'''Magnetic Island''' is an island directly off the coast of Townsville in Far North Queensland. Over half the land area of the island is a National Park. Magnetic Island is roughly 7km by 5km, with 25km of walking tracks and several beaches and little bays.

Understand

Magnetic Island has about 2000 residents spread among four small villages. It is popular with tourists to the region. The villages run up the east coast of the island, with the western part consisting of national park. The villages from south to north are '''Picnic Bay''', '''Nelly Bay''', '''Arcadia''' and '''Horseshoe Bay'''. Nelly Bay is currently in the middle of a large redevelopment involving high-end residential and tourism facilities right on the water. Most budget travellers stay in Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay, which mainly cater to the pub-going and jetskiing tourists.

Get in

Magnetic Island is only accessible by boat from Townsville, which is 8 kilometers away and which has a well served airport. There are two ferry services, both arriving at the Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal:

  • Sunferries. ttp://www.sunferries.com.au/. reakwater Terminal, Sir Leslie Theiss Drive, Townsville. 61-7-4771-3855. 61-7-4771-3955. dult passengers are $13 ($25 return), children and pensioners $6.30 ($12.50 return). Sunferries operate eleven or more passenger ferry services between Townsville and Magnetic Island daily.
  • Magnetic Island Passenger & Car Ferry. oss Street, South Townsville. 61-7-4772-5422. 61-7-4721-3576. elly_bay@yahoo.com.au. dult passengers are $12.50, students $8.25 and children and pensioners $6.50. Transport of cars starts at $69. ttp://www.magneticislandferry.com.au/. The ferry transports both cars and passengers from Townsville with seven or eight departures between 7am and 7pm every day. It leaves from the wharf in Ross Street, South Townsville. Trailers and caravans can be transported.

    Ferries take approximately half an hour to reach Magnetic Island. Some airlines can arrange transfers from the airport to Magnetic Island in a package including the flight to Townsville.

    Get around

    By bus

  • Magnetic Island Bus Service. ttp://www.magnetic-island.com.au/bus-timetable.htm. 61-7-4778-5130. 61-7-4778-5380. ibs@ballyhoo.com.au. The Magnetic Island Bus Service runs from Picnic Bay to Horseshoe Bay via the Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal. Buses are 40 minutes or more apart, depending on the time of day and day of week. The timetable is posted at the bus stop at the ferry terminal. The bus services are reasonably well synchronised with the Sunferries passenger ferry. A wheelchair accessible bus is available, call in advance to book.

    By car

    Magnetic Island mostly has good quality sealed roads, but there are some unsealed roads that require a four-wheel drive.

    You can bring your own vehicle on the car ferry, or you can '''hire''' cars, four-wheel drives and minimokes on the island:

  • Moke Magnetic. 12 Sooning St, Nelly Bay (diagonally across from the ferry terminal). 61-7-4778-5377. 61-7-4778-5660. ttp://www.mokemagnetic.com/. okes $68/day, 5 seat air-conditioned sedans $72/day (fuel and 60kms included).
  • Tropical Topless Car Rentals. 38 Sooning St, Nelly Bay (Call in opposite Nelly Bay Harbour and IGA Supermarket). 61-7-4758-1111.
  • MI Wheels Classic Moke Hire. 38 Sooning St, Nelly Bay (Call in opposite Nelly Bay Harbour and IGA Supermarket). 61-7-4758-1111.

    By foot

    All of the villages are small enough to allow easy walking within their bounds. In theory the entire island is small enough that you could walk from end to end in less than a day, but the paths are not designed for it. There are walking tracks through the National Park on the island, but they are scenic walking routes rather than a direct way to get to different parts of the island. The direct roads themselves aren't always pedestrian friendly; some roads lack footpaths so you have to share the sometimes narrow and winding roads with cars.

    See

    Do

    Sailing

    Sailing tours are available on the island, and usually depart from either Nelly Bay Harbour or Horseshoe Bay.

  • Jazza. O Box 60, Magnetic Island 4819. 0404 875 530. ttp://www.jazza.com.au/. ijazza@gmail.com. Jazza offers sailing and cruising water tours around the beautiful bays of Magnetic Island. The 42 foot Jazza yacht can accommodate up to 13 persons for day and sunset tours. Activities include snorkeling, trolling in the boomnet, fish feeding, learning to sail, secluded beach getaways and just relaxing and enjoying the ride. Homemade pizza and snacks are included.

    Diving

    Scuba diving is available on the island, and there are trips out to the Great Barrier Reef leaving Magnetic Island:

  • Adrenalin Dive. 21 Flinders St, Townsville. 61-7-4724-0600 or 1300 664 600. 61-7-4771-6527. nfo@adrenalindive.com.au. ttp://www.adrenalindive.com.au/. Adrenalin Dive offers 2 dive day trips to the Yongala departing Townsville and Magnetic Island. The base price is $179, equipment hire $35. Divers must have at least 6 logged dives, and divers with less than 15 logged dives will need to pay $30 for a guided dive. [http://www.padi.com/ PADI] certification courses are available via the Pro Dive Townsville liveaboard, see the Bright Point Elite. Bright Point, Nelly Bay. 61-412-356-313. ttp://www.brightpointelite.com.au. Five star luxury apartment with three bedrooms in a private and exclusive ocean front retreat adjacent to Nelly Bay. Relax in spacious open plan beach style living area_fs that are fully air conditioned. Pamper yourself with a relaxing spa whilst looking out over the Coral Sea and enjoying the magnificent sunsets and the lights of Townsville.</sleep>

    Get out