Townsville Trip | October 2025

Well, the stars aligned and I was able to book a little trip for myself to my hometown. I am very grateful to my partner who encouraged me to go and be with my family and spend quality time with my grandma who is unwell. My sister and I were able to arrange flights together, so I was able to give her a hand with her wiggly one-year old!

As we get older, time spent with family becomes so much more cherished. This trip was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my roots, reminisce, and enjoy time with those who are important to me. It was delightful to slow down, step back and rejuvenate back home.

Townsville Highlights

Well, a lot of my highlights are gardens and food - what can I say, I'm a plant girly who loves to eat!

• C Bar, The Strand - a breezy cafe restaurant looking over the ocean. Perfect spot for a light lunch and a cocktail. I went for the classic battered fish, chips and salad, and chose the "light" option (smaller portion) as I didn't need a huge meal. Mum and I both got a Pink Gin Pepper Spritz cocktail, which was delightfully refreshing, with strawberry puree, grapefruit juice and tonic.

• Anderson Gardens, Pimlico - we enjoyed a stroll through the gardens one afternoon, and it brought back memories of the many visits when we were kids. Enormous rain trees provided plenty of shade, and the variety of other tropical trees were awesome to see. We circled the pond in the middle of the gardens, where families of geese were grazing in the sun. We even spotted some pink lotus flowers beginning to open!

• Sirens Bayside, Belgian Gardens - a small busy busy cafe close to the beach, offering wholesome healthy food and drink options. It is child and pet friendly, with an enclosed outdoor garden, featuring shady umbrellas, play area and pet water bowls. I ordered the Avo & Egg, and an Elixir Soda (tumeric, ginger & lime). We ended up staying longer so decided to get dessert too - the daily special was a berry crumble, served with the most delicious vanilla bean ice cream I've ever had! I love that most menu items are locally sourced and freshly made in-house. Such a cute spot!

• The Strand & Castle Hill - the icons of Townsville, the beautiful beach and the rocky hillside nestled in the city centre. Both are superb for walks and stunning views, all year round! We cooled off at Stand Water Park, and then took a drive up Castle Hill to experience the panoramic views of the coral sea and surrounds.

• Grandma's Cafe, North Ward - a delightful brunch and dessert cafe with a cabinet full of homestyle baked goods. I went for a classic shakshuka with capsicum, feta and sourdough toast, plus a refreshing home made pink lemonade. I was also very tempted by the huge slices of basque cheesecake - maybe next time!

• The Palmetum, Aitkenvale - one of our last stops for the trip. Another place filled with childhood memories of picnics and chasing birds. We walked through the shady rainforest paths, marvelling at how tall the trees were! I was especially fascinated by the incredible epiphytes (plants that attach themselves to tree trunks to grow) such as monsteras and philodendrons. So cool to see the plants I keep in little pots at home, out in the wild and ginormous!

I hope you enjoyed this summary of my Townsville trip - perhaps it's inspired you to visit too! Next time I head up north, I'll be checking out more local favourites - if you have recommendations, feel free to comment below!

Thanks for reading :) Jess