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Planning a Magnetic Island day journey? As Maggie locals (sure, we really dwell right here!) we’ve all the within data you’ll have to take advantage of this magical place when you have simply in the future on Magnetic Island!
Should you’re travelling up and down the east coast of Queensland, or simply occur to be hanging out in Townsville, one of many very best issues you are able to do is leap on a ferry and have a Magnetic Island day journey!
Truly, the perfect factor you are able to do is keep right here for per week. However should you solely have in the future on Magnetic Island, we’ve put collectively the right itinerary for you!
Magnetic Island, or ‘Maggie’ because it’s affectionately recognized, is an incredible tropical getaway within the Nice Barrier Reef Marine Park, only a brief boat experience away from Townsville.
With about 2000 pleasant locals calling the island house (together with us) and a measurement of 52 sq. kilometres, there are tonnes of wonderful actions and sights right here.
Whether or not you’re into stress-free beneath a palm tree, swimming at beautiful beaches with pristine turquoise waters, mountaineering to epic viewpoints, hanging out with unbelievable wildlife together with koalas or snorkelling and diving with turtles, you’ll discover loads to do on Maggie.
We might suggest staying a few nights on the island to get the total relaxed tropical vibe. However we all know generally your time might be restricted so a day journey to Magnetic Island is the most suitable choice for you.
That’s why we’ve put collectively this text. We obtain messages each single day from folks asking what they need to do in the event that they’re simply right here for in the future, and it’s our aim to verify everybody falls in love with this place as a lot as we’ve.
This information has all the knowledge and recommendation you want to have an superior expertise and see as a lot as you possibly can in your Magnetic Island day journey.
Our Native’s Information to a Good Day Journey on Magnetic Island
There are some things we have to cowl earlier than you simply cruise on over to the island.
Must you ebook a tour? Do you want to hire a automotive (or carry your personal)? Let’s dive into it.
Getting Over to Magnetic Island
When you’ve made it to Townsville you’re prepared for the subsequent a part of your journey on how one can get to Magnetic Island – leaping on the ferry!
The island has two ferry firms that go over to Magnetic Island. It’s a 20 minute crossing from the city of Townsville they usually go away each 30 – 45 minutes.
- SeaLink is the passenger ferry solely taking folks on foot and bicycles.
- Magnetic Island Ferries is the car ferry take something from vehicles to vehicles to scooters
Try our complete information on how to get to Magnetic Island for extra data.
How one can Get Across the Island?
Whereas the island isn’t enormous, having your personal wheels actually does assist make your day so a lot better.
You’ve three choices – Carry your car over on the barge (costly, probably not price it for in the future except you could have a couple of folks within the automotive to separate the associated fee with), hire a automotive or scooter, or use public transport.
In case you are on foot you’re going to be fairly restricted with the place you possibly can go. You’ll solely see a small quantity of the island, and most of the people who simply stroll round Nelly Bay find yourself leaving saying they don’t perceive the hype of Maggie.
Belief us – on the very least, take the bus or hire a scooter.
For extra data try our detailed information on getting around Magnetic Island.
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Magnetic Island Day Journey Itinerary
Now that you understand how to get right here and how one can get round, let’s dive into the precise itinerary!
How must you spend in the future on Magnetic Island? By following this schedule!
You’ll tick off all the principle sights, get to some distinctive spots that most individuals don’t get to see on a day journey, and we’ll even share our favorite sundown location.
We’re going to jot down out this itinerary for many who are going to stay to public transport, however when you have your personal car your day simply received even simpler!
Let’s go to paradise…
7am – Take the Ferry to the Island
We extremely suggest taking one of many early ferries to take advantage of your day right here!
Head right down to the Sealink Terminal in Townsville and leap on the 7am ferry (pre-purchase your ticket right here to avoid wasting cash), which is able to get you to the island at about 7:25am.
Whenever you arrive on the Nelly Bay Terminal, buy an all-day hop-on/hop-off native bus ticket to get you from one facet of the island to the opposite.
When you’ve got your personal wheels drive straight right down to Jungle Membership and seize a brew from our favorite cafe on the island, Tiny Palm. In any other case you possibly can choose one up from the espresso cart on the ferry terminal.
Don’t get breakfast simply but although (however do choose up a light-weight snack). As an alternative leap on the bus and make your approach straight to your first exercise for the day.
8am – The Forts Stroll
After you have you bus ticket, catch the bus heading the course in direction of Horseshoe Bay.
Let the bus driver know you want to cease at The Forts. She or he will drop you off proper outdoors the trailhead, the place you’ll discover a model new, clear rest room block too.
The rationale we’ve mentioned to come back straight to the Forts is as a result of it might get extremely popular on the island (particularly in summer time), and also you’re about to tick off the primary hike on the island, which is healthier within the morning.
The Forts Walk is a 4km average spherical journey that goes steadily uphill to some historic World Warfare II fortifications and ruins.
