Magnetic Island is a relaxed tropical oasis that is a 20-minute ferry ride off the coast from Townsville. Discover the island's rich cultural heritage and learn about the Wulgurukaba Aboriginal people's strong island connections. The region is a popular holiday spot for Australians (particularly Queenslanders) and travellers from around the world.
Explore the island's hidden spots via a 36 kilometre network of walking tracks. Visit World War II sites and encounter history. Swim and snorkel in the secluded sandy bays while exploring the diverse reef and fish life.
Horseshoe Bay is the largest bay on Magnetic Island and is ideal for water sports. Almost every watercraft imaginable is available for hire. It is also a departure point for sailing, cruising, fishing and kayak trips.
Horseshoe Bay Beachfront is considered the tourist strip of the Island, with a substantial array of restaurants, cafes, and bars with live entertainment. The area is also great for families with playground facilities and sheltered picnic tables.
Arcadia is the smallest of the four main bays around Magnetic Island.
It surrounds two of the Island's prominent bays; Alma Bay and Geoffrey Bay.
Geoffrey Bay is a Marine National Park Zone that is great for exploring during low tide. The old barge jetty located on the left side is a great spot for feeding rock wallabies at dusk.
Alma Bay is a very popular swimming spot for local and visitors and the beach is patrolled on weekends and public holidays. There are also gas barbecues, picnic tables, playgrounds, changing areas and toilets - making it a perfect location for groups and families.
Magnetic Island is located within the waters of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Island has various interesting dive sites both on and offshore. You can explore many wrecks located just metres off the Magnetic Island beaches.
The Moltke wreck is a German barque in Geoffrey Bay. This excellent dive is enjoyed by many for its large variety of coral in a concentrated area.
The waters around Magnetic Island are warm with a winter average of 23 degrees Celsius and a summer average of 28 degrees Celsius. The wrecks are relatively shallow, so are perfect for novices or for relaxed enjoyable diving.
The Magnetic Island National Park is eight kilometres north-east of Townsville. It is within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The park features natural landscapes and seascapes including hoop pines and sandy beaches.
Sandy Magnetic Island beaches provide turtle nesting areas and mangrove communities that support fish nurseries. The Park also houses seabirds, waterbirds and forest birds. Explore the Magnetic Island National Park on a network of walking tracks. Explore the bays with a snorkel or a kayak.
See Magnetic Island's wildlife and enjoy spectacular views on one of the Island's six main walking tracks. The tracks cater to those who want a relaxed pictureque stroll and those who want to pick up the pace and with some long-route scenic cardio. Walks range from 30 minutes to two and a half hours to complete. No matter which track you choose, there are wonderful sights to be seen!
Magnetic Island’s fishing just has to be seen to be believed. A catch is virtually guaranteed! 22 pound coral trout and 44 pound Spanish mackerel are some of the trophies that fishermen have taken home after a Magnetic Island fishing trip.
Fish off the beaches, rocky points and inshore waters. Try your luck catching bream, flathead, whiting, queen fish and trevally. Fishing tackle and bait can be purchased around Magnetic Island and boats with outboard motors can be hired.
To get the local scoop, Magnetic Island fishing trips can also be booked for a few hours or more.
Picnic Bay is located at the south end of Magnetic Island. There are a number of shops and restaurants situated throughout the Picnic Bay Mall, as well as a selection of accommodation, including hostels and hotels.
Situated in the middle of the bay is the old jetty, which is no longer used, but a great spot for fishing.Towards the back streets of the township is a popular golf course often used to improve the skills of Greg Norman.
The two bays either side of Picnic Bay are well worth visiting. To the west is Cockle Bay where you will find the wrecked City Of Adelaide. To the east is Rocky Bay, which is a local hotspot for sun-lovers and one of the Island's top beaches for swimming and snorkelling.
