Magnetic Island is the perfect destination for nature lovers. Some of the top things to do on Magnetic Island include swimming, snorkelling, relaxing on gorgeous palm-fringed beaches and hiking through a National Park teeming with wildlife.
If they sound like activities you would enjoy, then Magnetic Island in Queensland is the ideal destination.
Along with beautiful coral reefs Magnetic Island is famous for its large colony of koalas. It’s one of the best places in Australia to see endangered koalas in the wild.
The island is also home to rock wallabies (small kangaroos), butterflies, sea turtles, and a variety of birds and other wildlife.
I loved exploring Magnetic Island and it’s one of my favourite places to visit in Queensland. The wildlife experiences are unforgettable and the scenery is stunning.
There’s nothing quite like seeing a koala high up in the gum trees or small wallabies hopping around the rocks.
If you want to get back to nature and see native Australian animals in their natural environment keep reading to find the top 10 things to do on Magnetic Island.
Where is Magnetic Island?
Located offshore from the coast of Townsville in eastern Australia, Magnetic Island is one of the thousands of small islands on the Great Barrier Reef in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Marine Park in the Coral Sea.
The island is around 6 hours south of Cairns in far north Queensland and is one of the top snorkelling spots in Queensland.
To get there, head to Townsville by plane, train, bus or car and catch one of the Magnetic Island ferries.
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The top 10 things to do on Magnetic Island
Magnetic Bay is a great destination for nature lovers because most of the best things to do there involve getting outdoors.
Here are 10 of the best things to add to your Magnetic Island itinerary:
1 – Visit the Magnetic Island Beaches
If you’re wondering what there is to do on Magnetic Island, relaxing on a palm-fringed beach swimming and snorkelling are high on the list and there are 23 beautiful bays and beaches to choose from.
Listed below are the best beaches on the island easily accessible by bus and car.
Alma Bay
One of the prettiest beaches on the island, Alma Bay is considered one of the best beaches in Australia and it’s a great place to spend a day relaxing, swimming, snorkelling and exploring.
A lovely shaded park area backs onto the tree-lined beach. A green lawn area with picnic tables and a facilities block makes this the perfect place to relax and spend a few hours.
Alma Bay is protected and safe for swimming all year round and it’s just a short walk to Geoffrey Bay to see the small rock wallabies that live on the headland.
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is another natural beauty of a beach with a wide stretch of golden sand and turquoise water.
Water sports and kayaking are popular here and it’s safe for swimming year-round as the beach has a netted area that protects swimmers from stingers.
Ancient trees with exposed root systems provide shade in the park area behind the beach and a good selection of cafes, restaurants and bars makes Horseshoe Bay the perfect place to stop for a meal or a drink.
The west-facing beach is a perfect place to go for a sundowner at sunset.
Picnic Bay
On the other side of the island, Picnic Bay offers a small, quiet swimming beach with a long jetty. It’s a popular spot for fishing and swimming. From the beach, there’s a lovely view across the water to Townsville on mainland Australia. And on the headland, the Hawkings Point Lookout offers sweeping views across the island.
SHORT ON TIME? Book an organised day trip to cover the best of the island.
Nelly Bay
The ferry docks at Nelly Bay and the beach here has a snorkel trail on the reef.
Around the point, Geoffrey Bay has a picturesque beach and it’s another great place for snorkelling on Magnetic Island.
There are secluded beaches at Florence Bay and Radical Bay that can be accessed by a 4WD vehicle on a very rough dirt road. But Arthur Bay and Balding Bay are beaches that can only be accessed on foot.
Endangered Flatback and Green Sea Turtles nest here and you may see them in the water or on the beach in the summer months if you’re lucky.
2 – Koala spotting & the Forts Walk
A large colony of koalas live on Magnetic Island there’s a good chance you’ll see a koala in the eucalypt forest and acacia woodland that surrounds the ruins of heritage-listed World War ll Military Fort strategically located on a high point on the island.
The Fort has sweeping views and you can see all the way to Hinchinbrook Island and the Palm Islands in the north and across the water to the mainland.
Not only is the Fort interesting to visit but wild koalas live in the area and are often seen along the walking tracks.
The Forts Walk is one of the best things to do on Magnetic Island and is the most popular walking trail for koala spotting.
The 2-hour walk to the Fort is 4 kilometres long and begins at the Forts Junction. It’s easy to access by bus from Nelly Bay and there’s a car park at the trailhead.
When to see koalas on Magnetic Island
Koalas are most active around dusk and dawn and the best time to see a koala on the Forts Walk is early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
There’s nothing quite like seeing a koala high up in the gum trees but they spend around 20 hours a day sleeping and can be hard to spot.
