Hughenden to Townsville

Distance travelled today 139kms
Distance travelled so far 5,233kms

Back on to the Flinders Highway and off to the coast - destination Townsville! We had planned to stop at Torrens Creek, however there was not really much there so pressed on to Charters Towers which is a 248Km run (approx. 3 hours). Once there we headed for Burnzie's Bakery in Elizabeth Street. (9) Facebook  Due to the time we arrived and the local showing only finishing the day before (so alot of people in town) there were no pies left, however we tried an apricot danish and a mini M&M Donut these were both amazing! We then headed down the road for something more substantial for lunch and found a Red Rooster!
Then we left for Townsville still on the Flinders Highway and travelling the rest of the Overlanders Way!

We arrived at Shoredrive Motel Shoredrive Motel - Townsville, North Queensland, Australia - Shore Drive Motel which has onsite parking, comfortable rooms and is across the road from the beach in the late afternoon. We unpacked and then decided to go for a walk along the beach, note the sand here is VERY coarse not like sand in Newcastle or Sydney at all!

We did luck in though as the Townsville Ephemera Seaside Sculptures was on, this is an amazing display from different organisations and people of art along the Strand. Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures (townsville.qld.gov.au) We have been back since once it was dark and it is even better! Townsville along The Strand is very busy anytime we have been out there.

We visited Juliettes Gelatoria Juliettes – Artisan Gelato Highly recommend a visit here for a coffee; milkshake (with any of the gelato flavours!); or of course a gelato. Once you order what you want you can take it out the front of the building and sit at a table or sit in one of the "beach" chairs and watch the ocean! If looking for dinner our two choices while we stayed here were Fish n Chip Delights (9) Gail's Fish N Chip Delights | Facebook and Tony's Pizza Tony's Pizza & Gelati: Traditional Italian Pizza and Pasta (tonyspizzatownsville.com.au) both exceptional for taste and value for money.

The other good place for food is the Kiosk at The Strand (9) Facebook they have burgers, fish, chips and drinks.                  As Townsville was a bit of a rest stop for us we did not do a lot. We had planned on going to the Barrier Reef HQ Aquarium, but unfortunately it is closed for renovations and will not open until 2026!

But we did walk to the Queens Botanical Gardens Townsville Parks:: Queens Gardens ________________________________________ (soe-townsville.org) which was a nice oasis in the area and has two hedge mazes (not huge) and a nice rose garden.

We went and looked at the Rockpool at the end of The Strand, but it was a very windy day so did not go in!The Strand & Beaches - Townsville City Council Tomorrow we begin the trek down the coast and eventually home!