Dropped in for a massage, and left the store absolutely blissed out and relaxed by their stellar therapeutic and customer service! Not to mention carrying several of their handmade, organic, all natural products.
Plant Essentials is Townsville's very own aromatherapy skincare company & eco beauty spa. It offers ethical products for health and beauty, and encourages reusing and recycling. There's even a discount on most of their locally-made products if you bring back your spent containers.
Not only do they have a large range of skincare and body products, but stock organic foods, herbs and teas. There is also an interesting variety of non-edible goods, ranging from relaxation music to jewellery.
Support local businesses who care for your health and the health of our planet!

As "the first Korean restaurant in Townsville", Zizigo Bibigo may have a lot to live up to, and it did not disappoint! If you like to try something unique and flavoursome, this is the place for you. Where else in town can you cook food at your own table with tongs and eat it with rice and chopsticks?
We ordered a set BBQ menu for two people which included assorted meats, vegetables, rice, side dishes and dessert. It seemed like a lot, however we managed to eat everything and left the restaurant comfortably full but not overstuffed.
The friendly waitresses looked after us well, showing us how to use the bbq grill at our table by placing some of the vegetables on it. She even came back later to slice up our strips of pork belly. Tip: do NOT grill the pork belly whole, like a bacon rasher, but cut it into bite-sized pieces using the scissors provided!
The dessert was interesting - vanilla icecream mixed in with yoghurt, and slices of canned peach. Tangy, sweet, familiar yet different.. all at the same time!
There was a whole host of intriguing menu items which we were tempted to try, from the colourful and whacky "Korean Cocktails" to the highly touted Bibimbop. With their new menu (introduced on 10/10/13), I am sure I will be back for more.

Approximate cost: $17 - 28

Though this cruise may have been voted the "Best business in 2010" on WOMO, this award may be a tad outdated by now.
We took the Sunday afternoon cruise, which began aboard an old bus which picks passengers up from the carpark meeting point. From there it is about a 10-minute bus trip to the MV Kathleen Mary, located on the banks of Lake Ross itself.
The dam cruise itself was fine, with 'Pop' pointing out points of interest or birds such as the Jabiru. He also offered a history of the area, but much of it has to be left to a strong imagination. Not much solid evidence remains since the dam was installed and the area was flooded with water years and years ago.
This tour seems popular with certain age groups. Perhaps if you are a kid aged between 5-10 or an adult who enjoys a more sedate pace of life this may be the tour for you. It is certainly a harmless way of passing 2.5 hours on a quite Sunday afternoon. For my partner and I, it seemed as if time stood still at certain points. Especially on the return trip when 'Pop' started up his singing accompanied by a type of karaoke soundtrack, which was made worse by the crackly sound system cranked up way too loud. Fortunately the boat is licensed and the only refuge was in the alcohol we could purchase.
This is definitely a cruise to avoid unless you're in the mood for "Obscure Songs of Yesteryear" (sorry!). As far as tour operators go, Heather and Pop are friendly and helpful. But the interest factor of the cruise is far too low for a repeat visit.

Approximate cost: $30.00

If you're looking for a classy bar in Townsville, the Heritage would have to be a frontrunner. However, it also caters for a quick snack before a proper dinner outing, with much to choose from its bar menu and pizza options.
They also have weeknight specials such as a dozen Oysters for less than $12. (Natural beats Kilpatrick any day!) These tasty morsels do well to draw punters in, who then linger to peruse the extensive list of cocktails - a Heritage specialty. If they don't have your favourite cocktail, speak to the well-mannered bar staff who will be happy to accommodate your needs.
The Patronus cocktail (featuring the use of Jagermeister) was unique, tasty and well-balanced. Not many bars in Townsville - let alone major Australian cities - can serve that up and get away with it.

Approximate cost: $20

For a restaurant specialising in Italian cuisine, the food wasn't amazing. I ordered the squid ink linguine with various seafood as described by the menu. When it came, the dish only contained pippis and no other seafood in sight. The white sauce it was served with was forgettable. Lastly, the pasta was well-cooked but not al denté by authentic Italian standards.
The wait staff were friendly and helpful, however cracked pepper and parmesan were not offerred unless asked for.
Zizzi's is probably on par to a casual dining experience at other local pizza and pasta restaurants, but a tad more expensive due to its Flinders St West location.
The replica Honda of Valentino Rossi's parked at the entrance of this Bar & Grill sums it up: Italian only through imitation.

