Magnetic Island is located just 20 minutes from Townsville Queensland. There are 23 bays and beaches which most are only accessible by a boat. Lots of Hiking trails, the largest colony of koalas in Northern Australia and fringing coral reefs. The best time to visit the island is May to November in the dry season.
Getting Here
Magnetic Island is situated eight kilometers off the coast of Townsville (or a 25-minute ferry ride away). The only way to get to Maggie is via Sealink’s Magnetic Island ferry service or Magnetic Island Ferries’ barge service. This is the boat you can get if you want to bring your own car over to the island. Which We recommend if you want to fully explore the island. The ferry for passengers is from $38 each way. Bringing your car is from $231 off peak, it also included up to 5 passengers. The passenger ferry regularly runs daily and takes 20 minutes to get to the island. The car ferry takes 40 minutes.
Getting around and Accommodation
Getting around the island there is a few option’s if you did not bring your own car. You can hire a scooter, The public bus which heads to 4 different beaches. Hire a mini convertible or a car from $143 per day. With accommodation there is a few hostels and hotels such as Nomads at Nelly Bay, Selina Hostel at Horseshoe Bay or Arcadia Village Hotel. We stayed at the Project Tranquility in Nelly Bay. Which was a perfect 1 bedroom apartment with its own pool, Kitchen and an ensuite.
Bushwalking
Forts walking Trail
70% of the island is Magnetic Island National Park, which equals a lot of nature for visitors to enjoy. The most popular trail is The Forts Walk, which is a 90-minute return trip and the best place to see Northern Australia’s largest population of koalas in the wild. Along the way you can discover some World War II artefacts including an observation tower, command post and gun emplacements. There are also amazing views over the ocean.
Three Bay’s Trail
You can extend the walk and continue to Florence Bay, Which you will see the sign at the top of the observation tower. You will can also walk up to radical bay and on the way back you will pass Arthur Bay. It was about 8km loop up the forts and to the 3 Bays.
Arcadia Lookout and Sphinx Lookout
Park At the end of Endevour Drive and walk through the gate and straight up after about 300m up the steep road you will see an arrow which will take you up to Sphinx lookout. If you continue to the end of the road you will see a small bush trail which takes you up to Arcadia Lookout.
For this walking trail park at the end of Picnic Street. Here you will find the start of the trail and a sign. It is 1.2km trail up and back. It is easy to follow and will take about 20 minutes return. It has beautiful views up the top of Picnic Bay, Nelly bay and out to Townsville. Just at the bottom of Arcadia you will find Geoffrey Bay where you will find the rock wallabies.
Hawkins Point Lookout
To get to the start of the trail park at the end of Picnic Bay Road. From here you will see signs for the beginning of the trail. It is 1.2km up and back trail to a spectacular lookout. Looking out over Magnetic island, where you can see Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay.
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