Holiday houses in Magnetic Island
Find and book unique accommodation on Airbnb
Top-rated holiday rentals in Magnetic Island
Guests agree: these stays are highly rated for location, cleanliness and more.
Holiday rentals for every style
Get the amount of space that is right for you
Popular amenities for Magnetic Island holiday rentals
Other great holiday rentals in Magnetic Island
Home in Horseshoe Bay
5 out of 5 average rating, 25 reviewsArchitecturally designed retreat - Horseshoe Bay
Rental unit in Nelly Bay
5 out of 5 average rating, 18 reviewsAbsolute Waterfront Apartment - Studio 1312
Rental unit in Nelly Bay
4.8 out of 5 average rating, 10 reviewsMagnetic Island Resort Studio
Villa in Picnic Bay
4.83 out of 5 average rating, 52 reviewsThe Pavilions; Private & Exclusive Island home
Home in Picnic Bay
4.85 out of 5 average rating, 55 reviewsWithanee
Home in Nelly Bay
4.92 out of 5 average rating, 24 reviewsPoolside Oasis on Magnetic
Guest suite in Picnic Bay
5 out of 5 average rating, 18 reviewsButler St Magnetic
Guest suite in Magnetic Island
4.89 out of 5 average rating, 19 reviewsBeachside Cottage - A Private Peaceful Hidden Gem
Your guide to Magnetic Island
Welcome to Magnetic Island
With gorgeous beaches, fringing coral reefs, and rugged bushland, Magnetic Island is a spectacular pocket of north Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. More than half of the island, located off the coast of Townsville, is a national park. The rest is given over to conservation parks, mangroves, and a handful of settlements.
The villages of Nelly Bay, where the ferry from Townsville docks, and Picnic Bay are at the southern end of the island. Then there’s Horseshoe Bay to the north and the hamlet of West Point to the west. On the coastline between these villages you’ll find scores of secluded beaches and reefs to explore with a snorkel and flippers or dive gear. Offshore you may see sea turtles and dugongs, which are drawn to the meadows of seagrass around the island. In the interior, there’s a network of walking tracks through the hoop pines and eucalyptus forests of Magnetic Island National Park, which is home to koalas, kookaburras, and rock wallabies, among many other native animals.
The best time to stay in a holiday rental in Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is a little cooler than mainland Townsville, although not by much. Expect hot, humid days and warm nights from early spring, with high temperatures barely budging from October through to mid-autumn. The tropical island gets more than half its annual rainfall from January to March, with the wet season lingering until April. There are some netted beaches on Magnetic Island, but you’ll need a stinger suit to protect yourself from jellyfish between November and April if you’re venturing into the water. Stay in one of the island’s holiday houses in late autumn and winter and you’ll enjoy cool, dry weather for hiking. As a bonus the sea will still be warm, and you’ll be far less likely to encounter any marine stingers.
Top things to do in Magnetic Island
Museum of Underwater Art’s Coral Greenhouse
One of the first two installations of Townsville’s Museum of Underwater Art, this steel sculpture of a greenhouse sits on the ocean floor at a nearby reef, slowly being colonised by sea life. Only five tour operators are licensed by the museum to offer diving trips to the Coral Greenhouse: two of these companies operate from Magnetic Island.
Snorkel trails
At Nelly Bay and Geoffrey Bay, on the eastern coast of the island, you can swim out to coral reefs and follow numbered floats along marked snorkel trails. Grab a waterproof swim card from any shop on the island so you can identify the corals and colourful fish you’ll encounter.
Hiking the national park
There’s a walking track to suit everyone on the island, from a short walk around Horseshoe Lagoon to the Picnic Bay to West Point Trail. The return journey to West Point along the wetlands and grasslands of the western side of the island takes around five hours.
Destinations to explore
- Townsville Holiday rentals
- Mission Beach Holiday rentals
- Cardwell Holiday rentals
- Lucinda Holiday rentals
- Ingham Holiday rentals
- Paluma Holiday rentals
- North Ward Holiday rentals
- Charters Towers City Holiday rentals
- Ayr Holiday rentals
- Nelly Bay Holiday rentals
- South Mission Beach Holiday rentals
- Horseshoe Bay Holiday rentals
- Family-friendly rentals Magnetic Island
- Fitness-friendly rentals Magnetic Island
- Rentals with a washing machine and dryer Magnetic Island
- Rentals with a patio Magnetic Island
- House rentals Magnetic Island
- Rentals with a fire pit Magnetic Island
- Apartment rentals Magnetic Island
- Rentals with pools Magnetic Island
- Waterfront rentals Magnetic Island
- Pet-friendly rentals Magnetic Island
- Rentals with a hot tub Magnetic Island
- Smoking-friendly rentals Magnetic Island
- Rentals with outdoor seating Magnetic Island
- Villa rentals Magnetic Island
- Kid-friendly rentals Magnetic Island
- Rentals with beach access Magnetic Island
- Beachfront rentals Magnetic Island
- Monthly Rentals Magnetic Island
- Yurt Rentals United States
- Yurt Rentals United Kingdom
- Castle Rentals United States
- Houseboats United States
- Holiday Caravans United Kingdom
- Private Island Rentals United States
- Farm Houses United States
- Farm Cottages United Kingdom
- Cabin Rentals Australia
- Luxury Cabins United Kingdom
- Luxury Cabins United States
- Holiday Chalets United Kingdom
- Cottage Rentals United States
- Holiday Cottages United Kingdom
- Mansion Rentals United States
- Villa Rentals United Kingdom
- Holiday Bungalows United Kingdom
- Bungalow Rentals United States
- Condo Rentals United States
- Holiday Apartments Australia
- Holiday Houses United States
- Holiday Houses United Kingdom
- Private Holiday Rentals United Kingdom
- Big House Rentals United States
- Big Cottages Australia
- Large Villas United Kingdom
- House Rentals with a Pool United States
- Cabin Rentals with a Pool United States
- Villas with a Pool United Kingdom
- Apartments with a Hot Tub United States
- Holiday Cottages with a Hot Tub United Kingdom
- Beach Cabins United States
- Beach Condos United States
- Beachfront Rentals United States
- Beach Houses United Kingdom
- Beach Villas United Kingdom
- Coastal Cottages United Kingdom
- Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals United States
- Pet-Friendly Beach Rentals United States
- Pet-Friendly Cabin Rentals United States
- Dog-Friendly Cottages United Kingdom
- Luxury Dog-Friendly Cottages United Kingdom