I met a colleague here for morning tea. Tea was fine. Came in a pot with accoutrements as I like. Selecting food was another matter. Nothing different from any other cafe and all sandwiches starting from about $7.50. I didn't want to soend a fortune just for a snack so opted for a plain salad sandwich and, my oath, was it plain. between two thick slices of white doorstop bread was a pile of grated carrot, a sliver of tomato, a few other bits and no mayo. The bread had but a tiny smear of butter (or marg) on each slice. It was dry and almost inedible. I am sorry to report that. The guy on the next table had a full brekkie which looked really great and well presented. This seems to be a common problem of cafes. One pays an inordinate amount for a sub-standard sandwich which takes a moment to fling together whilst they are happy to slave over a cooker to produce a plateful of sustaining food for about $6 extra. I felt short-changed here and would never re-visit.

When is a hotel a pub - and a pub a hotel? They are both things in Australia which makes it tricky to categorise. This place is a pub, a bistro and has accommodation upstairs. The room was cheap. $50. However, it was a "cell" (no window) and the light fixture in the bathroom was wonky. However, a breakfast was thrown in so not bad. In the morning you could toast bread and have cereal. We spent the prior evening in the bar and bistro, the highlight of which was the rissoles. Hubby declared them the best he'd ever had (apart from mine of course). It's a shame they cannot improve the rooms as the upstairs is quite charming (yet very shabby). The sort of old hotel where there is a bookcase and games to play, and plenty of places to lounge about. Could be a fabulous place if there was money to spend on it.

I entered a "WOW" for "overall" but things change and we have only been here for just over a week. Nevertheless, everything thus far has been good. Reasonable rate possibly due to it being the off-season). The cabin was pristine cleanliness-wise and wonderfully equipped. There seems to be a mix of short and long-termers here which makes it a pleasant place to be. Certainly well maintained and nicely quiet and orderly. A place I would bring my grandchildren to. The site shop is well-stocked and the prices are reasonable. The staff are helpful and friendly and there is a good atmosphere here.

We were weary travellers and after taking a wrong turn just 5kms short of Lochinvar - were pleased to finally arrive at the hotel/motel 90 minutes later! Having stayed the previous night in an almost identical motel room for $75 we were not delighted to pay $120 to stay here. An out of the way area, off season - rip off really. But the room was comfortable and clean. On the upside I was pleased to get a glass of decent red for under $6. Would have liked to sample something different from the menu but the lure of the Sunday Roast was too much. Had soup of the day to start. Pumpkin. Okay but not enough of it for the money. The roast was as they all are. Heaps of sliced pork, not enough veg! But that's me. Also "me" was the fact it was swimming in gravy which I love, but hubby was unhappy and scooped it all off the plate. Gravy in a "boat" is a better option. A nice pub though, better than most Tidy and warm. Although I do dislike small children and toddlers being allowed to run amok amok with a ball through a bar service area.....

Pulling into a motel late afternoon on spec., usually means a rip-off rate but in this case not. We had travelles around and been quoted outrageous rates of up to $140 per night at 2nd rate places. But this one was $75 and a very good room. One dble and 1 single bed, a nice bathroom, tv, lots of tea, coffee etc AND electric blankets! We were warm and comfortable in this room - which was clean. Cannot comment on the attached pub. It was Queen's Birthday weekend and it appeared the entire town of Glenn Innes had gone into a coma for those days. The room was a bargain for $75. Which sort of negates the indifferent and offhand attitude by the woman on duty who booked us in.

Firstly, I am reviewing the upstairs accommodation - not the downstairs bar/facilities. We had phoned ahead to book a room in advance for a week. Cheap at $150 - that should have been a clue. Arrived, paid by eftpos and then upstairs. Oh my God. The room allocated had not been cleaned after the last occupant so we hung around until we were given another. The room had 2 single beds, a wardrobe and a sink. No heater, no tv. The carpet had not seen a vacuum cleaner for a few months. Sheets on bed but only covers were threadbare candlewick spreads. And under the lower sheets were sheets of very rustly plastic. Along the rambling upstairs floor were 2 Gents and one Ladies. The Ladies did not have a lock on the door or a light in the toilet, and as it was becoming clear this was basically a boarding house for single men I was not keen to remain. We did get our payment reversed and the lady was helpful and happy to do it. That was a plus. I think she realised this isn't a place to bring your wife, mother or girlfriend! Just a shame they don't explain that when you book on the phone.

It's not often I rate a takeaway but this one deserves mention.
Mainly chicken here - in all forms. But also crumbed fish, a great selection of salads and the most crunchy and delicious vegetarian spring rolls. What I liked the most about this place was that all of the many food options were laid out in a chilled cabinet for viewing. Everything was clean and fresh looking. You make your selections, they are tonged onto a clean plate and then cooked before your eyes. (How I dislike takeaways when you cannot see the kitchen/cooking process!). There's roast chicken and chicken meals, wraps, burgers, crumbed etc etc. I loved the salad selections. Unlike the sumpermarkets where you must get a pot of this and a pot of that, this shop will fill a pot with bits of whatever you fancy (slaw, cheese, tomato, pasta salad, beetroot etc). A really healthy option at a low price. Service is friendly - even for ditherers like me. The cleanliness you can see for yourself immediately and that's a big plus in my book. Highly recommended if travelling through Murwillumbah.

Stayed in a room here on our travels a few weeks ago. Room was clean and reasonably comfortable although we had problems with the taps on the room washbasin. One worked, one didn't, and there was a lot of plumbing noise. The upstairs of the hotel appears to be a mix of overnighters and long-termers so not a great atmosphere but ok for a night.
Except if that night is a Friday. They had a loud band on downstairs, nuff said. The bistro is fine. Usual offerings at standard prices. The bar area was a bit rowdy and stepping outside (at the back) for a cigarette saw us in the company of a few folk who had clearly been drinking all day if not for a solid week! That said, there are plenty of other places to visit nearby for evening refreshments. Not a bad bolthole if you're stuck for accommodation in that neck of the woods.

Cafes are ten a penny these days and much of a muchness except for ....this little gem in Murwillumbah. Very French influenced and with a French pastrymaker/patissier. Service is so very personal, whims are tolerated ( like an icecube in my tea!) with affection. The pastries are out of this world and they do the most freshest and tastiest filled baguettes. But the atmosphere trumps all. The background music, the European feel, the instant feeling you're with friends. he outside area has two sections and one is for smokers - brilliant. We do exist and it's still legal. loved sitting outside with baguette, hot drink, le fume and one of their daily newspapers. For a wee while I felt like I was back in Paris. Approx cost below is for huge tea and yummy pastry confection

Approximate cost: $7.50

Wated until my 2nd visit this morning before reviewing. This shop is fairly new to Townsville city centre (and brave to do so as there are so few shops there now - everyone goes to the aircon malls). This is not a cheap shoe shop, although it has plenty of specials and other prices are mid-range. What it does is provide an excellent service for those of us with "difficult" feet. That is: wide, hammer-toed, bunioned etc! They take a great deal of time measuring your feet and coming up with what is now known as "solutions"....and fashionable ones at that. I have had excellent personal service here, having purchased a pair of comfy sandals last year...this morning I went in simply for a pair of insoles. These are getting more difficult to find. The trend being toward orthotic shoe inserts at exhorbitant prices. But Florian Shoes did not let me down. She rummaged around and came up with just what I wanted for a mere $4.25 which was 75 cents less than I paid for exactly the same thing (and brand) in a shoe shop in Busselton, WA last December. I do recommend this shop for service, selection, style and for those like me - with problem feet.