Walsh's fish bar is a hidden gem in my opinion and does a great takeaway trade servicing the local Oonoonba/South Townsville/Railway Estate areas with also many other locals like myself driving across multiple suburbs to buy my fish and chips from here. It's so good that it is always the first meal my parents ask me to arrange when they visit from out of town. Walsh's is a very small family style business that seems to rely totally on the word of mouth of their customers. I have never seen any advertising for their business and know that they don't have a website. The outside of the business is very, very plain with just a small sign stating the business name and tinted window's so you would never know that it was actually a take away shop when driving past it. There is no dine in area so all food is take away but there is a small old style waiting area for you to sit while your order is cooked fresh. What set's this business apart from others in my opinion is the quality and freshness of their fish and chips which I have found to be the tastiest fish and chips in Townsville and the reason I keep going back. Cost wise their prices are on a par with other local fish and chip takeaways while they also make nice fresh burgers as well. Due to their reputation and being a family business their trading hours finish very early in the evening around 8pm I believe so if you want to order you need to order early. I also highly recommend putting in a phone order because they are often so busy in the evenings that if you just turn up it can take a while for them to get around to cooking your order as everything is always made fresh and on demand.

Approximate cost: $2-10 per item

The Avenue's Hotel Is one of the newest pub restaurants to open in the Townsville area. Affectionately known as the Av Tav to locals the Avenue's Tavern has developed quite a following catering for a lot of newer housing areas in the north western Dalrymple road area. The Av Tav feature a new modern sports bar, poker machine room, standalone restaurant area, extensive outside beer garden area and standalone bottle shop with drive through. The night time crowd in the sport bar area on a Friday and Saturday night is filled with young people who are pre-drinking before generally heading to the nightclubs in town. The staff clear the sports bar area of a Friday and Saturday night in most cases to make room for a small dance area and feature a live musician. The staff is always friendly but it can take a while to be served at times because the place does such a brisk trade in the evenings. It can also be hard to line up for your drinks at time's as the lining up area is also the walk way to get to the toilets and at times it really is barely standing room only when the bar is busy. The food is of the normal pub style variety and in general on the higher side of average cost for pub meals but is to be expected when dining at a new modern facility. The food quality, freshness and portion size has always been of reasonable value when I have dined there. The Av Tav is a good place to catch up with friends for a quick meal and drink before continuing your evening at the night clubs in town

Approximate cost: $15-30

The riverview tavern is one of the ‘in' places to be seen in the Townsville area and is frequented by both professional type families during the day and young to not as young single crowds later in the evening. Situated on the banks overlooking the Ross River weir patrons enjoy their food and beverages overlooking the beautiful river scenery and in the wet season listening to the water trickle over the edge of the weir wall. The riverview tavern features a wide deck area where patrons can either eat or have a few relaxing drinks with a nice breeze. There is also plenty of inside dining room, a sports/TAB bar and a poker machine room to help everyone relax throughout their stay. The riverview tavern also has a function room available for private parties. During the week there are a number of different activities which are run during the evenings while I have been there including quiz nights, theme nights and live music. The Riverview tavern also has a drive through bottle shop and upmarket accommodation available. I food offered on the menu is of an upmarket pub variety and the prices are also on the higher side of average but generally fit with the patrons living in the area. The riverview tavern is a great place to come and relax and have a meal with family or friends and if you're single there is a good balance between groups of men and women stopping by for a few evening drinks.

Approximate cost: $15-35

The Sun hotel has recently undergone a thorough renovation and is now one of Townsville's premier sports bars. The Sun features new modern comfortable facilities allowing it to cater for the whole family. The Sun hotel features a TAB and Sports Bar area along with restaurant, poker machine room and kids play room to ensure that there is something enjoyable for everyone in the family. There are numerous big screen TV's placed around the venue so that you will never miss that all important game. The restaurant menu provides a reasonable range of pub style food with the prices ranging from average to a little more expensive. I have always found the meals to be of a reasonable quality and quantity fitting in with what I would expect to pay. There are regular raffles done around both bars in the evening which help support local community sporting and social clubs. I have always found their staff to be very sociable and enthusiastic towards the customer's needs. The pub cliental generally ranges from families with children and local couples coming in for dinner to other local working men whom enjoy catching the game and having a bet after work or on the weekends.

Approximate cost: $17-30

The Commonwealth hotel provides the best value pub style meals in all of Townsville in my opinion. There is a nice range of very good tasting pub style meals at the cheapest prices I've seen in the local area. The pick of the menu for me is their reef and beef meal which includes a big piece of rump steak, garlic prawns, salad and vegies/fries for under $25 which is generally less than you would pay for just a piece of steak at other venues. They run specials each day also which are generally only $7 for the meal which are unbeatable. The pub itself is a very old style venue with the main bar receiving a nice coastal breeze in the afternoon. Patrons can either eat their meals inside or in the shaded beer garden depending on preference. There is regular live music at the venue advertised times and dates on the pin board. The Commonwealth is great for a good meal and drink with friends and is one of the only hotels left that I know of that do not feature poker machines, priding itself on its great customer service and value drinks and meals.

Approximate cost: $10-25

This review is in relation to the first aid and CPR side of the Remoteareadive (RAD) business. I have had the RAD team come out and train my employees each year for the last four years in Applied First Aid and CPR. The RAD team have trainers with plenty of first aiding life experience which makes it very easy for them to relate to their first aid students. I have found that the RAD trainers have always taken their time with their students to make sure that everyone can confidently perform basic first aid practically. The RAD team provide a good balance between theory and practical components of the course and were always happy to answer any questions even if they were about more advanced instances than the general course provided for. I found the RAD courses on the lower end of average for course providers in the local area. They were also very accommodating and flexible with their dates, times and location of course to best suit us. They were also negotiable on price for larger group numbers. I feel much more confident as a person knowing up to date practical first aid skills thanks to the RAD team.

Approximate cost: $120

I have been going to the Mobil Walkabout Palms roadhouse for meals at least once per week for 5 years. These guys have a great mix of pre and freshly cooked options for people on the go. You have the option to either sit down and dine in at the roadhouse or to takeaway. Their food is extremely good value cost and taste wise. Apart from being the cheapest place in the Townsville area I know for burgers and roast rolls they also provide the tastiest and best value combinations as far as I am concerned. My favourite is the roast roll combo which feature a roast roll, chips and drink for only $6.50 which leaves me completely filled. At other takeaway's I spend 2-3 times that amount of money to feel full and I don't believe it is as nearly tasty as what these guys make.

Approximate cost: $7