A must-see stop of any Queensland Road Trip: Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island, just a short ferry from Townsville, is a paradise flushed with blues and greens. A haven for wild koalas and wallabies, visible as you explore all the island has to offer.

With two visits to this welcoming island under my belt, I offer some recommendations and tips & tricks to make the most of your time on magical Maggie.

Getting around

Whether you’re spending a day or a long weekend on the island, it’s important to think ahead about how you’re going to get from one activity to another.

The only way over to Maggie is by ferry - either as a passenger with Sealink or take your car with Magnetic Island Ferries. As always, book in advance if you’re going in peak season.

If you’re staying for a few days, I recommend having your own transport - either bring your car with you or hire one of the island’s infamous Barbie Cars. You don’t need a 4wd for the island either, well maintained roads weave throughout the mountainous terrain, so you’ll be able to dot around with ease.

If you’re only going for the day, the bus from the port goes back and forth to horseshoe bay all day, making it an easy way to get between bays on the island. I must mention that buses on Maggie only takes cash! Don’t get caught out like we did having to RUN to get some cash out from the nearby supermarket. As buses and ferries are well timed there will most likely be a bus waiting for you as soon as you disembark the ferry, arrive prepared with some notes and change so you can hop on with no worries.

If there’s one thing you make time for on Magnetic Island, it’s Forts walk, a peaceful uphill climb between the trees that leads you to the highest point on the island.

Take it from me, it’s your best bet to tick off seeing wild koalas, sometimes with their cubs.

Of course keep your eyes peeled upwards to spot those fluffy little guys asleep in the crook of a branch, but keep an eye on the floor too; previous hikers kindly place sticks in piles on the path in front of koalas to point you in the right direction.

Once they’re fed and comfortable, koalas spend almost 20 hours resting, so they should still be there when you get to the highlighted tree.

Along the way you’ll also enjoy incredible vistas looking out over the rocky terrain punctuated with areas of lush verdigris.

Park up at the small car park or hop off the bus at Horseshoe Bay Rd at the Forts and follow the track up to the WWII concrete forts’ lookout shelter. Spend some time at the top in the lookout shelter or find a clearing along the way to take some scenic photos. The island feels untouched up here, with every angle looking out over the water and nothing to distract from its natural beauty.

Forts Walk

Rock wallabies

Magnetic’s rock wallabies are the VIPs of the island, a stop on everyone’s itinerary. They’re much smaller than the wallabies you’ll see on the mainland, about the size of a small dog.

Geoffrey Bay is your best chance to see these lovely creatures. They’re used to humans so there’s a chance they’ll come over and say hello.

The rocks they’ve made habitat are even pinned on google, so nice and easy to find.

Sweet little things! I was able to grab a great shot of one holding her afternoon snack.

I was lucky to visit Maggie with a group of friends on a camping road trip. We planned to cook for ourselves as opposed to eating out throughout the journey, a memory we all hold close when it comes to Magnetic Island…

Being near our accommodation, we made sure to finish our afternoon back at Horseshoe Bay with dinner and drinks on the beach to watch the show.

An evening of great food and fabulous company was incomparably enhanced by our surroundings; calm water sloshing back and forth, the landscape wrapped around us on either side of the bay as the sky blended lilacs with pinks and through to deep oranges and burnt reds as the sun set and the stars came out.

Don’t get this island wrong, just because it doesn’t have a huge amount of landmarks and activities doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the journey. What I love about Magnetic Island is its paradisal qualities.

The fact that you’re likely to see koalas so close to the island’s most popular walking track, the height of the terrain leaning over you and how serene your time on the island can be make it nature’s sanctuary.

Stay

  • Maggie A Frame on Airbnb was the perfect place for 4. A great living area downstairs with an upstairs converted loft set within the A frame roof. Just down the road from Horseshoe bay you could walk to grab drinks in town or catch some rays.

  • The Koala Park hostel (by Selina) for a budget friendly stay. Comfortable accommodation with private and dorm room options.

Eat

  • Cafe Nourish, Horseshoe Bay - my favourite cafe for breakfast on the island

  • Tiny Palm Coffee, Nelly Bay - cosy community vibes, a little coffee oasis set in the trees

  • On the beach! We had camping gear, but you can also find free barbecues around the island to make a dinner looking out over the water

  • Stage Door Theatre Restaurant - locals rave about this place. Live theatre with great food? What’s not to love?

View

  • Hawkings Hill Lookout Sunset

  • Horseshoe Bay Sunset

  • The stars! Sit out on your porch or head down to the beach to wonder at the thousands of stars that blanket the quiet island