Magnetic Island is a beautiful location that’s just a brief ferry journey from Townsville. The Island is surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and it has been listed as a World Heritage site. There’s a vast selection of 23 beaches and bays for you to visit whenever you’d like.
Magnetic Island National Park
The majority of the Island’s north-west and its interior are consumed by the Magnetic Island National Park, a place that provides an excellent and stunning habitat for all of the island’s animals and plants. Throughout the North’s rugged terrain, you’ll find rock wallabies and a whole host of other intriguing inhabitants. Then there’s the amazing eucalyptus forests that have long been called home by northern Australia’s biggest outdoor koala colony.
The Bays
Coral reefs aren’t exactly an uncommon sight in the area, they’re dotted around everywhere and you can explore them inside the two well-known snorkelling trails – one of which you’ll find in Geoffrey Bay and one you’ll find in Nelly Bay. Prepare yourself for the absolutely stunning and spectacular scenery that’s surrounding you when you’re doing the Forts Walk, a very impressive trail that’ll bring you to some World War II forts and have you come across plenty of koalas on the way. It’s here that you can expect the most impressive views of the surrounding bays and of other areas.
One of the bays that you’ll be able to see is called Horseshoe Bay, which is a world-renowned spot for paddle-boats, kayaking and sailing, and it’s also proudly home to an awesome selection of cafes and restaurants. Whatever your tastes may be, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
Accommodation & Travel
Despite the fact that the National Park takes up just over half the Island’s land, there’s still a large range of accommodation for you to choose from. Every budget’s catered for on Magnetic Island. There’s a few different ways to travel around, but the main solutions are to use the very efficient local island bus service, or to get around in a car.
Koalas
If you’re a fan of koalas, you’re especially in for a treat. It’s been estimated that there’s currently around 800 koalas living within the Island. And they’re some of the healthiest, most accessible and friendliest colonies that you’ll find across the whole of Australia. You won’t ever know when one’s about to pop up! There’s also a huge variety of other wildlife, including birds, echidnas, kookaburras, rock wallabies and curlews. The Island truly is an absolute paradise for nature.
Activities
Whatever you enjoy doing, there’s bound to be something for you at Magnetic Island. There’s a whole host of outdoor activities such as diving, aeroplane joyrides, snorkeling, bike riding, kayaking, sailing, jet-skiing, hiking and horse-riding. All you’ve got to do is step outside and do everything you’re able to while you’re still there, there’s plenty of it so it’s best to get everything done while you’ve still got time!