Magnetic Island or “Maggie” as the locals like to call it, is a small island off the east coast of Australia. Those who love beautiful nature, a laidback atmosphere or like to see koalas should not miss Magnetic Island. Located in the Great Barrier Reef, a trip to this piece of tropical paradise is something you absolutely must do during a round trip Australia. And with 300 Sundays a year, there is very little chance of bad weather. Here you can read about the best things to do on Magnetic Island, how to get there and more handy tips for a successful day trip!
Where is Magnetic Island located in Australia
Magnetic Island lies off the east coast of Australia, in the Tropical North Queensland region. The best way to reach Magnetic Island is to take the ferry from Townsville, a coastal town about a four-hour drive from Cairns. Daily ferries from SeaLink or Magnetic Island Ferries leave for the island every half hour and the crossing takes only 20 minutes. We chose SeaLink Ferries because it is a pedestrian and cyclist ferry and much cheaper than the car ferry. You can park your car or RV at the port for $8AUD for 24 hours. Book your ferry ticket here!
How to move around Magnetic Island
The island isn’t very big, and there’s certainly no need to bring your own car or RV to Magnetic Island. When you take the ferry, you’ll arrive at Nelly Bay Terminal, and from there you can take public transportation. There are buses that run continuously throughout the day, stopping at all the major attractions on the island. A full-day pass costs just $7.60 AUD per person, and you can hop on and off as often as you like. That’s how we explored Magnetic Island, and we thought it was a great way to do it! Alternatively, you can also choose to rent bikes or scooters to explore Magnetic Island.
TRAVEL TIP: Sleep in Townsville the night before your visit to Magnetic Island so that you can catch the first ferry and make the most of your day trip. Aquarius on the Beach is close to the ferry and has views of Magnetic Island!
7 best things to do on Magnetic Island
Now that you know how to get there and how to get around Magnetic Island, you’re ready to go! Despite being a small island with only 2,000 residents, there is a lot to see on Magnetic Island. This travel guide is ideal for a day trip and follows the bus route. This way you can explore the highlights of Magnetic Island in a logical order and finish with a drink at sunset. Just make sure you take the earliest ferry out and the last one back so you have enough time to do everything at a leisurely pace.
1) Feeding rock wallabies to Geoffrey Bay
We start right off with one of the most fun things to do on Magnetic Island: feed wallabies. When you arrive by ferry in Nelly Bay you get on the bus up to Geoffrey Bay. From here you walk for 1 km until you reach the shoreline where at some point you will see all large boulders. Among all these boulders you will find several rock wallabies. The locals have been feeding these cute creatures with carrots or other vegetables for years. Chances are that you will see leftovers lying around that you can feel free to pick up in order to attract a wallaby to you. The wallabies are not very shy and with some luck one will come and say hello.
Don’t forget to treat the animals with respect though, they are and always will be wild animals in their natural habitat! In addition, only give them something to eat like carrots or other vegetables, but definitely not your own snacks. After Geoffrey Bay, you may want to have a coffee or breakfast at Tiny Palm before continuing on to the next stop.
2) Koala spotting along the Forts Walk
One of the most popular things to do on Magnetic Island is koala spotting! In fact, the island is home to a large population, so here you have a great chance of seeing koalas. Take the bus further to the start of the Forts Walk. This relatively easy 4 km hike takes you through the nature of Magnetic Island and along azure bays. During the walk, don’t forget to look up, where you can see koalas sleeping high in the trees. You will make a loop in about 1 to 2 hours and eventually arrive back at the bus stop.
3) The best view at Arthur Bay
You can extend the Forts Walk a bit with the Three Bays Walk that takes you past beautiful bays. Magnetic Island has beautiful beaches that border on azure water which gives a beautiful view. These bays are often deserted and you have them all to yourself. Just know that you cannot go in the water between November and May (the summer months in Australia). This is because during that period there are very poisonous jellyfish (jellyboxfish) in the sea in this part of Australia. Still, it is definitely worth extending your hike, and especially to the viewpoint at Arthur Bay! Count on an extra hour for this hike and be sure to bring plenty of water, as it can get very hot during the day.
4) Have lunch at Cafe Nourish
After this active hike, it’s time to eat something delicious! And on Magnetic Island you can do that at Cafe Nourish. For this you take the bus to Horseshoe Bay where you will find the largest beach on Magnetic Island. Right on the beach you will find plenty of cozy restaurants and bars. We found Cafe Nourish to be the best option for lunch because of its healthy and fresh offerings! Just be aware that they are only open from 7am to 2pm.
5) Snorkeling or sea kayaking
After dinner, you can get back to doing something active on Magnetic Island. From Horseshoe Bay there are some other fun hikes like the one to Florence Bay. If you do want to get out to sea, you can go snorkeling or sea kayaking. On these tours, you get a special “stingersuit” that protects you from the poisonous jellyfish. Since Magnetic Island is in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is definitely worth considering a snorkeling tour. The underwater world here is beautiful and with any luck you may even see turtles!
6) Sunset at Horseshoe Bay
Would you rather take it easy? Then be sure to bring your towel and swimsuits and lay out on the beautiful beach at Horseshoe Bay filled with palm trees. In fact, here you will find a special “stinger net” in the sea. This giant net keeps the jellyfish at bay, and in this stretch of sea you can therefore swim completely safely without having to wear a special suit. We stayed in Horseshoe Bay until the last bus before heading back to the ferry. Definitely end the day here, as this is where we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets in Australia!
7) Stay in a koala park
If you just can’t get enough of Magnetic Island, we still recommend spending one night here. This is because sleeping at Roamer Magnetic Island Koala Park is quite an experience in itself. Not only is this a very cozy accommodation with pool, it is also a koala park. The lovely volunteers are happy to take you through the forest during your stay. Here you will again find numerous koalas where the volunteers will give you more info about these cute animals and the Australian fauna.
Best Travel Time Magnetic Island
With 300 days of sunshine a year, Magnetic Island is a year-round destination. However, the best travel time is from May to November, which is the dry season. This is also when there are no poisonous jellyfish in the sea, so it is safe to go swimming. However, always keep in mind the signage on the beaches before diving into the sea!
Still have questions about what to do on Magnetic Island, Australia? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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