Magnetic Island, QLD - Magic Island

Nestled just seven kilometres off the coast – a mere 20-minute ferry ride – this mountainous 52 square-kilometre island is classified as a suburb of the City of Townsville, with a permanent residency of approximately 2,500.

Sometimes referred to as ‘the poor sister of the Whitsundays’, Magnetic Island thankfully escaped the glamour boom of the eighties that affected her southern sisters and, as a result, she has retained an almost pristine natural beauty.

Affectionately known as ‘Maggie’ by the locals (or occasionally ‘The Rock’) this amazing island consists of more than two-thirds national park and is a wildlife safe haven. Maggie’s spectacular landscape is dominated by huge granite boulders, balanced precariously atop one another, sandwiching hoop pines and forcing them to grow out at odd angles. The western side of the island is home to masses of life-giving mangroves and salt marshes, while the east and north are dotted with 23 palm-lined, white sandy beaches that lead out to a fringing coral reef.

Her life started some 275 million years ago, when massive volcanic eruptions spewed out molten granite with enormous force. Over time the smaller rocks have washed and weathered away, leaving huge rocks and boulders scattered like a giant’s marbles flung across the island, tumbling all the way down to the azure blue ocean’s edge. The result is a unique and extraordinary terrain, with photo opportunities at every turn.

The indigenous Wulgurukaba (or 'canoe') people have lived on Magnetic Island for thousands of years, referring to their island home as Yunbenun. Their ancient stories describes a huge mythical snake linking Magnetic Island, Palm Island and the mainland, explaining their connection and creation during the Dreamtime. When the port of Townsville was established in the 1890s, seeing more Europeans move to the area, the indigenous people were forced off the island to live in missions on the mainland. A small group of Wulgurukaba people have since returned to their traditional home.

Magnetic Island was discovered and named in modern history by Lt. James Cook in 1770, when he noticed his compasses behaving erratically as he passed by. He believed there was some strange magnetic force coming from all the rocks on the island, causing his compasses to react. There has never been any scientific evidence to prove his theory. Perhaps there is a mysterious force that makes the island truly magical...

It's almost unimaginable that Cook managed to navigate his way through the reefs and shoals of these waters without today’s technological equipment, as it is hairy by any captain’s standards.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Maggie is a nature lover’s paradise. It's home to 180 different species of birds, around 800 koalas (introduced to the island in the 1930s for protection), nimble little rock wallabies that live among the granite boulders, brushtail possums and an endangered ground-dwelling bird called the bush stone-curlew. The curlew’s presence is mostly noticed at night, when this nocturnal creature communicates with eerie, wailing screams that echo through the stillness – very unsettling if you are not sure what it is!

The island is arid, boasting 300 days without rain per year. The result is a dry and hot landscape with a large snake population in the mountains, mostly death adders.

Large marine animals that may be spotted around the island include sea turtles and dugongs, which feed in the extensive sea-grass meadows surrounding the island. Though the last cyclone to sweep across the area severely damaged the sea-grass beds and has diminished the communities of both of these species.

SEAS THE DAY

There is sensational sailing and boating to be experienced around Maggie, with many bays and beaches only accessible by water. Dropping an anchor in a remote bay and spending the day swimming, snorkelling and picnicing is a special treat that is very achievable. Many bays offer safe anchoring overnight, depending on the weather. Horseshoe Bay is by far the most popular anchorage spot on the island, protected from the prevailing SE winds, with good holding in clean ground.

Maggie Island Marina is located on the south-eastern side of the island, sheltered by the Presto Breakwater and adjacent to Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, in Nelly Bay. The marina offers amenities including showers, toilets, coin operated washing machine and drier, 15-amp and three-phase power and a courtesy vehicle to explore the island.

Vessels should be aware that the ferry and car barge have right of way in the Nelly Bay Harbour and the harbour has an average low tide down to two and a half metres.

There is no fuel wharf on Maggie, the closest fuel is Townsville marina. While you are in Townsville call in and check out the fantastic makeover of the Townsville casino, The Ville. For running repairs, NBJ Automotive on Maggie is handy and friendly. The closest slipway for repairs is Rosshaven Marine at the Port of Townsville.

The Great Barrier Reef is approximately 130 kilometres from the island, so it is not an option for a day trip, but it’s a great idea for an extended trip when the weather is guaranteed fine for a few days.

Excellent fishing can be found all around the island. You can catch dozens of tropical species such as bream, flathead, giant trevally, queenfish, mangrove jack, fingermark, golden and tea-leaf trevally, thread fin-salmon, tarpon, grunter, cobia and sharks just to name a few. The best bait is peeled or half-peeled prawns and squid for beach fishing, whole or cut pilchards on the reef, or whole poddy mullet and strip fish flesh in most locations. Please be aware there are wide areas of marine parks around the island and the fisheries and wildlife officers are diligent!

If you can’t be bothered with the rods and tackle, head to Arcadia Pub on a Friday afternoon and buy delicious ‘straight off the trawler’ prawns, bugs, barra and king salmon from the lovely Marlene.

