Things to do in North Coast
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Paronella Park
Mena Creek’s main claim to fame is the unusual Paronella Park, which features the ruins of a Spanish castle hand-built in the 1930s. Floods, fire and moist tropics have rendered these mossy remains almost medieval. Entry includes free camping in the adjacent caravan park and a night tour at 6.20pm and/or 8.30pm.
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Adrenalin Dive
Day trips to the Yongala (from $220) and Wheeler Reef (from $280), both including two dives. Also offers snorkelling (from $180) on Wheeler Reef as well as live-aboard trips, and dive certification courses.
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Coral Sea Kayaking
To Dunk Island.
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Billabong Sanctuary
Just 17km south of Townsville, this eco-certified wildlife park offers up-close-and-personal encounters with Australian wildlife – from dingoes to cassowaries – in their natural habitat. There are feedings, shows and talks every half-hour or so. Transfers are available from Townsville with Abacus Tours.
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Shrubbery Taverna
Shaded by bamboo gardens, this local hang-out is great for seafood tapas, salt and pepper prawns and creamy seafood chowder. Live music on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
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Fat Possum Cafe
Aptly named for the well-fed possums scampering around the island. The best pickings are on the specials board; Sunday's $15 all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is something of a village social event.
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Castle Hill Walking
If the temperature's right (ie the asphalt's not melting) it's worth scrambling to the top of this striking 286m-high red hill (an isolated pink-granite monolith) for the view. Walk up via the rough 'goat track' (2km oneway) from Hillside Cres. There's also a road (via Gregory St or Stanley St), if you're driving.
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Cactus Jacks
Lively locals devouring nachos, the hum of margaritas whizzing in blenders and a Tex Mex bric-a-brac interior make this a popular spot.
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Piccolo's
A local says they do they best pizzas outside of Naples.
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Cbar
Serving full meals throughout the day, from coconut prawns with mango salsa to Moroccan-style beef tagines.
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Museum of Tropical Queensland
The MTQ reconstructs scenes using detailed models with interactive displays. At 11am and 2.30pm you can load and fire a cannon, 1700s-style; galleries include the kid-friendly MindZone science centre and displays on north Queensland's history from the dinosaurs to the rainforest and reef.
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Ocean Dive
Ocean Dive sells dive paraphernalia. Apart from the Great Barrier Reef, the big attraction for divers is the stunning and spooky Yongala shipwreck. There are several dive companies, most offering Yongala options, but you need to have an open-water certificate to see it. Dive companies are only as good as their staff, who change frequently in this business. Ask other travellers for current recommendations
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Ay Ot Lookout
You'll need the free cuppa to recover from the caretaker's ghost stories at Ay Ot Lookout . The timber building is one of many around town built using a method known as ‘balloon framing', where the walls lack external cladding, and so do not have a cavity that can lead to vermin problems. It's said to be haunted by its former owner and a mysterious young woman.
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Strand
Stretching 2.2km, Townsville's palm-lined waterfront is interspersed with parks, pools, cafes and playgrounds. Its golden-sand beach is patrolled and protected by two stinger enclosures from November to May.
At the northern tip is the rock pool , an enormous artificial swimming pool surrounded by lawns and sandy beaches. Alternatively, head to the chlorinated safety of the heritage-listed Olympic-size swimming pool, Tobruk Memorial Baths.
There's also a brilliant little water playground for kids.
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Bush Tucker Gourmet Breakfast
The Bush Tucker Gourmet Breakfast with the koalas at ecocertified Bungalow Bay Koala Village lets you try guava champagne and breakfast in the company of some friendly native birds and creatures. If you’re not an early riser, there are animal petting and photo opportunities during the day (10am, noon and 2.30pm).
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Reef HQ
An enthralling way to spend a few hours, this aquarium has the best of the reef in a series of recreated reefs. Check out the turtles, sharks, rays and sawfish (a pleasant change to seeing their snout pinned to Queensland’s pubs’ walls). Different tours leave every half hour until 4pm.
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Naked Fish
Snookering prime position, a sea of green-blue walls and a starry ceiling and ocean-inspired menu keep the punters coming. Seafood melds with Cajun, Moroccan, tempura and other influences on the extensive menu and you can dine outside beneath a magnificent, giant fig tree. Limited vegetarian options.
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Ladah
The menu’s written on butchers’ paper on the wall, but this ain’t no primary-school cooking class – it’s special. The cinnamon scones with jam and cream are indulgent and delicious, or try the flourless choc hazelnut mud cake. Breakfast is served all day and the coffee’s great.
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Mountain Bike tours
Mountain Bike tours gives you the opportunity to meander through the Licuala and Tam O'Shanter state forests (round trip takes about two hours). The folk at the Mission Beach Information Station at Wongaling Shopping Centre can offer directions for the self-guided loop tour.
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Cultural Centre
Showcases the history, traditions and customs of the Wulgurkaba and Bindal people. Call for guided tour times.
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Tobruk Pool
The Strand-side Tobruk Pool is a bright and lively swimming complex, buoyed by its history as the training spot for the 1952 and 1964 Australian Olympic swim teams. The B&W photo exhibition and other human fish memorabilia are worth a look.
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Solar City Smart Lifestyle Centre
The main road to Horseshoe Bay houses the Solar City Smart Lifestyle Centre, which demonstrates how solar power works and how 500 Maggie homes will be fitted with solar power (currently all power and water is piped in from the mainland).
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Miners Cottage
A dusty collection of the town’s antiques can be seen at the wonderful, privately owned Miners Cottage, which caught a resident ghost on film. Staff here will play a few tunes on the accordion and teach you some gold-panning skills.
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Banister's Seafood
You can do the whole sit-down thing and order off the menu chalked on the blackboard of this BYO-only seafood joint, or grab some takeaway and head to a nearby beach.
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Woodstock Trail Rides
Situated 43km south of Townsville, this huge property has full- and half-day horse-riding trips as well as cattle musters for aspiring cowboys and girls. Transfers for full-day rides and cattle musters are included from Townsville. Bookings essential.
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