Famous for having 23 beautiful sandy bay beaches, coral reefs, and a copious amount of koalas, Magnetic Island is one of Australia’s hidden gems. Located just below the Great Barrier Reef and a 20-minute ferry from Townsville, “Maggie,” as the locals call it, tends to be off the typical traveller trail. Because of this, I’m excited to share my Magnetic Island travel guide which explores the natural playground of this tropical paradise.
Also, near the end of this post, I have included a few things to do if you have some extra time in Townsville. This Magnetic Island travel guide is perfect for couples, solo travellers, and families. It is made for people who travel to Magnetic Island for a weekend or 3-days. However, if we had the time, we could have easily done a whole week in this area, by adventuring half the day and then relaxing for the rest of it. Guess we’ll just have to come back!
What to Know Before You Travel to Magnetic Island
Where is Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is just off the coast of Townsville in Northern Queensland, Australia. More specifically it is located just below the Great Barrier Reef and a 20-minute ferry from Townsville. Most travellers tend to travel from the Whitsundays straight to Cairns, and as a result, miss this tropical paradise. So if you have the time, be sure to stop to make a stop at Magnetic Island.
Travel to Magnetic Island: How to Get There
To travel to Magnetic Island, you can either fly directly into Townsville Airport or if you live in Queensland, you can drive here. If you opt to fly from Brisbane, you can expect a quick 2-hour flight.
For this trip, we were previously sailing the Whitsundays, so we decided to drive up the coast to Townsville. Airlie Beach is only 3-hours away from Townsville, so this is a great road trip option if you are looking for an Australia staycation this year.
Magnetic Island Ferry
Once we arrived in Townsville, we drove onto the Magnetic Island ferry, which only took 20-minutes. There are also passenger ferries if you don’t have a vehicle. These ferries regularly sail, making travel super easy! To make your trip planning a sinch, I’ve included the links for the Magnetic Island car ferry and Sealink passenger ferry. I recommend booking your ferry ticket ahead, as they do fill up!
Getting Around on Maggie:
Although the island is small, the easiest way to explore and travel around Magnetic Island is by car. You can bring your own or rent vehicles on the island. The most popular vehicle to rent on Maggie is the Tropical Topless Cars, which looks like a Barbie convertible! Unfortunately, they are currently closed due to COVID, so call ahead to see if they are available for rent.
If you don’t feel comfortable driving on the left-hand side of the road, you can also catch the public Sunbus. Click here for fares, schedules and more information.
Where to Stay on Magnetic Island
On Magnetic Island, there are a variety of accommodations at various price points, making Maggie a great holiday destination for all types of travellers!
We stayed at Pure Magnetic Villas, which had a beautiful Balinese vibe. All the villas had kitchens, laundry, private balconies, and a shared pool. Plus, it is located right in Nelly Bay, the most central area where you’ll find the ferry terminal, grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses. We loved that the villas were affordable and had two bedrooms since we were travelling with another couple.
Our Pure Magnetic Villa cost us around $250 per night for all 4 of us, which I thought was extremely reasonable for what we got. We loved our stay, and I would come here again!
If you are looking at accommodation for two people, here are some other hotels we found:
How Many Days Do You Need on Magnetic Island?
I recommend at least three days and two nights on Magnetic Island, but if you can stay three nights, that’s even better. There are so many beautiful beaches, trails and restaurants, plus there is a super relaxed vibe on Maggie, that you might as well take advantage of it. We stayed for two nights, and we did everything we came for, but we didn’t take much time to sit back and relax.
Best Time of the Year to Travel to Magnetic Island
With 320 days of sunshine, Townsville & Magnetic Island are fabulous to visit any time of the year. We visited in July, and we loved how quiet it was; however, that might have been because of COVID.
Keep in mind, stinger season is in the summer months (November-April), so swimming in the ocean isn’t safe. Because of this, I recommend visiting between May-October to snorkel and swim at the beaches without a worry.
Wifi Signal on Magnetic Island?
Although you are on a tropical island, wifi and data are available in this area and are free at most of the hotels and Airbnbs. So if you’re thinking about working remotely on Magnetic Island or just need to Facetime your Mom or partner, no worries here.
Is there a Grocery Store on Magnetic Island?
Yes, there is an IGA, seafood shops, and liquor shops on the island. So if you don’t have time to shop on the mainland, you can buy everything you need once you come over to the island. Keep in mind things are a bit cheaper in Townsville versus on Magnetic Island.
What to Do on Magnetic Island
When you travel to Magnetic Island, you are absolutely spoiled with how much there is to see and do! If you enjoy being outside, seeing wildlife and swimming or snorkelling, then you Magnetic Island will blow you away. Here is a list of all the wondering things you can do while visiting Maggie!
Snorkelling
Magnetic Island is right below the Great Barrier Reef, which means it has the most fantastic snorkelling. They even have a snorkel trail, that you can explore on your own. Unfortunately, we forgot all about the snorkel trail and followed the recommendations from locals. To discover which beaches we had the best luck for snorkelling, scroll down to my ‘Best Beaches to Visit’ section.