Their grey coat is well camouflaged amongst the leafy tree branches and they only occasionally come down to the ground to change trees. They get all the moisture they need from the gum leaves that they eat.
RELATED READ: How to see quokkas in the wild
I walked for some time without seeing any koalas on the Forts Walk and only saw one after I came across some other people who had found one.
Even then the koala was hard to see until he started climbing higher up into the trees.
But if you’re unlucky and don’t see a koala in the bush, you can always visit the Magnetic Island Koala Sanctuary in Horseshoe Bay.
3 – Magnetic Island Koala Sanctuary
At the Magnetic Island Koala Sanctuary, you can see koalas up close and learn all about these sweet-faced furry creatures.
Koalas are now an endangered species in Australia and sanctuaries such as this one help to protect and conserve these unique and endearing creatures.
The Magnetic Island Koala Sanctuary also offers wildlife presentations and tours with the rangers. As well as koalas, wombats, turtles, pythons and crocodiles are kept here.
The Koala Sanctuary is located at Bungalow Bay Koala Village in Horseshoe Bay and it’s easy to get there by bus from Nelly Bay.
4 – Rock Wallabies
As well as a colony of koalas, Magnetic Island is also home to a mob of rock wallabies. They’re a pleasure to see hopping around on the headland between Alma Bay and Geoffrey Bay.
If you’re wondering what to do on Magnetic Island, this is another special Australian wildlife experience to add to your bucket list.
The wallabies are easy to spot among the rocky cliffs of Geoffrey Bay and I saw several. A wallaby looks very similar to a kangaroo but is much smaller in size.
This mob of wallabies is used to having people around and will be looking for food.
When I was there other people were feeding them with small pellets of wallaby food bought from a shop in Alma Bay. However, if you want to practice responsible tourism, it’s always best not to feed the native wildlife.
To find the rock wallabies, catch the bus to Alma Bay. From the bus stop it’s a 10-minute walk to the old jetty where the wallabies can be found among the rocks.
5 – Bushwalking in Magnetic Island National Park
Bushwalking in the National Park is one of the best things to do on Magnetic Island.
78% of the island is made up of protected forests and bushlands and a network of walking trails connects the main destinations and beaches across the island.
The Forts Walk is one of the most popular hikes on Magnetic Island with its koala colony but there are many other worthwhile trails to explore on Magnetic Island.
The walking trails are well-marked, well-maintained and easy to follow but there are some steep sections due to the hilly terrain.
It’s possible to walk to all the main beaches on the island and the trailheads are easy to access by bus. Many of the walks can be accessed from the Forts Junction.
Discovering stunning viewpoints and less visited coves and beaches on a leisurely walk through the National Park is one of the top things to do on Magnetic Island.
Florence Bay, Balding Bay and Radical Bay
The coastal walking trail to Florence Bay, Balding Bay and Radical Bay offers beautiful bushlands, stunning coastal viewpoints and secluded beaches.
I hiked the Forts Walk and instead of returning to the Fort Junction, I continued along the trail down a steep set of stairs to beautiful and peaceful Florence Bay.
The access road to Florence Bay is very rough and you would need a 4WD to drive there. Otherwise, access was on foot so there were very few people about when I was there.
I kept following the trail to Balding Bay, Radical Bay and Horseshoe Bay. I got a bit lost but managed to find my way to Horseshoe Bay where there were lots of cafes and restaurants open for lunch. (I can personally recommend Café Nourish in Horseshoe Bay.)
I ended my hike in Horseshoe Bay but you can also begin the trail at the end of the Horseshoe Bay beach and walk to Balding Bay, Radical and Florence Bay from there.
Secluded Balding Bay is a nesting site for green sea turtles and there’s a good chance of seeing them in the water here.
6 – Gabul Way – Nelly Bay to Geoffrey Bay
The Gabul Way is a much more accessible coastal walk on an easy path that connects Nelly Bay and Geoffrey Bay.
The gorgeous views of Geoffrey Bay unfold as you walk around the headland and you can begin the walk at the ferry wharf in Nelly Bay.
From the wharf, walk to the main road and turn right. There’s an elevated walkway beside the road and places to stop and admire the beautiful view.
It took me around half an hour to reach Alma Bay Beach from Nelly Bay on the Gabul Way.
7 – Olympus Lookout near Alma Bay
Olympus Lookout near Alma Bay is the perfect place to watch the sunset on Magnetic Island with a superb view over the rocky coastline.
The short track to the Lookout begins at the end of Olympus Crescent and leads to a big rocky outcrop near Alma Bay.