The views alongside the way in which are good, and also you’ll get a couple of glimpses out to the bays beneath. However don’t simply look out – lookup!
The Forts is known for being house to an enormous inhabitants of the island’s favorite animal, koalas!
These tremendous cute native animals lounge round in bushes, typically very shut the mountaineering path, and your finest probability at seeing them is within the morning earlier than the path will get too busy.
Maintain an eye fixed out as you stroll to the summit, and should you do see one, ensure you don’t get too shut, and positively don’t attempt to contact or feed them.
There are data indicators alongside the way in which to indicate you the place the hike goes and a little bit of historical past.
The path is properly maintained, however do put on correct strolling sneakers as there are rock stairs in areas.
The views from the highest are beautiful, permitting you to see 360 levels across the total island.
The entire stroll ought to take you about an hour. Whenever you’re completed stroll again right down to the carpark and leap on the bus to Horseshoe Bay.
Alternatively you possibly can cross the highway and observe the path down into city.
9:30am – Horseshoe Bay for Breakfast
Whenever you attain Horseshoe Bay on the bus you’ll be greeted by a stunningly calm seashore – that is the biggest bay on the whole island, and it’s attractive!
There are a variety of cafes and eating places with water views, so get your self some breakfast and a espresso. We suggest Cafe Nourish.
10am – Make Your Personal Journey: Kayaking or Mountain climbing
After you could have stuffed your tummy, it’s time to make your personal journey over in Horseshoe Bay!
There are fairly a couple of issues you are able to do right here, from jetskiing to stand-up paddleboarding, and even simply kicking again and taking a relaxation should you’d like.
Our high suggestions on this Magnetic Island day journey although are to both hire a kayak for an hour, or go for a hike to Balding Bay and Radical Bay.
If you wish to go for a paddle (with a excessive probability of seeing inexperienced turtles), choose up a sea kayak from Magnetic Island Sea Kayaks.
You’ll have to ebook certainly one of their two-hour excursions, so ensure you give them a name first to see if they’ve availability.
In any other case put your mountaineering sneakers again on and head up over to 2 of probably the most stunning bays on the island – Balding and Radical, which may solely be accessed by foot or boat.
These hidden bays are wonderful, with enormous granite rocks lining the shore, clear turquoise water and smooth white sand.
To get there stroll over the small pedestrian foot bridge between the overall retailer and memento retailer, then flip left on the residential avenue. You’ll see indicators up forward with a mountaineering path chopping by way of the forest.
It’s a brief however steep hike, so give your self about 90 minutes to get to the seashores and again.
As another choice, should you’re travelling to the island between April and September, go try the Butterfly Stroll, the place you’ll be surrounded by 1000’s of vibrant butterflies. That is on Dent Avenue.
After you could have spent a while stress-free on one of many seashores and swimming within the water, head again to Horseshoe Bay to catch the bus to Arcadia.
12pm – Go to Alma Bay in Arcadia
It’s time for a swim at Magnetic Island’s most picturesque bay!
Get off the bus at Alma Bay and dive straight into glistening water in entrance of you.
This sensational seashore is surrounded by enormous granite boulders, excellent for bouldering or rock hopping, and the water within the bay could be very protected (except the easterlies are up).
Alma Bay is a patrolled seashore with a pleasant sitting areas and some tables and grass patches to calm down on between swims. There are seashore showers and public bogs right here.
Positively cease off right here in your in the future journey to Magnetic Island for a swim.
12:30pm – Feed the Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey Bay
From Alma Bay stroll over to the overall retailer to choose up some wallaby meals, since you’re about to go meet the island’s second-cutest residents!
Simply on the opposite facet of Alma Bay on the fringe of Arcadia and Geoffrey Bay is a slim highway that twists its solution to the tip of an previous marina, which is now house to dozens of allied rock wallabies.
These curious, stunning marsupials wish to hop across the rocks, and the wallaby hospital on the island has ready meals for people to feed them.
There are a number of locations on the island that promote little luggage of wallaby-safe meals pellets for round $2, so make sure you purchase the correct meals and never feed them your personal snacks, as that may make the wallabies sick.
Don’t neglect to get a photograph of 1. They may get actually near you and they’re so cute. However like all wild animals, please chorus from touching them.
12:45pm – Go for a Snorkel on the Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Path
Should you purchased your snorkelling gear you possibly can head out to the Geoffery Bay Snorkel Path which is situated close to the rock wallabies.
Simply off Magnetic Island is a superb fringing coral reef within the Nice Barrier Reef Marine Park. There is no such thing as a fishing right here so there are many fish to be seen.
The snorkel path begins 390m off the seashore of Geoffrey Bay on the finish of the bay closest to the Arcadia Lodge.
OUR TIP: Stroll down in direction of the previous jetty the place the rock wallabies are and go down the boat ramp and begin from there. It’s a lot straightforward and can prevent time.
