Bushland Beach Tavern

We went for lunch. The pub grub was better than reasonable, though nothing fabulous, and the drinks were cold. Parking was easy, and you get a good view of the beach through the scrub. I’ve been before and will come again. I’m not sure how bad the middgees might be if you eat outside at sunset.

It’s a shame, because the Tavern is in a nice spot, but we had a bad experience and my husband and family won’t go back either. The food wasn’t good: the fish was overcooked, and I’m sure my meal wasn’t gluten free because I got sick right after eating it. I needed a gluten-free meal, but they didn’t have the one I’d picked from the menu, so I had to choose something else. The woman serving us, who I took to be the boss because she was bossing the staff around, rolled her eyes and sighed as if I was wasting her time. I told her there was no hurry because nobody else was in line. She abruptly said she was busy out the back in the kitchen. Our desserts came before the mains. When we asked if they could keep them in the fridge until after the meal, she threw her hands up as if it were too much trouble.

The floors were filthy, there was mould in and outside the shower, and I had to clean the kettle before using it. The TV didn’t work properly, and the freezer was rusty and needed defrosting. The bathroom had no ventilation beyond a small window. I didn’t feel safe, even though the doors locked, because there should have been a latch on the inside. Not worth the money. I won’t recommend it or return, it needs to be bulldozed.

The staff were friendly and the service was great, but the meal was the worst I’ve had in Townsville. All five of us left half our plates uneaten. They need a new cook or chef.