After almost two weeks of roadtrip, sleeping in the van, traveling miles every day, eating noodles and waking up with the light of dawn, we had to change the routine. And we could not have chosen a better site: Magnetic Island has magnet. We spent two nights on this strange island, which we could have extended for weeks ... But the route is the route ... Here we bring you our guide on Magnetic Island (or "Maggie" as the Aussies call it), with ideas of the best thing to do in two days.
Magnetic Island is 8 km from Townsville, about halfway between Cairns and Airlie Beach (Whitsundays). It is not a small island and there are 2,000 people permanently residing there. The island can be divided into several zones:
- Picnic Bay: the southernmost part, with a guarded beach, the Rocky Bay where to snorkel and several businesses in the Picnic Bay Mall.
- Nelly Bay: where ferries arrive. You can find any service for the visitor: transport rentals, supermarkets, restaurants, accommodation ...
- Arcadia: North of Nelly Bay, it is a complex with several accommodations and restaurants.
- Horseshoe Bay: the north end of the island, with many private houses, accommodations and restaurants. There is a beach where you can bathe (with net). We stay here.
In general it is a quiet island, where to come to relax for a few days, go for a walk, enjoy nature, watch the sunsets ... And we would say stick a bath, but you know, in Queensland that is almost a risk sport! There are beaches with a network area, but we do not finish legit. Below we tell you more.
2. When to go
The best period to go to Magnetic Island has not so much to do with the weather nor with the rainy season, but with the jellyfish season! So, if you want to enjoy baths on its beaches, it is best to come from may to november. We visited her in April and, perhaps for that reason, we found her very very quiet.
The climate is tropical, warm all year, with an increase in rainfall between the months of November to April.
From the Townsville Harbor Ferries depart very frequently to Magnetic Island, the journey takes approximately 30 minutes. We went with the company Sealink. It costs $ 33 per adult round trip. Here you have the schedules and more info.
In the port of Breakwater Terminal in Townsville there is a parking discovered private. We left the van here for two days. The price is $ 7.50 a day (if for example you leave at 10 in the morning and return at 12, usually do not charge an extra day). You pay at the checkpoint there.
Although if you want take your own vehicleto the island, It also can. The price with Fantasea is $ 101 per way (including passengers).
In Magnetic Island there are a single road paved and in good condition that goes from Picnic Bay in the south, to the north end in Horseshoe Bay. The route is about 10 km. The two roads that are marked on the map with dashed lines (to Radical Bay in the north and West Point in the west) are dirt and it is not recommended to enter unless you have a 4 × 4 vehicle.
Being a relatively large island, you will not be able to walk anywhere. There are different ways to get around Magnetic Island: rent a car or one motorcycle, rent one bike, in bus O well rent a topless car. What is it? Well, it looks like Barbie's car, it's a kind of roofless buggy and very colorful. Although it does not allow you to go off the road and the price, the truth is not cheap (from $ 80 per day).
The bus It is managed by Sunbus, travels from Picnic Bay to Horseshoe Bay, with stops at the ferry terminal and at other intermediate points on the island. The price of an individual ticket depends on the areas you cross, for example from the Nelly Bay Ferry terminal to Horseshoe Bay costs $ 2.90. There is also a day pass that costs $ 7.20. Tickets are purchased directly from the driver.
Mind you, if you move by bus, consider the stop times that interest you. We recommend that you take a look at the schedules on the posts and take a photo of them. The bus frequency is quite low, really.
→ More information about schedules, stops and bus prices in Magnetic Island
As we said above, there are 4 areas to find accommodation. We stayed in the northern part, at Horseshoe Bay. We spent both nights at Magnetic Island YHA. It is a cabin accommodation in the heart of the nature of the island. It has a pool, kitchen and common areas and a restaurant bar with beer and food offers, where we spend most of our time (well, also in the hammocks). Really, super super recommended.
Find accommodation in Magnetic Island at the best prices
There are no places to free camping On Magnetic Island, although in the Bungalow Bay (next to the YHA) we saw an area where some vans camped. Apparently it is the only place where you can spend the night with the van or in a tent across the island, the price per person on a plot without electricity is $ 16 ($ 20 with electricity).
- Nature Walks. Much of the island is occupied by the Magnetic Island National Park, where there are about 25 km of trails. Enjoy its roads, its flora and especially its local fauna, including lots of rare birds, wallabies and, attention, koalas in freedom! In addition there is a surprise for the geeks of the II GM.