If you need you possibly can choose up a snorkel map from a number of shops on the island for $5 or simply observe the white buoys out within the water.
Across the buoys, you will notice stunning coral and a lot of fish. That is the place you will notice these Large Large Clams, that are wonderful to look at!
There’s a shipwreck on the finish of the path that may be seen on a transparent day. It’s the wreckage of the Moltke, which was a German passenger and cargo ship that was intentionally sunk (scuttled) off Magnetic Island in 1911.
If you want to rent some snorkel gear in Acadia, you will get it from the dive store, Pleasure Divers. To hire an entire snorkel set is about $10 for half a day (8.30-12.30 or 12.30-4.30).
Simply watch out within the months of November to April (moist season) as that is Stinger Season right here on Magnetic Island. You must solely enter the water with a stinger swimsuit, which might be employed on the retailer additionally, or don’t leap in in any respect
Have an additional day and wish to go on a snorkelling tour?
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1:30pm – Lunch in Nelly Bay
After your snorkel you’ll have constructed up fairly the urge for food! So leap on the bus (observe the Gabul Manner pedestrian path) to Nelly Bay for lunch.
There are many choices to eat lunch in Nelly Bay.
Our two private suggestions are to go to SOS Seafood for the perfect fish and chips on the island, or stroll on right down to Scallywags Cafe for a next-level burger and good vegetarian and vegan choices.
Take a while to get your power again for the remainder of your day on Magnetic Island.
3pm – Head over to Picnic Bay
After you could have loved an ideal lunch, catch the bus over to Picnic Bay. Identical to all of the bays on the island, that is actually stunning, and an actual native favorite.
The waters are calm and guarded, and probably the most outstanding function is the massive historic jetty.
Picnic Bay was the primary settlement on the island, and the jetty in entrance of you was once the principle level of entry for folks coming over from Townsville, earlier than the brand new terminal was constructed on the marina in Nelly Bay.
Go for a stroll out to the tip of the jetty, and leap off the tip if you want to quiet down.
Alternatively there’s a pleasant, sheltered and secure space on the finish of the seashore.
Should you really feel like a drink cease by the Picnic Bay Pub, or should you’re actually fortunate the Magnetic Island Brewery may have opened by the point you go to (watch this house, we’ll replace as quickly because it opens).
This can be a excellent spot to calm down and unwind after all of your early mountaineering and swimming in your in the future on Magnetic Island.
4:30pm – Choice 1: Head as much as Hawkings Level for 360 Diploma Views
After you could have relaxed within the bay, head to Hawkings Level for an additional epic 360-degree view of the opposite facet of the island.
That is our private favorite spot for sundown on the whole island, so choose up a bottle of wine from the liquor retailer in Picnic Bay should you’d like and settle in for the sunshine present.
Head to the tip of Picnic Avenue and begin the step climb to the lookout. It’s lower than 1km from the trailhead to the highest, so no have to rush.
Relying in your tempo it ought to take about 20-Half-hour to achieve the summit.
When you stand up the highest you’ll be greeted with beautiful panoramic views wanting over Magnetic Island Nationwide Park and two bays – Picnic and Nelly.
Relying on the time of the yr, you ought to be up right here simply in time to relax out and catch the final of the solar’s rays earlier than it dips beneath the horizon.
Watching the sundown from Hawkings Level Lookout is the second finest solution to finish your Magnetic Island day journey! (Try the ultimate level beneath to see the perfect)
Head again down the identical path and catch the bus from Granite Avenue again to Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal.
4:30pm – Choice 2: Sundown Boat Tour
In case you are having such a good time on Magnetic Island and wish to keep for sundown, a ship tour is a superb possibility.
We extremely suggest you to go on certainly one of these excursions earlier than you head again to Townsville.
All excursions go away at 4:30pm and are round 2 hours. All costs beneath are for adults.
- Pilgrim Crusing: Stress-free Sundowners and Sundown Crusing on Magnetic Island – Bookings
- Aquascene Charters: Sundown and Shipwreck Tour – Bookings
- Massive Mama: Sundown Sail Magnetic Island – Bookings
All these sundown cruises above begin and end in Nelly Bay
Occurring a sundown tour is an effective way to complete your 1 day on Magnetic Island.
Conclusion
As you possibly can see there’s a lot to do on a Magnetic Island day journey. There may be much more than the checklist above however it is a nice begin should you solely have a day.
READ MORE: In case you are heading again to Townsville and are staying there the night time, try our article on Things to do in Townsville.
DISCLAIMER: Among the hyperlinks on this article are affiliate hyperlinks, which implies should you ebook lodging, excursions or purchase a product, we’ll obtain a small fee at no additional value to you. These commissions assist us preserve creating extra free journey content material to assist folks plan their holidays and adventures. We solely suggest the perfect lodging, excursions and merchandise, and repeatedly evaluation these. Thanks to your help, type buddy!
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