GOING TO THE END OF THE ROAD

There is only one main road on the island, however there are still three pubs. It’s obviously thirsty work living in the tropics! There is a bus service that sells day passes for you to hop on and hop off all day. A good plan is to start at the south-eastern end in Picnic Bay where you will find the first pub, with a fabulous tropical fish aquarium, located on a sweeping beach lined with ancient banyan trees. Take a break for a while or walk to the iconic jetty, recently rebuilt after cyclone Debbie, where the ferry terminal was originally located. Hop on the bus that winds past one of the most famous backpackers in the world, X Base, where the notorious Full Moon parties are held each month. Head north past Nelly Bay where the (relatively) new luxury Blue on Blue Peppers Resort is located near the new ferry terminal. Adjacent to Blue on Blue is the island’s only marina tucked in behind the Presto Breakwater. Also in Nelly Bay is an IGA supermarket where you can purchase groceries, and a coffee shop.

The next stop is Arcadia Bay, the second pub and the location of beautifully calm Alma Bay. This is a perfect family beach with shallow, surf life saving patrolled water and an idyllic grassy picnic area shaded by palm and figs trees. The pub is also the home of the famous toad races on every Wednesday night, where you can back a toad and cheer it on. Great fun and all the proceeds go to the local Surf Lifesaving club.

The bus then climbs up a rocky mountainous road, where halfway along it reaches a turnoff to Radical Bay, the most pristine and spectacular bay on the island. Only accessible by 4wd, this road is not for the faint hearted. It’s not so much a matter of avoiding the potholes, rather climbing into and then out of them, they are so huge. However, the journey is well rewarded by a white sandy beach with crystal blue water and large shady figs and banyans.

There was once another pub in Radical Bay, which was demolished after becoming derelict some time in the 1970’s. The only remaining memory of the building is an old piano that stands on the beach and can still be played, albeit very off key. The last bus stop is Horseshoe Bay at the northern end of the island.

JUST HORSING AROUND

Horseshoe Bay is the largest bay on the island, located on the north-eastern side, the bay is protected from the trade winds and offers a safe anchorage in most weather. It is a beautiful sweeping bay, 3.2 kilometres long, with a white sandy beach. The beach is 20 metres wide at high tide, increasing to 50 metres at low tide. There are usually sailing boats operating from, and moored off, the beach as well as a boat ramp across the beach at the settlement.

Along the shore of Horseshoe Bay there's an array of equipment hire options including jet skis, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and also a great patrolled swimming enclosure.  

Along the street side of the bay is a stretch of cafes, bars and restaurants with a wide range of choices for eating and drinking. From fish and chips to Mexican, ice creamery to fine dining, all with the laid back/barefoot feeling of the hazy tropics. The local's favourite pub, the Marlin Bar, serves cold beers, jugs of cocktails and good quality pub meals. There is something to suit all tastes here.

The perfect time to visit Maggie is spring and autumn, when the weather is warm and sunny. Summer temperatures and humidity are extremely high and it is not safe to swim in the ocean because of stingers. It is also cyclone season.

There is so much more to this fascinating mystical island. It is Queensland’s best kept secret for a reason – when you find out you will certainly want it all to yourself!

THE BEST OF

Best Breakfast

Scallywags – an eclectic pirate boat-themed pop-up cafe.Try the eggs benny or smashed avo on sour-dough with a delicious mango smoothie.

Sooning Street, Nelly Bay

Best Lunch

Noodies on the Beach – choose from nachos, tacos, burgers and more. Wash it down with a jug of margaritas and they will give you a colourful sombrero! Ole!

Pacific Drive, Horseshoe Bay

Best Dinner

Barefoot Art Food Wine – dine on the deck overlooking the bay. Try the delicious local seafood platter or duck salad for a fresh alternative. Small but good wine list.

Pacific Drive, Horseshoe Bay

Best Wildlife Dining Experience

Man Friday – enjoy tasty Mexican and a close encounter with the resident curlews and possums, who wander around this cute little restaurant tucked in the bush.

Nelly Bay

Best Accommodation

Peppers Blue on Blue Resort – a luxe experience with a beautiful wrap-around lagoon pool.

Nelly Bay

Best Day Trip

Island Time – a five-hour boat trip that is action packed with everything supplied, with friendly Drew as your skipper and guide.

Best Trivia Snippet

Julian Assange of WikiLeaks fame was raised on Magnetic and describes his childhood as being akin to that of Tom Sawyer.

WHAT TO DO

Hire a Moke or a scooter to explore the island

Take a half day or sunset cruise to enjoy fishing, snorkelling and sightseeing

Hire a paddle board, jet ski or kayak

Go scuba diving

Explore the bush walking tracks

Play a round of golf

Cuddle a koala at the sanctuary

Feed the rock wallabies

Go horse riding

Visit the Stage Door theatre restaurant

Experience the cane toad races

Find the secret butterfly forest

NEED TO KNOW

Maggie Island Marina

E magneticmarina@bigpond.com

P (07) 4758 2417

Townsville Coast Guard

P (07) 4771 4831

Peppers Blue on Blue Resort

blueonblue@peppers.com.au

P (07) 4758 2400

Race Week

admin@townsvilleyachtclub.com.au

P (07) 4722 1192

F (07) 4772 7363

Rosshaven Marine

info@rosshaven.com.au

P (07) 4772 6392

F (07) 4771 4337