- Your Costs. Being an island we could not devote a part of our visit to the coasts and beaches. Although we already told you that there is a period of jellyfish, be careful!
- The snorkel in Rocky Bay, Arthur Bay, Florence Bay and Geoffrey Bay. There are tours that offer snorkeling trips, where you get all the equipment.
- There are also options for Diving to know the wrecks of the ship SS Yongala, apparently one of the best points for diving in Australia.
- And you can rent a kayak and explore the bays of the island at your own pace, or on an excursion.
- Visit the Markets. The Horseshoe Bay Market It takes place on Saturdays or Sundays from 9 to 14 with positions of all kinds. In the Arcadia area on Friday two night markets are mounted (from 17 to 20), theRSL Markets Where to eat outdoors. And that ofArcadia Village Hotel, with food and craft stalls.
- Get a Party. Magnetic Island is the only place in Australia where the Full Moon Party is held every month, or so they told us. If it's your roll, you know! Also in July the festival takes placeIsland Life Party, with concerts and a lot of atmosphere for two days.
→ Check out all the events scheduled for the next few days.
There are a total of 25 km of roads throughout the island, pending to be traveled by your little legs! So you know, assemble the backpack and walk! By the way, I helped myself with the Maps.me app and it is quite realistic, both in distances and in unevenness.
These are the most recommended treks on Magnetic Island:
- From Horseshoe to Balding and Radical Bays. It starts at the east end of the beach. You have to climb a ravine, reach the turnoff towards Balding Bay and go down rocks to the beach. Then you go up the same road and you can continue to Radical Bay, in another descent of aupa. From there you return to Horseshoe Bay. In total it is about 5 km and it takes 1.5 - 2 hours, round trip. Moderate difficulty
- Forts walk. Start at a right turn on the main road to Horseshoe. The bus stops here, and there is also parking. It is one of the most popular roads on the island, for three reasons:
- You reach an old structure of the II GM, where the Australians fought the arrival of the Japanese.
- In the eucalyptus that surround us live a good number of Koalas in freedom, so it will not be difficult to see them. It is the largest colony of Koalas in northern Australia!
- Throughout the ascension we will have good lookouts, up to one that offers 360 degree views, high above.
The round trip is about 3.5-4 km and takes between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half. Moderate difficulty
- Arthur, Florence and Radical Bays. From the same point where the road to Forts begins, there is a dirt track that goes down to these three bays, and that can even become a loop if you combine it with the first trekking, ending in Horseshoe Bay (I even considered do all the bays from Horseshoe and climb up to Forts, but maybe you can be a little crazy). It is a road where the 4 × 4 could pass, but I did not play it. These are the distances:
- To Arthur Bay: 1km / 20 minutes.
- From Arthur Bay to Florence Bay (through the Searchlight Tower): 2.1 km / 45 minutes.
- From Florence Bay to Radical Bay: 1.5 km / 30 minutes
- From Radical Bay to Horseshoe Bay: 1.8 km / 40 minutes
So in total it would be 6.4km if you make the whole trip to Horseshoe, and just over two hours of trekking. The difficulty is moderate.
- Hawkings point. If you are not one of those who like to walk, this is your perfect trekking: short, easy and with a great reward at the end. It is located in Picnic Bay, the road ascends to the top of a rock from where there are great views of Nelly and Geoffrey Bays. The round trip is 1.2km and takes less than 1 hour. Low difficulty
- Considerations. Please do not feed the animals, put on sunscreen, bring water to liters (you sweat a lot), also some food, and good shoes. There are routes that cross unstable areas of rocks and you have to be very careful in those sections, ankle sprains are not rare here.
The coast of Queensland is affected by killer jellyfish (little joke), especially in the warmer months (from November to April). There are two beaches with nets against jellyfish, at Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay, however they are not 100% infallible. We recommend that, in the time of jellyfish, you only bathe in these spaces, and on the guarded beaches. Do it between the red and yellow flags.
If you see the watchman ask him if it is safe to bathe. Also, take a look at the warning signs and check where the vinegar tank is on the beach, which you will have to spray yourself in case of a sting.
Magnetic Island We liked it a lot, but a lot! Although we were only two nights, it gave us time to disconnect from the roadtrip, to rest, enjoy sunsets, baths (in the hostel pool), to drink beer without being aware of the breathalyzer controls, to take our walks in the sun and breathe the sea breeze under the shade of a palm tree. Can you ask for more?
Hopefully our Magnetic Island guide I can help you plan your trip and find what what to do for two days on this island
→ Complete information about Magnetic Island National Park