In the end, we saw some beautiful coral, but if we went back, I would definitely hop on this guided boat tour to explore some more secluded areas with better coral.
Sunset Sailing
The only thing better than being on a tropical island like Magnetic Island is sailing around one. End your day on a high note by sailing around Maggie at sunset with a drink in hand, and get the chance to see some of the more remote bays of the island. On this tour, you also get to snack on local cheeses and enjoy unlimited beer, wine or soft drinks with a small group of new friends. This is one experience we missed, as we just spent 3-days sailing the Whitsundays, but when we go back, this is one activity I’d jump at doing.
Koala Village Experience:
The Bungalow Bay Koala Village is a park where visitors can learn and get up close and personal with local Australian wildlife with the guidance of a ranger. It was fascinating to learn about reptiles, wombats, and crocodiles, but my favourite experience was getting to pet Pebbles, one of the three resident Koalas. If you’re visiting Magnetic Island with kids, I highly recommend visiting as it’s super fun and educational!
Butterfly Garden:
After finishing at the Koala Village, our guide mentioned we should walk over to the butterfly garden. This place is a local’s secret since it isn’t any signage; however, you can find it on Google.
When we walked through the unmarked path, we were unsure if we were in the right place. I’m not exaggerating when I say we were met with thousands of blue butterflies ! It was the most magical experience!
Cane Toad Races:
We were lucky to visit Magnetic Island during a Wednesday, which is when their famous ‘Cane Toad Races’ take place at the Arcadia Hotel Pub. Yep, you heard that right, and it’s as hilarious as it sounds. Wednesday nights, this event is entertaining for travellers of all ages, and honestly was one of the highlights of our day. A must-do on ‘Maggie!’
Hike to The Forts (Look for Koalas)
One of the most talked-about activities on Magnetic Island is the WWII Forts hike. You can expect beautiful views of the island, and fascinating WWII history shared on plaques along the trail.
As you hike, keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the trees. Locals guaranteed we’d see Koalas, which we thought was a bold promise, as they can be hard to spot. BUT, she was right! On our way back from the forts, we noticed a few people crowded below a tree, and we saw an active koala was munching on some leaves. Seeing animals in their natural habitat always blows me away.
The Forts Walk is the most popular hike on the island and one that I would recommend. They say to give yourself 3 hours, but we were able to do it in 2 hours, including breaks to take photos, admire koalas, and drink water.
Tip: Do this in the morning before it gets too hot! Afterwards, hit the beach for a swim to cool down and relax after this (not so challenging) hike.
Feed the Rock Wallabies
Can’t get enough wildlife? Head to the headland beside Geoffry Bay to feed the local rock wallabies. This spot is so popular that it’s even marked on google maps here. We brought carrots and leaves, which worked well, or you can pick up feeding pellets at the Arcadia Newsagent. Everyone told us we’d have better luck right before sunset, but we went a bit before 3 pm and saw loads of wallabies. Some of them even had little joeys in their pouches and hopped right up to us to get some food! I highly recommend this adorable interaction. Plus, it’s free!
MOUA (Museum of Underwater Art)
Snorkelers and scuba divers, this one is for you! Explore one of 4 underwater museums in the Townsville areas to see beautiful underwater sculptures.
In order to visit, MOUA you have to hop on a crewed boat that leaves from either Townsville Breakwater Marina or Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island, and set sail towards the Central Section of the Great Barrier Reef aboard a custom-built day vessel. Begin by exploring the Museum of Underwater Art (MoUA) on the John Brewer Reef, surrounded by breathtaking coral reefs. Gain insights into reef conservation, restoration, and education, with a special focus on indigenous culture. Dive into other sections of the reef, encountering diverse marine life such as colorful reef fish, turtles, stingrays, and sharks. Learn about reef management and preservation efforts while being returned to the marinas by a friendly crew.
Unfortunately, this re-opened after Covid-19 the day after we left, or we would have loved to check this out. Just another reason to head back to Townsville!
SS Adelaide
A shipwreck located off the coast of Cockle Bay. At super low tide, you can walk out to it, or if you have a drone, it is a great spot to take photos.
Beaches to Visit on Magnetic Island
If you’re a water-baby like me, you will LOVE Maggie for all 23 bays and beaches around the island!
Snorkelling at Alma Bay
The moment we touched down on Magnetic Island and checked into our villa, we eagerly took off to explore. To take advantage of the last light, we drove to Alma Bay for a quick snorkel, and managed to see a blue spotted ray and some fish! Alma Bay is beautiful for a swim, but to be honest, we only had a quick snorkel. So if you are short on time, check out Arthur Bay for snorkelling instead.
Sunset at Horseshoe Bay
Afterwards, we drove onto Horseshoe Bay, one of the most popular beaches on the island to watch the sunset. I understood what all the hype was about, once we saw the flickering palms and big sandy bay. We sat there with our friends, sipped on cold beers and watched the sky turn from brilliant orange to pink.