Approximate cost: $30

Service was excellent when it was my turn to be served. There was a bit of a wait initially, but it was understandable as the store was quite full of customers.
The staff gave me a thorough foot impact analysis followed by a precise shoe fitting. They explained things clearly and I appreciated the detail they went into as I required shoes which fitted my specific needs.
The staff found me a pair of shoes which ticked all the boxes and I am very happy with. The shoes were slightly pricey, but I prefer good quality shoes over cheaper ones which may not last.
The Athletes Foot also has a ClubFit loyalty program which is free to join. This includes a 30-day return policy and points for money spent. For feet with special needs, I would recommend The Athletes Foot for excellent service and knowledge.

Contemporary cafe-style fare with an emphasis on decor and atmosphere. They serve a variety of hot beverages and breakfast items ranging from Granola to Eggs Benedict. Open only for breakfast and lunch except on Tuesdays. Friday and Saturday for special late night suppers. They do get quite busy during peak hours, but staff do their best to accommodate special requests if you ask nicely.
They are also the only stockist of Max Brenner chocolate in Townsville. I highly recommend their Chocolate Waffles and Ice Chocolate; delicious if you have a sweet tooth!

Approximate cost: $15

Although this business offers the usual takeaway options, with Packs for One, Two or Four, meat burger options, and an array of seafood and snacks; it isn't your typical greasy fish & chippery. Fresh fish (local and imported) can be cooked to order, salads come with different dressing options and they also offer a choice of battered, crumbed or grilled fish for extra variety. Service was friendly and my order was ready in the timeframe given. There is a small area to dine-in if you choose to as well. Soft drinks are available for purchase instore.
What The Fish even stocks a refrigerated selection of gourmet meats and seafood such as duck, quail and frozen lobster tail. For a more interesting seafood takeaway experience, What The Fish is definitely worthwhile.

Approximate cost: $12 - 30

This two-person team does it all themselves in this intimate and quirky restaurant. Wayne takes care of the food while Adele provides hospitality and table service.
The menu changes seasonally, and while some of the names may sound silly ie. "Lettuce Eat" or "Roobarb Rhubarb", the food is anything but. For entree we ordered their Tapas plate (Soft shelled crab, Lamb ribs and Pork & pistachio cigars) which was only so-so. It did improve with two main courses we selected: Rabbit pie with Moreton Bay bugs, and Lamb backstrap with grilled prawn. These came with a complimentary serve of garden salad. You may also choose from a Small or Large serving of any mains. The Small serves leave ample room to fit in dessert, which was my aim. I had to find out what the intriguing Tequila, Lime and White Chocolate Mousse dessert "Down Mexico Way" tasted like. Does it say it comes with Guacamole Icecream?? Why yes it does. And yes it tasted like guacamole, but frozen! The Choc-Chilli coated Corn chips wedged into the Chocolate Mousse worked well also, despite my fondness for keeping these two flavours apart normally.
The restaurant offers indoor or alfresco dining, and bookings are highly recommended as they cater for up to 30 people only. BYO alcohol as they are not licensed.

Approximate cost: $19-40

This is one of those takeaway places only locals know about. If not for the sign out front, you would barely realise it is a food-takeaway business. Nor do they offer a menu you can take with you for future orders. Yet speaking to the friendly proprietress, I found out that she and her husband have run this no-frills business in the same spot for 35 years!
This is plain and simple Chinese takeaway, and the best in Townsville for my money. The waiting area is adorned with nothing but plastic chairs, faded wall hangings and outdated magazines. A loud buzzer (with warning sign!) informs of your arrival.
Their menu offers variety as well as the usual takeaway fare. We chose Fried rice, Chef's Steak special and Combination with Oyster sauce. Both mains were above average, however I felt the fried rice was somehow lacking in colour and vigour. Which is a shame, because you can tell a lot about a Chinese takeaway from their fried rice!
Still, for a weeknight where you can't be bothered to cook, Chopsticks will fill you up for around $35 and you may even have leftovers the day after.

Approximate cost: $12-15