Where to eat, stay and play in Townsville

Kate Symons Kate Symons
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From swim-up bars to buzzing eat streets and island escapes, explore all the best bits of tropical Townsville.

With its postcard-worthy landscapes and more than 300 days of sunshine each year, Townsville is a genuine tropical playground. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy your time in the North Queensland capital.

Miss Songs Townsville
Ocean views and Southeast Asian flavours are aplenty at Miss Songs.

Eat

Miss Songs

Part of multi-million-dollar renovations at The Ville resort, Miss Songs is worthy of its new digs.

a bright and cosy dining interior at Miss Songs Townsville
A look inside Miss Songs.

Delectable Southeast Asian flavours reign, including favourites such as Peking duck pancakes and san choi bao, and the setting pairs sophistication with waterfront chill.

Southeast Asian menu at Miss Song Townsville
You’ll find Miss Songs inside Townsville’s The Ville resort.

Address: Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4810 Australia

Miss Song Townsville
Pair your Asian feast with a cocktail from Miss Songs’s drink menu.

City Lane

If you’re the type that can’t decide what you feel like eating, City Lane has got your back. 

crowded isle along City Lane Townsville
City Lane is a laneway precinct brimming with restaurants, small bars and shops.

Simply head to the creative laneway precinct and let your senses do the choosing. There are a range of options, including Italian favourite Donna Bionda, Harri Dumpling and Born Wild wholefoods, as well as small bars and shops, all enveloped in friendly urban buzz.

a glass of cocktail at Quarterdeck
Have a cocktail drink at Quarterdeck.

Address: 373/401 Flinders St, Townsville City, QLD, 4810

The Ville's Quarterdeck
The view from The Ville’s Quarterdeck.

JAM

JAM Restaurant is a Townsville institution thanks to Matt Merrin’s innovative menus, created using fresh, local produce.

menu at The Ville's Quarterdeck
A standout selection of some of the seafood and starters on offer at The Ville’s Quarterdeck.

A delicious choice at any time of day, JAM is most famous for its award-winning breakfast menu. Local consensus will steer you towards the Asian chicken omelette, but you can’t go wrong.

Address: 1 Palmer St, South Townsville QLD 4810

The Ville's Quarterdeck
Don’t skip the dessert menu while visiting The Ville’s Quarterdeck.

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Bridgewater

The new kid in town, Bridgewater has made a solid impression with an elegant entry into Townsville’s dining scene. Expectations were high ahead of last year’s grand opening – Matt Merrin of JAM fame is behind the project, after all. The two-storey venue houses a restaurant and bar, making it a hit from casual drinks to special occasions.

Address: 2/2 Dibbs Street,, Townsville, QLD, 4810 (cnr Tomlin)

Splash Bar The Ville
Take advantage of the swim-up Splash Bar at The Ville.

Tobin Fish Tales

A takeaway shop with a difference, Tobin Fish Tales is owned and operated by two fisheries scientists committed to bridging the gap between fishers and consumers. As well as locally sourced and sustainably caught seafood, the fish-and-chip shop serves up easy-to-digest sustainability information.

Address: 2/1 Rose St, North Ward, Qld, 4810

Palm House The Ville
Eat at The Ville’s inhouse restaurant, Palm House.

Longboard Bar & Grill

The beach vibes are strong with this one. Longboard Bar & Grill puts you in front of the water and in the mood for a long and lazy lunch, complete with sea breezes. With live entertainment until sunset, the Sunday Sesh is a Townsville icon and bookings are recommended.

Address: The Strand Headlands, 80 Gregory St, Townsville, QLD, 4810

The Ville's pool
The standout views from The Ville’s pool.

Stay

The Ville

A $43 million redevelopment has turned Townsville’s poorly performing casino into a slick and inviting resort.

bikes at The Ville Townsville
The Ville is one of Townsville’s classiest accommodation options.

Overlooking beautiful Cleveland Bay and nearby Magnetic Island, the Ville’s resort pool, complete with swim-up bar, and adjacent Quarterdeck bar are heroes of the facelift, celebrating the lifestyle and landscapes that give Townsville its charm.

King Ocean View room at The Ville
The King Ocean View room at The Ville.

Address: Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4810 Australia

King Ocean View room at The Ville
The living room of the King Ocean View room at The Ville.

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Rambutan

Forget what you know about backpacker hostels. Rambutan is a stylish version of the budget accommodation concept, smack bang in the middle of town.

