I've just spent the last few days in Townsville as there's an Outrigging Canoe Regatta im racing in this weekend. I usually bypass this town on my way to somewhere else. What a mistake that was!! I think this is one of the most Beautiful towns in Queensland. The Greenery on the Strand with waterfalls and the Rocky outcrops surrounding the town is Breathtaking!! Great Cafes of every type of food imaginable. Outstanding quality of the fresh food in the shops. Free Camping at the BP and nearby. Great Beaches with Magnetic Island as a backdrop and shelter while paddling. Yep, I'll be coming back! (National Outrigging titles here, later in the year :))

Agree Krusty. I visit Townsville every winter and have grown to like the place too. I also agree with "The Starnd". They have THE BEST Artisan Gelato there "Juliet's" YUMMO. The pub on the Strand do a nice meal as well.

I will be in Townsville very soon.

Thanks Moorey, I'll check those things out, especially the Riverway! I've been lap swimming in the Tobruk baths, delightful! And, Dougwe, after my swim I walk up the Strand to that pub on the corner for Lunch, Delicious! I'm Constantly Amazed with amount and age of all the Banyan Trees. They would have to be one of my favourite Trees. :)

Finally.
Somebody who appreciates heaven........

Best town in Australia. Should be the Capital.

When you go up Mt Speck pull in where other cars are, on L.H Sides going up.
And spend some time in the pools flowing down. Magic..
All the locals cool off there in the heat. (no croc's.)

I raced in those Outriggers (Cap Coast) till I was 68 too.
We do a series of regatta's up Q'Land coast every yr.
I've got a coupla as new Paddles for sale too. 52in but can be shortened easy.
($340 new Then. I'll take $100)

Walking down the Mall. Think of my son. he was the contractor that did the paving there.
The first Qualified tradesman paver.. in Australia.
That was back in '94.

I was on the large excavator digging out the second lake at Garbutt at same time too.

We used to go Spanno fishing offshore.
My biggest ever Spanish came from there 82lbs. cleaned. back in late '70's.
And a 32kg Cobia here (Pinacles) coupla yrs ago.

You want some good serious fishing up there. we used to go to Cairns, Douglas.

go to gameboat pier. OUT of Marlin season. And hire smaller marlin boat for a day or two (several of you).
They go out mackerel fishing off season.
I had one used to take me out for 1/4 cost of day or trips fuel.
He was going out anyway. Cash job shut mouth.

Wow, small world. You'd know JJ & Denise from Cap Coast OCC, wonderful people. Cap Coast have lent us two OC6's to get Outrigging going here at 1770. I used to paddle Dragon Boats but now compete in OC's. Our town is too small to have our own Club so we've joined (2nd Training venue) Bundaberg OCC They've given us an OC4 to keep here (surfs the sandspit like a Bloody Beauty!!) If your down this way give me a yell and we'll take you for a paddle. OC1 National Titles in Townsville this year, on the Strand. Should be Great Fun!!

I'll let JJ know when I see him next, probably at the Great Keppel Island Regatta in a few weeks. Yep ours is a cut down classic, bit of a pig to paddle but gee it surfs well. Our set up is quite unique, as you probably know, in that we can catch waves without ever hitting a beach, 3kms on a wave is the record with waves over a km nearly every session. The new thinking on paddle technique is a low setup with the elbow never going above the shoulder. It keeps shoulder injuries to a minimum. Too bad you're not still competing as you'd clean up in the Platinum Masters (over '70s). Mind you, there's a couple of Platinum Masters I can't catch, one who stays about 100m in front of me every race and the other is that far in front I can hardly see him. :) I'll let everyone know about the paddles, Xylobladz?

It's not a bad place! I visited in 1971 & thought it was a hot, dry dusty dump of a place in comparison to Darwin (where I lived at the time). However we transferred from SA to Townsville in mid 1987 with work & are still here! Under the "Greening Townsville" program led by the council, it has become a more pleasant city to live in. Our summers are fairly unpleasant though.
There is lots to see, lots of facilities - health wise & commercial, lots of things to interest people & lots of birds if you're a bird watcher.