24 hours in Townsville

[Buzzard]

In October I am doing a JASA ADL - TSV. Arrive on a Tuesday, depart Thursday morning so will have a full day available Wednesday. I will be on my own as Mrs Buzzard will be visiting family in Armidale and surrounds.

Does anybody have any suggestions for 24 Hours in Townsville?

All and any suggestions much appreciated...... Buzz

 

[eastwest101]

Hotel on/near the Strand if possible, if you like the outdoors bring swimmers, daytrip over to Magnetic Island and back late afternoon, on Magnetic Is either hire a car or just get a bus around. Accom on Magnetic Island should be reasonably priced. If you hire a car in Townsville you can go to Magnetic Is and the car ferry is slower but is fine. You can catch the car ferry without a car if you prefer and again - its slower but cheaper, the passenger ferries are faster and more frequent. If you don't hire a car in Townsville try to get acomodation in the city, on Palmer Street or on the Strand. Try the C-Bar on the Strand for Breakfast, if you are a real foodie try to eat The Garden of Eating in South Townsville (best restaraunt in town)

I'll be away at work but enjoy the town.

Edit: Forgot to add - I have not been myself but a lot of people have reported the Townsville RAAF museum as being pretty interesting if you are interested in history/aircraft... (its very close to the airport - taxi drivers will know how to get there)

 

[Buzzard]

Mrs Buzzard has booked me into the Ridgemont Executive Motel on Victoria Street. Will definitely give Garden of Eating a nudge on Tuesday night. Have heard about this place before so it's reassuring that it is mentioned again by eastwest101.

 

[HarryB]

+1 for Magnetic Island and the RAAF Museum. If you're active you can walk up Castle Hill and the view when you get there is great..

For food in the city area The Brewery and The Saltcellar are excellent, and Ciabatta is also great but not quite in town. Still, its not that far.

Don't ever stay at Rydges Southbank, despite the convenient Palmer St location. They tell you it's a newly refurbished hotel but its just been painted and got new carpet. Seriously, who "refurbishes" a hotel and puts shower curtains in?

It's the JASA destination of choice for us in Adelaide so it's worth a good look about because you might just end up back there at some point!

 

[markis10]

Hotel on/near the Strand if possible, if you like the outdoors bring swimmers, daytrip over to Magnetic Island and back late afternoon, on Magnetic Is either hire a car or just get a bus around. Accom on Magnetic Island should be reasonably priced. If you hire a car in Townsville you can go to Magnetic Is and the car ferry is slower but is fine. You can catch the car ferry without a car if you prefer and again - its slower but cheaper, the passenger ferries are faster and more frequent. If you don't hire a car in Townsville try to get acomodation in the city, on Palmer Street or on the Strand. Try the C-Bar on the Strand for Breakfast, if you are a real foodie try to eat The Garden of Eating in South Townsville (best restaraunt in town)

I'll be away at work but enjoy the town.

Edit: Forgot to add - I have not been myself but a lot of people have reported the Townsville RAAF museum as being pretty interesting if you are interested in history/aircraft... (its very close to the airport - taxi drivers will know how to get there)

The majors don't allow their cars on Maggie, only Europcar.

 

[AstroDamo]

I'm in Townsville atm on a JASA weekend second time last time went to Magnetic Island, took a look around the strand. Castle Hill is excellent as long as you don't mind the climb. Reef HQ was good and they had a few shows, turtle hospital was quite informative but otherwise a little smaller then I'd expected and the tropical museum of North Queensland was quite interesting.

This time so far went down to the river near Condon and went on the Ross River cruise at Ross river Dam although they only run on weekends. Heading back to magnetic Island tomorrow with my snorkel and swimmers ready this time.

I'm quite surprised by the amount of status runners that come up here and head straight back, it's a lovely place to visit.

 

[eastwest101]

Yes - Tropical Museum of North QLD is quite good - well worth a look, can't believe I forgot about that. The town is not quite looking its best at the moment as we didn't really have a proper wet season and things are definately dry. For future reference for other AFFers April through to June is pretty nice as its still green from the wet season but temps and humidity are much more pleasant than Jan-Feb.

Ciabatta is excellent and can second HarryB's opinions - its also possibly a good option as I think the Garden of Eating does not open on one week night (not sure if it is Mon or Tues night).

And markis10 would undoubtably be correct on only Europcar allowing mainland rental cars on Magnetic Is, there are only 1 or 2 places to rent a car on Magnetic Is and if you are travelling alone the busses or a scooter/moped make more sense....

 

[jastel]

Taking your own car to Maggie costs about $170, catching the normal (not car) ferry is $32 return, ferrys go pretty much hourly, hiring a moped is $40 a day, cars a bit dearer, they are mostly little 4cyl topless models. There are only 10km of roads there so you don't need much. The roads are hilly and narrow though. Takes 15 minutes from one end to the other on a scooter.
On Maggie you can do jet ski, sailing, horseriding, hikes and swimming etc.

Castle Hill is a good lookout point, right in town, but a steep walk up. You can drive as well but.
Mt Stewart is a higher mountain lookout at the back of Tsv, about a 30km drive, but a higher/better view.
In the city is the Strand, Palmer St area, the Museum/Aquarium, the Casino and that's about it.
There are Barrier Reef/dive/fishing tours available but they will take longer time.

October should be hot...or maybe wet...or both.

 

[muffy28]

Thanks for the ideas. I also also be there for a weekend in October, 18th - 20th.

 

[Simo]

I always enjoy the strand and also Palmer St not bad either.

 

[Grogan]

Most of the good stuff has already been said, but +1 for Magnetic island, it is worth the trip. A couple of other eating places to consider are Table 51 on Palmer st, and Kobe at the casino.