With a rooftop bar and pool, an in-house restaurant, and air-conditioning and ensuite for each room, Rambutan boasts all the comforts of a boutique hotel without losing the playful atmosphere and affordability that can make a backpacker joint so appealing.

Address: 113-119 Flinders St, Townsville City, QLD, 4810

Rambutan Townsville
Rambutan has a rooftop bar and pool, an in-house restaurant, air-conditioning and ensuites.

Play

SS Yongala shipwreck

A mysterious and historically significant artificial reef teeming with marine life, the SS Yongala wreck is considered one of the world’s best dive sites. And it’s ready to explore just minutes from Townsville.

Adrenalin Dive offers two days trips each week, and the knowledgeable crew are a pleasure to journey with. Day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, Orpheus Island and Palm island are also available.

Address: 66-70 Perkins Street West, Railway Estate, Townsville, QLD, 4810

SS Yongala wreck
Explore one of the world’s best dive sites: the SS Yongala wreck.

Goat Track

It’s not everyone’s idea of ‘play’, but a walk to the top of Castle Hill, the pink granite monolith that stands proud in the middle of town, is certainly a rite of passage for locals. It’s a short and sharp effort, and the rewards are many with far-reaching views over the city and the bay.

Address: Castle Hill Road, Townsville, QLD, 4810

Castle Hill Townsville
Walk the Goat Track to the top of Castle Hill.

 

Hooch & Fellow

A cosy nook amid the revelry of Townsville’s nightlife precinct, Hooch & Fellow is Townsville’s first small bar and a go-to for excellent cocktails. The cocktail list is ever-changing – it has featured more than 1000 different concoctions in less than three years – and always indicative of the passionate bar staff. Plus, the classics are reliably satisfying.

Address: 181 Flinders St, Townsville City, QLD, 4810

Townsville Brewery

Get your fill of Townsville’s award-winning craft beer at the Townsville Brewery.

An ice-cold beer is the perfect complement to North Queensland’s hard-working sunshine and Townsville Brewery has been a popular watering hole for almost 20 years. Located in the city’s heritage-listed former post office building, the brewery certainly delivers with award-winning craft beers made just metres from the taps.

Address: 252 Flinders St, Townsville, QLD, 4810

Townsville Brewery

Magnetic Island

Just a hop, skip and jump – OK, a 20-minute ferry ride – from Townsville, Magnetic Island is a day tripper’s dream. The island is more than two thirds protected national park and its coastline is peppered with treasures both grand and discreet. An Aquascene Charter will help give you the lay of the land.

Address: Magnetic Island, QLD, 4819

Magnetic Island
Experience the best of Magnetic Island.
Planning a trip to Tropical North Queensland? Read our guide on what to do and where to eat, stay and play on your trip.

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Kate Symons
Kate Symons is a freelance writer with a particular passion for uncovering the people that make the place. On assignments near and far, she observes and absorbs, waiting for that satisfying moment when the story lede - the tale that is sure to entice - presents itself.
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Wine, dine and vintage gems: 8 things you didn’t know about Toowoomba

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    There’s more to Australia’s Garden City than meets the eye.

    With Victorian-era and traditional Queenslander buildings, an abundance of manicured gardens and the famous Carnival of Flowers painting the streets in vibrant colours each spring, Toowoomba is one of the most charming regional cities in Queensland Country.

    While its beauty alone is reason enough to visit, there are lesser-known sides to Toowoomba that locals love most, from its burgeoning culinary scene to its artistic flair. Located just a 90-minute drive from Brisbane (or a direct flight from Sydney), it’s all too easy to discover on a long weekend away.

    1. There’s an awesome local arts scene

    tour group walking in front of toowoomba street art
    Find incredible works of art around Toowoomba’s streets. (Credit: Nathan McNeil)

    Australia’s second largest inland city is a flourishing arts and culture hub waiting to be discovered. Over 100 vibrant street art murals and graffiti works decorate the city, and they’re best viewed along Bank Lane and Searles Walk.

    Regional Queensland’s oldest public art gallery can also be found in Toowoomba – it’s home to 20th-century Australian works created by Queensland artists and those connected to the Toowoomba region.

    2. It has world-class farm-to-table dining

    rosalie house aerial toowoomba secrets
    Stop into Rosalie House to wine and dine.

    As a regional city, Toowoomba has direct access to incredibly fresh produce that’s shaping its culinary scene. At sunset, head to the verandah at Rosalie House Cellar Door Restaurant for a grazing-style dining experience and to discover Queensland’s underrated wine scene. Indulge in dishes such as Warilba lamb rump and roasted pumpkin with ginger-roasted potatoes and lime yoghurt, paired with their delicious cool-climate wines.

