Magnetic Island Guidebook

Jill
Magnetic Island Guidebook

Travelling to the Island

This is the vehicle ferry which leaves from South Townsville. Be sure to book if you are coming over in your car.
13 locals recommend
Magnetic Island Ferries
Ross Street
13 locals recommend
This is the vehicle ferry which leaves from South Townsville. Be sure to book if you are coming over in your car.
This is the passenger ferry to Magnetic Island - you can park your car at the terminal for a nightly fee. Bookings are best done through their app called Go Blue - this does not tie you to a particular ferry. Your ticket will then be in the app which the staff will scan. Please let us know the departure time of the ferry you plan to catch.
16 locals recommend
SeaLink Queensland
2 Sir Leslie Thiess Dr
16 locals recommend
This is the passenger ferry to Magnetic Island - you can park your car at the terminal for a nightly fee. Bookings are best done through their app called Go Blue - this does not tie you to a particular ferry. Your ticket will then be in the app which the staff will scan. Please let us know the departure time of the ferry you plan to catch.
Excellent mini bus service between the airport and the passenger ferry terminal. It is best to book.
Townsville shuttle services
Coral Sea Drive
Excellent mini bus service between the airport and the passenger ferry terminal. It is best to book.

Food scene

Cafe and General Store. Busy cafe with very friendly service. Brunch and lunch - eat inside or outside with a view towards Townsville. Or take away and wander onto the beach. They run a small general store with milk, cereal, tea, coffee, eggs and on Fridays and Saturdays bake their own sourdough bread. Open 7am-2pm.
Lava Lava
Cafe and General Store. Busy cafe with very friendly service. Brunch and lunch - eat inside or outside with a view towards Townsville. Or take away and wander onto the beach. They run a small general store with milk, cereal, tea, coffee, eggs and on Fridays and Saturdays bake their own sourdough bread. Open 7am-2pm.
Fabulous atmosphere and Italian food...Excellent, very friendly service. BYO and book early as this is a very popular eating spot. Most seating is outdoors (some under cover and some not) with a view towards Townsville.
15 locals recommend
Mamma Roma
9 Esplanade
15 locals recommend
Fabulous atmosphere and Italian food...Excellent, very friendly service. BYO and book early as this is a very popular eating spot. Most seating is outdoors (some under cover and some not) with a view towards Townsville.
Fabulous atmosphere, coffee and service. Look out over Nelly Bay marina. Check FB for opening times and menu.
14 locals recommend
Scallywags
104 Sooning St
14 locals recommend
Fabulous atmosphere, coffee and service. Look out over Nelly Bay marina. Check FB for opening times and menu.

