry the van before storage, empty the fridge and leave its door open, drain the water system, leave cupboards slightly open for airflow and add moisture absorbers. Check the van at least monthly through the wet season, when Townsville's humidity is highest.
Need Room in the Garage?
Our Pimlico units suit camping gear, fishing tackle and tools rather than vehicles. All units at French Street Self Storage are currently leased — get in touch to ask about future availability, or call (07) 4356 8367.
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