The only Rugby World Cup 2003 host cities with direct flights to Townsville are Brisbane and Sydney. Brisbane is shortest of these at just under two hours, although Sydney is only around two and a half hours.
Townsville is only reachable by direct train from Brisbane, a journey which takes a day. From any other host city you have to first travel to Sydney, which is then 15 hours by rail to Brisbane.
To drive to Townsville will take 20 hours from Brisbane with Canberra and Sydney two days away, Melbourne and Adelaide three days and Perth around four days.