    For a more relaxed affair, sweet tooths should make a beeline for award-winning The Baker’s Duck. Be sure to try their cult favourite strawberry cheesecake danish; you’ll learn why 35,000 of these treats are sold annually.

    3. Small bars are doing big work

    table spread at Uno Más small bar in toowoomba secrets
    Pop into small bars like Uno Más.

    Toowoomba doesn’t disappoint with fantastic pubs, but discerning drinkers can take happy hour to the next level at one of the city’s impressive small bars. Savour Spanish-style bites paired with a thoughtful line-up of wines at the newly opened Uno Más Tapas & Wine Bar. On Thursdays, head to Cork & Lever to tap your feet to live music over creative cocktails made with their all-Australian gin collection. And enjoy elevated toasties and premium drops at the cosy Press’d Coffee & Wine. Or try newly opened The Book Pour.

    4. There’s no shortage of fabulous stays

    Bunnyconnellen
    Chill out in beautiful surrounds at Bunnyconnellen. (Credit: Salt Media)

    Whether you prefer the buzz of the city centre or retreating to the hinterland, there are stylish stays aplenty to settle into in this idyllic corner of the world. Apartment-style living can be found at Quest Toowoomba; partly housed in a heritage church building in the city, it’s a comfortable and convenient base. And at The Arbour Boutique Apartments, spacious rooms are injected with old-world charm.

    In the hinterland, enjoy bucolic bliss at the boutique Bunnyconnellen, where an 1880s farmhouse and self-contained cottage are backdropped by rolling hills. And at the secluded Ravensbourne Escape, one-bedroom studios, two-bedroom chalets and three-bedroom holiday homes overlook Ravensbourne National Park and the Brisbane and Lockyer Valleys.

    5. It’s a nature-lovers paradise

    extinct volcanic peak Table Top Mountain
    Tackle Table Top Mountain. (Credit: Ariana Potamianakis)

    Toowoomba is hugged by national parks, making it a haven for nature lovers. On its doorstep you’ll find the extinct volcanic peak Table Top Mountain, where keen hikers can tackle the challenging two-kilometre return trail which rewards them with 360° views of the Lockyer Valley and surrounds.

    For a more gentle experience, Ravensbourne National Park offers peaceful walking trails within lush rainforest. It’s a top spot for bird watching as there are over 110 bird species that call the area home, including the paradise riflebird. Crows Nest National Park is home to platypus and koalas, and its refreshing natural swimming spots, like Kauyoo Pool, are a great place to beat the heat.

    6. Wellness enthusiasts are well looked after

    Toowoomba’s cool and calm energy lends itself to a wellness-focused getaway. Slated to open in August 2026, soak in the serenity at Vikasati Toowoomba, a bathhouse oasis with outdoor hot and cold magnesium pools, ice baths and Finnish saunas. Rest and recharge at City Cave Toowoomba, which offers float therapy, infrared sauna and massage services, or visit Kalm Springs for LED therapy, cryotherapy and float therapy.

    7. It’s preserved its 19th-century charm

    inside Queensland Museum Cobb + Co
    Learn all about the history of Cobb+Co.

    History buffs can step back in time at Toowoomba’s fascinating cultural and historical museums.

    Explore 50,000 years of Darling Downs and Toowoomba history at the Queensland Museum Cobb+Co; it’s known for its impressive National Carriage Collection of 47 restored horse-drawn vehicles, which were put to use for Queensland’s urban expansion. Visitors can also try their hand at blacksmithing or leadlighting in heritage workshops, refuelling with traditional scones at the onsite cafe.

    Train enthusiasts can celebrate the golden era of rail travel on a heritage steam locomotive thanks to the volunteer-driven, community-led organisation DownsSteam Toowoomba. Vintage train rides range from a two-hour journey between Toowoomba Station and DownsSteam Railway Museum to an overnight adventure from Toowoomba to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt

    8. There are vintage gems waiting to be found

    Whether it’s to pick up a unique piece for your home or a one-of-a-kind accessory for a loved one, you’re guaranteed to find something special in one of Toowoomba’s antique and vintage stores. Range Antiques sells everything from furniture, rugs and lamps to fine porcelain, jewellery and art, while Toowoomba Antiques & Collectables is a treasure trove of Art Deco, farmhouse, retro and mid-century modern pieces.

    Start planning your weekender of a lifetime in Queensland Country region at queenslandcountrytourism.com.au.

    Townsville: Where To Eat, Stay And Play