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The Road Ahead : February 2011
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PHOTOS, ABOVE, FROM TOP LEFT: FRESH AND LOCAL CUISINE AT MERCURE TOWNSVILLE, THE STRAND, REEF HQ TURTLE HOSPITAL, CASTLE HILL OVER LOOKING THE STRAND. WWW.ROADAHEAD.COM.AU THE ROAD AHEAD FEB/MAR 2011 32 T OUR GREAT STATE TOURISM QUEENSLAND TOWNSVILLE MAKES A good first impression as a lush tropical city, punctuated by Castle Hill rising out of its centre and the beauty of The Strand hugging its coastline. But closer inspection reveals that it's no empty beauty. A trip to the top of Castle Hill is a good starting point, with unsurpassed views of the city and out to Magnetic Island. The 2.5 kilometre walk along The Strand offers a range of ways to experience the relaxed outdoor lifestyle, with a free water park for the kids, protected swimming in the rock pool and eateries with a view such as CBar, which offers a well-chosen menu of casual dining staples. Magnetic Island, located just 8 km off the coast is the ideal day trip. Kick off your shoes and let the relaxed pace and picturesque views wash over you as you sit, swim, sip and stroll the day away. If all the water gazing has piqued your curiosity to what lies beneath, head to Reef HQ Aquarium just off the marina end of The Strand. Reef HQ is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium and is now home to the Reef HQ Turtle Hospital, which opened in 2009. Guided tours of the dedicated facility gives visitors an insight into how the hospital provides treatment and rehabilitation for sick and injured marine turtles. The turtles are instantly captivating, as is the whole aquarium, and it's well worth the visit. After some sight-seeing around town, thoughts turn to refreshment and The Brewery, home to the Townsville Brewing Co, and a good place to experience the taste of Townsville. Located in the heart of the CBD on Flinders Street, The Brewery is a good spring board to the rest of Townsville's night life with Townsville's bar precinct located further down the street hidden within the historic streetscape. Foodies should head across the pedestrian bridge to Palmer Street, Townsville's eat street with 18 different dining options. Sugatrain Restaurant is a good choice, offering contemporary Australian cuisine in a relaxed environment. For a city-style break, Grand Mercure Apartments Townsville on Palmer Street is in the middle of the action, with comfortable self- contained apartments enjoying city and Castle Hill views. For those after a languid tropical escape, choose the resort-style Mercure Townsville. The onsite restaurant Celcius offers a range of delicious meals with a focus on fresh and local ingredients, some grown amongst the resort's 4.3 hectares of immaculately groomed gardens. a taste of townsville Looking for a city break, without the traffic jams? Townsville has a lot to offer as a weekend getaway destination. STORY BELINDA PETERS ESSENTIAL INFO STAY: Mercure Townsville is rated 4 stars and Grand Mercure Apartments Townsville is rated 4 ½ stars. www. accorhotels.com. GO: Fantasea Cruising operate a pedestrian/vehicle ferry to Magnetic Island. www. fantaseacruising magnetic.com.au PRE-PURCHASE: RACQ members can pre-purchase Reef HQ tickets from RACQ and save. Visit www.racq. com/entertainment or your local store. PLAN: Plan your trip to Townsville with the RACQ Trip Planner www.racq.com/ tripplanner. TRAVEL OUR GREA S b k with
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