There are no barriers here so watch your step.
8 – Snorkel trail
One of the best things to do on Magnetic Island is to explore the coral reef on the snorkel trail.
Located in the Coral Sea on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Magnetic Island is one of the top 10 places to snorkel in Queensland.
There are 2 snorkel trails on the island at Nelly Bay and Geoffrey Bay.
The first step to enjoying the snorkel trail is to collect a swim card from one of the shops at Nelly Bay. Strap the card to your wrist and follow the snorkel trail.
The white numbers floating on the surface of the water mark the trail and the swim card has information about the coral and fish you’ll see on the reef.
Beneath the water on Magnetic Island, the remains of a WWII aeroplane can be found near the shipwreck 140 metres offshore from Nelly Bay.
It’s a fair way out and recommended for strong swimmers only. And there’s a shipwreck in Cockle Bay that’s popular as a dive site.
9 – Butterfly Forest
If you’re visiting in the winter months, discovering the butterfly forest is another lovely thing to do on Magnetic Island.
Between April and September, large numbers of Blue Tiger Butterflies can be found in the forest area near Horseshoe Bay Road.
The butterflies fly around and come to rest on the vegetation.
I loved seeing the bright blue and white speckled butterflies but there were also a lot of mosquitos as the area is quite swampy.
The best time to see the butterflies is in the middle of the afternoon and to get there, catch a bus to Horseshoe Bay.
10 – Sunrise at Hawkings Point
One of my favourite things to do on Magnetic Island is to watch the sunrise and the Hawkings Point Lookout in Picnic Bay is the perfect place to do this.
The short hike to Hawkings Point begins at the eastern end of Picnic Street and continues to the top of the headland.
The first lookout point on the trail overlooks Rocky Bay and higher up there’s another lookout point that offers sweeping views over Picnic Bay, neighbouring Rocky Bay and across the sea to Townsville on the mainland.
The 1.2-kilometre bush track to Hawkings Point takes about 20 minutes each way and the views are breathtaking.
Planning your trip to Magnetic Island
Where to stay
There are lots of accommodation options on Magnetic Island.
The most popular places to stay are in Nelly Bay near the ferry wharf, Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay on the other side of the Island.
I stayed in Picnic Bay and loved being in a quieter area. I found getting around the island by bus was easy.
Where to eat
There are lots of restaurants and cafes across Magnetic Island. Nelly Bay has a supermarket and a strip of restaurants.
Horseshoe Bay also has a good selection of places to eat and drink and there is a pub and café at Arcadia.
Picnic Bay was quiet in comparison and there was not much choice here but I enjoyed a couple of meals at the Picnic Bay pub.
When to go
The best time to visit Magnetic Island is in the winter months from May to September.
The weather is warm and sunny and it’s safe to swim. Stinger season is from November to April.
In the summer months, there are dangerous Box and Irukandji Jellyfish in the waters of the Coral Sea.
Safety
Some of the beaches on Magnetic Island are safe for swimming year-round.
Horseshoe Bay has stinger nets to protect swimmers but to be safe, wear a lycra stinger suit for swimming or stay out of the water during stinger season.
Saltwater crocodiles are sometimes seen in the water around Magnetic Island but they are not common. It’s best to check locally whether it’s safe to swim before going into the water.
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Why is it called Magnetic Island?
In case you’re wondering how Magnetic Island got its name, Captain James Cook named the island when he first sailed to Australia in 1770.
His ship experienced navigation difficulties near Magnetic Island and it was thought that a magnetic field around the island was the cause of problems with the ship’s compass.
Like many places in Australia, locals like to shorten the name to “Maggie Island”. So, if you hear it,
Final Thoughts – What to do on Magnetic Island
Swimming, snorkelling, water activities, bushwalking wildlife spotting and getting back to nature are at the top of the list of best activities but
If you’re still wondering what to do on Magnetic Island, you might enjoy diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and boat trips to add to this list.
The koala spotting opportunity on the Forts Walk and other wildlife experiences were my favourite things to do on Magnetic Island and I loved the stunning scenery and beautiful viewpoints across the island.
I loved visiting Magnetic Island and can recommend spending 2 or 3 days to enjoy the wide variety of activities available but if you’re short of time, a day trip to Magnetic Island is still a good idea.
Take the short ferry ride from Townsville as a walk-on passenger or take your own car across (or rental car) if you prefer.
But there’s a reliable bus service to all the main beach destinations and a car isn’t necessary to get around.
If you’re a nature lover looking to see koalas, butterflies and rock wallabies in their natural habitat in Australia, Magnetic Island is the perfect destination for you.