Magnetic Island Guide: Bays, Wildlife and Tours

Magnetic Island sits 8 kilometres off Townsville, and 76% of it is national park. That mix of a near-suburb of a city and a rugged, hilly wilderness is what makes it such an easy island to like. This Magnetic Island guide pulls together the essentials.

The island is a 20-minute ferry from Townsville, with koala bushwalks, Horseshoe Bay and quiet national-park beaches waiting on the other side. Below you will find the layout of the bays, the history, the wildlife, the weather, drive distances and the tours we list. For the wider picture, see our Magnetic Island destination guide.

Getting to know the island

Magnetic Island (Yunbenun in the Wulguru language) covers 52 square kilometres of mountainous country in Cleveland Bay. It has effectively become a suburb of Townsville. Ferries run from the Townsville Breakwater to Nelly Bay Harbour. Locals call it Maggie Isle, Maggie Island or simply The Island.

At the 2021 census the population was 2,475, up from 2,107 in 2006. Public facilities and infrastructure are managed by the Townsville City Council. Magnetic Island State School is at Nelly Bay, and the nearest government secondary school is Townsville State High School on the mainland, at Railway Estate.

The five settlements and their bays

There are five settlements: Arcadia, Horseshoe Bay, Nelly Bay, Picnic Bay and West Point. Picnic Bay, Rocky Bay and Hawkings Point sit around the southern end. Nelly Bay lies to the east-north-east of Rocky Bay, followed by Geoffrey Bay, with Bremner Point as its northern arm. Horseshoe Bay is on the northern coast, and Cockle Bay Reef is off the west.

Picnic Bay took its name from its popularity as a picnic spot for mainland visitors in the 19th century. The heritage-listed Picnic Bay Jetty is on the Esplanade. Walking tracks link the populated bays and lead to a number of destinations, including the World War II forts.

A short history

Wulgurukaba country

Yunbenun is the traditional land of the Wulgurukaba people, who kept seasonal camps in a number of bays and crossed to the mainland by canoe. Aboriginal middens and cave drawings can still be found around several bays. In July 2012 a six hectare section was granted to the Wulgurukaba Yunbenun Aboriginal Corporation under freehold title, plus a further 55 hectares under a Deed of Grant in Trust.

Cook, quarantine and tourism

Captain James Cook named it "Magnetical Island" in 1770 because a pull seemed to disturb his compass. Later investigators found no cause. In the 19th century the island supplied hoop pine and granite, the granite going into Townsville's Customs House and the reclamation for the Port of Townsville. Gold was mined in 1886, and a quarantine station was set up at West Point.

Robert Hayles Sr built a resort in 1898 and began a regular ferry in 1901 with his ship the Bee. The Hayles company ran services to the island until 1988.

War and cyclones

Because of Townsville's military importance and Cleveland Bay's role as an anchorage, the island became a defensive position in World War II. The Magnetic Battery, known as The Forts, was built in the hinterland of Florence, Horseshoe and Arthur Bays. Cyclone Althea crossed the island in December 1971 and damaged or destroyed 90% of its houses.

National park, koalas and fishing

Magnetic Island National Park covers the steep interior and the rugged north-western side. Mount Cook, at 497 metres, is the highest point. A citizen science project has logged more than 3500 observations of 1126 species. The koala is the most observed species, and the goldstripe butterflyfish the most observed marine one.

An estimated 800-plus koalas live here as of 2013, the northern limit of their range. The island is also known for fishing, with mackerel, giant trevally, queenfish, coral trout, fingermark and red emperor among the catch. Off Cockle Bay, the wreck of the SS City of Adelaide is a popular attraction.

Magnetic Island weather by month

Summer is hot and wet; winter is mild and dry. These are 1991-2020 averages for the island area.

August is the driest month at 11.5 mm, and July the coolest, with nights around 13 degrees. We reckon June to October gives the best mix of dry days and comfortable walking.

Tours, distances and mainland stays

Several tours are listed on this site, with prices from the amount shown.

• Magnetic Island Jet Ski Experience: 2h 30m, from $260. Pilot your own jet ski from Horseshoe Bay around eight bays, seven reachable only by water.
• Magnetic Island Jet Ski Tour: 2 hours, from $400.
• Townsville Departure Maggie Discovery Tour: 6 hours, from $189, with snorkelling at the fringing reef. The boat leaves Townsville Breakwater Marina at 7:30 am.
• Magnetic Island Sailing Cruise: 6 hours, from $279.
• Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise: 4 hours, from $175, tracking humpback whales on migration.

Townsville is 15 km from the island by road, about 26 minutes. Other drives to the island area are listed below.

If you want a mainland base near the ferry, two caravan parks are listed: Coral Coast Tourist Park at Mount Saint John and Discovery Parks - Townsville at Wulguru. Both offer powered sites and cabins; contact them for rates. For state-wide planning, see Tourism and Events Queensland, and for more background read Magnetic Island on Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Magnetic Island?

Take the ferry from the Townsville Breakwater to Nelly Bay Harbour. The crossing is about 20 minutes.

Why is it called Magnetic Island?

Captain Cook called it "Magnetical Island" in 1770 after a pull seemed to affect his compass. No cause has ever been found.

Can you see koalas there?

Yes. More than 800 koalas were estimated on the island in 2013, and the koala is the most observed species in the local citizen science project.