Townsville Bulletin’s ultimate guide to a North Queensland Christmas
Make sure your 2019 Christmas holidays are memorable for the right reasons. Follow these 10 ten tips to ensure your North Queensland Christmas goes to plan.
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MAKE sure your 2019 Christmas holidays are memorable for the right reasons. Follow these 10 ten tips to ensure your North Queensland Christmas goes to plan.
1. SHOPPING
Stockland Shopping Centre
310-330 Ross River Rd, Aitkenvale;
Open Sunday 9am-6pm;
Monday 8am-7pm; Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 8am-6pm.
CastleTown Shoppingworld
Woolcock St & Kings Rd, Hyde Park
Open Sunday 8am-5pm;
Monday 8am-6pm;
Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 8am-6pm.
Willows Shopping Centre
13 Hervey Range Rd, Thuringowa Central
Open Sunday 9am-5pm;
Monday 8am-6pm;
Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 8am-6pm.
Willows Rotary Markets
Sunday from 7.30am-11.30am.
Willows Christmas Rooms
Open Sunday 10am-3pm;
Monday 10am-3pm;
Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 10am-3pm.
Cancer Council gift wrapping service
Open Sunday 10.30am-2.30pm;
Monday 9am-4pm;
Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 9am-4pm.
Santa Photo Times
Sunday 9am-5pm;
Monday 8am-6pm;
Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 8am-6pm.
IGA
Garbutt: Christmas Eve 6am-9pm; Christmas Day CLOSED; Boxing Day 8am-7pm.
Mundingburra: Christmas Eve 6am-9pm; Christmas Day 8am-12pm; Boxing Day 8am-9pm.
Domain Central: Christmas Eve 6am-8pm; Christmas Day CLOSED; Boxing Day 8am-8pm.
Mount Louisa: Christmas Eve: 7am-5.30pm; Christmas Day CLOSED; Boxing Day 9am-5.30pm.
Magnetic Harbour: Christmas Eve: 6am-8.30pm; Christmas Day 9am-12pm; Boxing Day 6am-8.30pm.
B amford Lane: Christmas Eve 6am-9pm; Christmas Day CLOSED; Boxing Day 8am-8pm.
2. SEAFOOD
Seafood is best enjoyed fresh so try and leave seafood purchases until the last minute.
Ingham Road Seafood
159 Ingham Rd, West End
Open Sunday 6am-6pm; Monday 6am-open all night; Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 6am-5pm.
Marina Fresh Seafoods
3 Sandspit Dr, South Townsville
Open Sunday 8am-5.30pm; Monday 8am-5.30pm; Tuesday Christmas Eve 4am-4pm.
3. DRINKS
Ensure that your shopping is done well before Christmas Eve and that you are fully stocked for booze to last until Boxing Day.
4. ICE
Another vital part of Christmas Day that is often overlooked. Make sure you have an esky handy to stock up on ice from your local servo or supermarket on Christmas Eve.
5. CINEMA
Event Cinemas Central – Sunday First Session 9.30am Last Session 9.20pm; Monday First Session 9.30am Last Session 9.20pm; Tuesday (Christmas Eve) First Session 9.30am Last Session 7.15pm.
Event Cinemas City – Sunday First Session 9.30am Last Session 9.15pm; Monday First Session 9.30am Last Session 9.15pm, Tuesday (Christmas Eve) First Session 9.30am Last Session 6.50pm.
Reading Cinemas – Sunday First Session 9.30am Last Session 9.30pm; Monday First Session 9.30am Last Session 9.30pm; Tuesday (Christmas Eve) First Session 9.30am Last Session 5pm.
Warrina Cineplex – Sunday First Session 12.45pm Last Session 8.45pm; Monday First Session 10.30am Last Session 8.45pm; Tuesday (Christmas Eve) First Session 10.30am Last Session 7.10pm.
6. TRANSPORT
Sealink
Wednesday (Christmas Day) Depart Townsville 9.30am, 11am, 12.15pm, 2.15pm, 3.45pm; Depart Magnetic Island 10.15am, 11.35am, 12.50pm, 3pm, 4.45pm.
Magnetic Island Ferries
Wednesday (Christmas Day) Depart Townsville 9am, 10.45am, 2.40pm, 4.25pm; Depart Magnetic Island 9.55am, 11.40am, 3.30pm, 5.15pm.
No Sunbus services will be running on Christmas Day with limited services on Magnetic Island. It is worthwhile booking a taxi in advance. Uber is also a good option but beware of price surges when peak time hits.
7. CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Christmas Carols at the council’s Stable on the Strand event are being sung at Mater Private Hospital Townsville Stage for the last time tonight before the big day. Carols will be sung tonight by the Millennium Singers on the deck at Townsville Yacht Club, 1 Plume Street, South Townsville from 6pm.
8. PARKING
Free two-hour parking in the CBD until December 31 and free at all major shopping centres and Domain.
9. RUBBISH
Waste and recycling is collected on Christmas Day. Make sure bins are out before 6am on the day of collection. A reminder not to put gas bottles and explosives into the wheelie bin.
10. PLACES TO COOL OFF
Kokoda Memorial Pool: Open Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 6am-4pm; Christmas Day 8am-4pm; Boxing Day 8am-4pm.
Long Tan Memorial Pool: Open Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 5.30am-7pm; Christmas Day 8am-4pm; Boxing Day 8am-4pm.
Northern Beaches Leisure Centre: Open Tuesday (Christmas Eve) 6am-7pm; Christmas Day 8am-4pm; Boxing Day 8am-4pm.
Riverway Lagoons: CLOSED
Tobruk Memorial Baths: CLOSED
Originally published as Townsville Bulletin’s ultimate guide to a North Queensland Christmas