A few people have been asking for info on kite spots near Townsville, and jelly fish.
I'm a marine biologist based on Magnetic Island just off Townsville, but I've lived in the area since 87 and windsurfed most of the major spots, now kiting but mainly on the island. The crew at the local kite shops (Kite & Board Co 4724 3575 and Its Extreme) could give you more up to date info on the exact kiting characteristics of the mainland locations.
I have posted a google pic at:
http://www.tevenei.com/tvm/tsv_kite_spots.htmwhich shows the major spots.
Pallarenda, the Northern Beaches (Mt Low, Saunders, Balgal, etc), and Alva beach, are all gently sloping sandy beaches which receive the prevailing SE to NE winds. They can have fairly wide sand flats at really low tide, and get some half decent wind driven waves once the wind is above 20 knots, especially if it is up for a few days. Alva and the Northern beaches generally get better wind flow and waves than Pallarenda, as they are more exposed. These beaches are best for kiting on the lower half of the tidal range, and near the creek mouths you can find some flat water areas among the sand bars. They are quite good for beginners at lighter winds, as there is plenty of space downwind and a wide shallow beach.
Magnetic Island is more of an intermediate location, as the launches are tighter, there are reef flats to contend with, and not as much of a margin for error downwind if things go wrong. It gets more wind than Townsville, especially in the stronger SE blows, and larger waves which will break on the reef if the tide is right. In SE, E, and ENE winds the only place to kite is Nelly Bay, which is where the ferry comes in. The launch area is the old helipad about half way along the beach. Beware of the powerlines and the road near the launch area to the downwind side. You'll need at least 1.2m of water to cover the reef flat, and some surf booties are a good idea. The wind usually blows SE in the morning which is cross onshore, then drops a little and swings to E around midday (onshore), then fills in again from the ENE by about 2pm and blows through till dark. Horseshoe Bay faces North and works in NNE and NW winds that we get in summer. I've yet to really ride this spot a lot, but I think it will be best on the NW wind, launching from the west end of the bay. The other advantage of the island is that it has a surf-able wave at Florence Bay, on the NE end of the island. Wind needs to be above 20 knots and tide low for it to work, but in these conditions it will be a head-high right and we have a lot of fun on it (just leave your aggro on the mainland
). In 30 knots of wind I've ridden it double overhead, but this is a once a year type event. Still, if the tide is too low to kite, then you can still get some waves. there is a wind graph for Townsville on the seabreeze site, and the AIMS website has a windmeter reading from Cleveland bay just off the island. Those interested in downwinders - you can catch the ferry over with your gear, walk to the launch at the old helipad, and kite the 10k or so back to Townsville.
Jelly fish - yes they are around from October to May. The box jelly is found on beaches near mangroves - so all the mainland beaches, and Horseshoe bay on the island. Irukandji are found both near the mainland and near the island, especially when the wind is N. Easy way to avoid stings - cover up! Lycra suit is quick and easy and saves you a nasty trip to the hospital and 24 hours on IV morphine (and that is just the Iruk...the box kills you in 15 mins).
Hope this helps! I bet some of the Townsville crew can add some more details for the mainland spots.
theres a vid i made of me and some mates in the flat water with out kicker 