Sightseeing

Selina runs a Wildlife Park Tour in Horseshoe Bay - koalas feature as do turtles, wombats and lizards. We highly recommend booking in advance on the Selina Australia website.
Selina Magnetic Island
Selina runs a Wildlife Park Tour in Horseshoe Bay - koalas feature as do turtles, wombats and lizards. We highly recommend booking in advance on the Selina Australia website.
Moderate climb on path with stairs and magnificent views. Walk to the other end of Picnic street and there is a sign and some stairs on your right where the walk starts.
Hawkings Point Lookout
70-88 Picnic St
Moderate climb on path with stairs and magnificent views. Walk to the other end of Picnic street and there is a sign and some stairs on your right where the walk starts.
Fabulous way to see the island from the sea. Great hosts.
6 locals recommend
Aquascene Charters
123 Sooning St
6 locals recommend
Fabulous way to see the island from the sea. Great hosts.
Wonderful walk through bush - often with koalas - to an historic WWII gun emplacements. Panoramic views of Cleveland Bay. A must for history buffs.
26 locals recommend
The Forts
26 locals recommend
Wonderful walk through bush - often with koalas - to an historic WWII gun emplacements. Panoramic views of Cleveland Bay. A must for history buffs.
One of two snorkel trails
Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail
One of two snorkel trails
One of two snorkel trails on the island - you can get the information card from X base.
Nelly Bay Snorkel Trail
Nelly Bay Road
One of two snorkel trails on the island - you can get the information card from X base.
I think this photo is taken from a lookout on the track up to Hawkings Point - looking towards the harbour at Nelly Bay. Beautiful view and great place to sit on a rock and watch the sunrise.
Magnetic Island
I think this photo is taken from a lookout on the track up to Hawkings Point - looking towards the harbour at Nelly Bay. Beautiful view and great place to sit on a rock and watch the sunrise.
Great sunset viewing from the beach - we take fishing gear, a drink and picnic dinner. It is about 15-20 mins drive on a dirt road (not easily passable if it is or has been raining heavily as the creeks swell).
West Point Beach
Great sunset viewing from the beach - we take fishing gear, a drink and picnic dinner. It is about 15-20 mins drive on a dirt road (not easily passable if it is or has been raining heavily as the creeks swell).
Only about 5-10 mins walk - you can hire clubs.
7 locals recommend
Magnetic Island Country Golf Club
7 locals recommend
Only about 5-10 mins walk - you can hire clubs.
Fabulous website with activities for each day/week listed. It will list musicians and their venues, art galleries, classes, groups.
Whats On Magnetic Island
43 Picnic Street
Fabulous website with activities for each day/week listed. It will list musicians and their venues, art galleries, classes, groups.
Amazing array of historical information, maps, photos and buildings. Upstairs there is an excellent display of local arts and crafts for sale. Closed Tuesdays.
Magnetic Island History and Craft Centre
11 Granite St
Amazing array of historical information, maps, photos and buildings. Upstairs there is an excellent display of local arts and crafts for sale. Closed Tuesdays.
Take a trip around the island on a jet ski....There are many bays and small beaches that are only accessible from the water.
Jet Ski Hire Magnetic Island
10 Pacific Dr
Take a trip around the island on a jet ski....There are many bays and small beaches that are only accessible from the water.
Lovely small gallery in Nelly Bay with high quality local artwork. Check FB for details.
Louver Gallery
Dorothy Street
Lovely small gallery in Nelly Bay with high quality local artwork. Check FB for details.
Hire a UBCO electric road bike and explore the island. Driver's licence required.
Magnetic Island Roaming
Hire a UBCO electric road bike and explore the island. Driver's licence required.

Gifts

Amazing gift shop supporting a wide range of high quality local arts and crafts. Check FB for opening days and times.
MI Design & Retail
11 Pacific Drive
Amazing gift shop supporting a wide range of high quality local arts and crafts. Check FB for opening days and times.

Neighbourhoods

Horseshoe Bay Markets are on many Sundays (check FB for details). Make sure you visit Caz at her stall called Jack's Shed. Caz made the beautiful signs for these 2 cottages and makes an amazing range of handmade beach decor, including personalizing it to individual design & name.
20 locals recommend
Horseshoe Bay
20 locals recommend
Horseshoe Bay Markets are on many Sundays (check FB for details). Make sure you visit Caz at her stall called Jack's Shed. Caz made the beautiful signs for these 2 cottages and makes an amazing range of handmade beach decor, including personalizing it to individual design & name.

Nurturing & Health

The island is blessed with many amazing yoga teachers. Look up Magnetic Island Yoga for days, times and locations of classes.
Magnetic Island Yoga
36 Barton St
The island is blessed with many amazing yoga teachers. Look up Magnetic Island Yoga for days, times and locations of classes.

City advice

Getting around

Hire Electric Bikes

As services do come and go on the island, please check my information on the web and FB. Magnetic Island Roaming has electric bikes for $55/day (at time of writing).
Getting around

Magnetic Island Bus service

The bus service is run by translink - their timetable and pricing is on the web (I cannot insert link here). CASH ONLY. The bus leaves from outside the ferry terminal to go to either Picnic Bay or Horseshoe Bay (bus map on web). As you first arrive on the island, our island host will pick you up from the ferry terminal and take you to the cottage/s.