Arthur Bay Snorkel & Lookout
In between Horseshoe Bay and Nelly Bay, you’ll find the bumpy road that leads to Arthur Bay. We had heard great things about the snorkelling at Arthur Bay, and it didn’t disappoint! We were all blown away by the beautiful coral gardens and fish. I recommend going at mid to high tide. We went at low tide, and the coral was tricky to swim around because it was so close to the surface. And if you don’t like snorkelling, this beautiful sandy bay is lovely to relax at.
Want to see Arthur Bay from above? Hike up the road (don’t drive) and keep your eyes out for a sign that reads ‘Arthur Bay Lookout.’ From here, you can continue walking towards Florence Bay, another beautiful beach for swimming and snorkelling. I recommend walking because there are massive potholes on the road that only 4WD cars can handle.
West Point for Sunset
On our last evening, we drove off to West Point for the sunset. This beach is at the farthest end of the island and is about a 15-20 minute drive from Nelly Bay. Here you see the lights of Townsville and some more islands along the horizon. We were so happy we made it to this spot for our final sunset, and we even made some new friends at the beach.
Where to Eat on Magnetic Island
Breakfast at ‘The Early Bird’
Located in Horseshoe Bay, The Early Bird, has the best breakfast view on the island. We loved their smoothies, coffees and everything that came out of their kitchen looked delicious. Due to its location, this place is best to visit before the Koala Village or the Fort Walk!
Breakfast at Shaka in Nelly Bay
In front of our Villa in Nelly Bay Beach and stumbled upon Shaka Good Food stand. We first noticed funky blankets, pillows and bean bag chairs set up on the sand and then saw people were enjoying smoothie bowls and coffees from the food stand up on the road. Shaka had such a relaxed vibe and is a great place to start your morning.
Lunch at Scallywags
Unfortunately, we never got to Scallywags, but we had multiple people recommend it to us for breakfast or lunch. Everything on their menu looks awesome and apparently the vibe is super fun. They also do a pirate-themed dinner and performance (great for kids) one night of the week, so look into this if you decide to come!
Dinner at Mama Roma
After several locals and other travellers had recommended Mama Rosa, we figured we should see what the fuss was about. Plus, I never say no to a good pizza! When we arrived, the patio was buzzing with people chatting, and we were welcomed with a friendly Italian, ‘Ciao.’ It turns out the restaurant is owned and run by an Italian family who moved to Magnetic Island – Talk about an authentic Italian experience!
That night we dined on delicious pizzas, homemade pasta and the most insane tiramisu. We loved it so much we ordered two!
Tip: This restaurant is BYOB, so feel free to bring some wine or beers, and if you forget, there’s a liquor store around the corner.
Townsville
When you travel to Magnetic Island, why not add on an extra day or afternoon to explore Townsville before you fly or drive home? If you do, here are a few things I recommend doing!
Castle Hill for Sunset:
One of the best things we did in Townsville was driving to the top of Castle Hill for sunset. The 360-degree views blew us away. In fact, you can see all the way to Magnetic Island! If your heart skips a beat when you look over the edge, it might be because Castle Hill is 286 metres above sea level.
Healthy Option: Try hiking to the top of Castle Hill versus driving it, for a leg burn. It was impressive to see how many locals were challenging themselves with this gruelling hike.
Dinner at City Lane Arcade:
After the sun goes down, head to Townsville’s City Lane Arcade to experience a cool local vibe. You’ll find restaurants with an assortment of cuisines, live music, funky bars, and street art. I have to admit that I was amazed to discover such a trendy place here in Townsville. Since it was Friday night, everything was reasonably busy with a young crowd, but we snagged a table at The Courtyard and enjoyed drinks, American fare food and some live music!
Seeing Townsville from atop Castle Hill and enjoying dinner at the Lane Arcade was the perfect way to end a spectacular trip and discover a bit of Townsville.
Other Places to Explore in the Area
There are so many incredible experiences you can have in Townsville, and we only scratched the surface. For example, next time we are in Townsville, we want to explore Hinchinbrook Island and Wallaman Falls. Don’t make the mistake we did and be sure to include it in your trip.
Have More Time to Extend your Trip?
Before we travelled to Magnetic Island, we sailed around the Whitsundays for three nights and stopped at Bowen before driving up the coast. Be sure to read all about our experience and check out my travel guides for Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays, and Bowen if you are looking for a fun road trip in Australia this year.
What to Pack for Magnetic Island
You don’t need to pack much when travelling to Magnetic Island. Since you’ll spend most of your time at the beach, make sure to bring a few bathing suits, sarong, a good book, a wide-brim hat for sun protection, sunglasses, comfortable shorts, two t-shirts, a light dress, and good walking shoes or sandals for exploring. We also brought alongreef safe sunscreen, and 50 SPF sun protective rash guard for swimming and snorkelling.
I hope you found my 3-Day Magnetic Island Travel Guide helpful while planning your trip! If you have any questions leave them in the comments below or send me a DM on Instagram: @AmberStorie. Happy travelling. xo
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