Magnetic Island

Climate

Maggie enjoys 320 days of sunshine per year with annual average maximums of 28.7°C and minimums of 19.5°C. You might need a jumper on winter nights or for boating but it’s warm enough to swim year-round. Summers are hot and humid.

Where to stay

There are four main settlements on Magnetic Island: Picnic Bay, Nelly Bay, Arcadia (Alma Bay) and Horseshoe Bay.

1 Picnic Bay is a quiet settlement around a lovely swimming beach and jetty. There’s a pub and two restaurants, as well as the island’s museum.

2 Nelly Bay is the location of the ferry terminal, marina, Peppers Blue on Blue Resort and fine-dining restaurant, supermarket, scuba-diving shop and probably the greatest number of accommodation and dining options on the island (along with Horseshoe Bay).

3 Arcadia (Geoffrey and Alma bays) is popular with families, with Alma Bay being a pretty swimming beach framed by granitic rocks for clambering. The Arcadia Village Motel and surf club are located here, as well as a cafe, general store and scuba-diving shop.

4 Horseshoe Bay is the main tourist strip where kayaks, jet skis and stand-up paddleboards can be hired during the day. Marine tours and sailing boats operate here, as well as tourist eateries and plenty of accommodation.

Getting to and around the island

Ferries Magnetic Island is 10km and a 25-minute ferry ride from

Townsville. Ride the SeaLink passenger ferry or Magnetic Island Ferries if you’re taking your car. sealinkqld.com.au magneticislandferries.com.au

Buses Travel between the island’s settlements using the relaxed bus services. Buses depart the five bus stops scattered around the island every 40–60 minutes, with a few exceptions, from 6am to almost midnight at weekends.

Cars Bring your car

(or hire one from Townsville) on Magnetic Island Ferries or hire one on the island – including topless (and brightly coloured) cars that are reminiscent of Mini Mokes.

What to do

Magnetic Island is loved for its nature-based, outdoors lifestyle.

Walks

There are many walking tracks on the island, some of which take you to otherwise hard-to-access beaches. Your efforts on these walks (to Florence, Arthur, Rocky and Radical bays) are rewarded by relatively empty beaches and footprint-free sand.

Water sports & boating

Horseshoe and Alma bays are the most popular for easy-access swimming (take precautions against marine jellyfish in stinger season: Nov–Apr). Stinger suits and nets are available for hire.

More info

townsvillenorthqueensland.com. au/destinations/magnetic-island/