Magnetic Island ~ an endless summer ☼

TROPICAL ⋆ ★ ⋆ ☼ ⋆ ☾ ⋆ PARADISE

I was so lucky to have lived only a 20 minute ferry ride from this idyllic gem in Tropical North Queensland. You can take a ferry over with either Magnetic Island Ferries or Sealink. Maggie (as the locals call it) is the perfect holiday spot with an abundance of wildlife, easy access to the GBR, beautiful palm filled beaches and rugged walking tracks. One of my favourite things about Maggie is the size. It will only take about a ten minute drive to get to one side to the other (not including 4wding tracks) and it makes for the perfect day trip! 

Transportation: They make getting around very easy. It’s only 52 km² – the perfect size and it’s almost impossible to get lost. There are a few hiring options to get around the island.

Scooter: from $40
Topless car rental (highly recommend): from $80
Car rental: from $59
We hired a 4wd overnight from Arcadia Beach Guest House for: $120
I recommend Goldy – he’s a beast! 

If you don’t want to rent out a vehicle, you can easily buy an all day bus pass for a good price and it literally takes you everywhere you need to go.

• wildlife:

One of the most asked questions I get is, where do you find the wild rock wallabies? You can find these cuties near the old ferry terminal located in Geoffrey Bay, Arcadia. Best thing about this is- IT’S FREE! They are very friendly and they’re not scared of humans. At one point I had one on my lap and Alex fed one right out of his mouth (haha – don’t recommend). Just remember not to feed them human food. Bring some apples or buy some pebbles down the street at the news agency across from the beach. I’ve always had the best luck seeing these guys either mid-morning or evening, right before sunset. Saying that though, you can go anytime of the day and they will most likely be around. 

Can’t forget about the koalas! You can find them scattered around the island, just remember to always look up in the trees. The best place to spot a bear is on the Forts Walk – which is my favourite walk on the island. If koalas are spotted throughout the day, most people leave an arrow in the dirt or a stick pointing in a direction of one, so keep a lookout. If anyone is on their way back from the walk, don’t be afraid to ask them if they’ve spotted one. One of the best things about Magnetic Island is how friendly everyone is. While you’re doing the forts walk, don’t get too distracted from looking up at the trees the whole time. There are incredible views that you must stop for!

Fun fact ~ Koalas don’t have predators on the Island, hence why there are so many of them.
ps. Drop Bears are not real.

FORTS WALK:
4km return (Approx. 1.5 hours)
Grade: Easy-Moderate 

If you don’t have any luck in the wild, head on over to the Bungalow Bay Koala Village. They offer some awesome tours that give you a chance to get up and close to wildlife. During my time spent here i’ve held a koala, a snake, a turtle, a lizard, and a cockatoo! 

• beaches:

On Maggie the skies are blue all year round and the water sparkles many shades of blue. You can go snorkelling all over the island so don’t forget your gear. Hots spots to see marine life are: Florence Bay, Geoffrey Bay Arthur, and Alma. Don’t be like me and get freaked out when you see a million bat fish at your feet. The island is surrounded by beaches, you take your pick on where to go! 
 

My favourite view on the island • overlooking Arthur Bay. You can find this lookout if you go down the dirt road next to the forts walk entrance. You can walk down or you can take a 4WD – the pot holes ARE real! Down the road you won’t just find this beautiful lookout but you’ll find more beaches and some  other hidden gems 🙂

 • fav cafe:

My favourite place to eat on Magnetic Island is the Early Bird, located on Horseshoe Bay. They offer fresh juices, delicious food, amazing list of teas and the location is prime. While you’re enjoying you’re breakfast, you can enjoy the beautiful views of one of the best beaches on the island. 

 • seeing the island from a boat:

I was very lucky to spend a few hours with Big Mama Sailing, a family operated vessel. Once you aboard, you will probably be welcomed from their dog, Coco! Such a little cutie! The owners Stu, Lisa, and Fletcher were also very welcoming and made me feel right at home. They are true locals and knew all the hot spots around the Island. We went to a untouched beaches that only had our foot prints, which is super rare now of days. This is the perfect way to see the rugged coastline of Maggie and I can not recommend it enough.

 • three fav spots for sunset:

West Point ~ 
West Point is by far the best place to watch the sunset on the island. The only downside is it’s a bit farther away compared to all the other tracks. I do recommend you get a 4WD to get to this point, especially if you’re seeing the sunset. If you get the chance to explore this part of the island, I highly recommend you bring a picnic blanket, some tunes, and some bubbles to celebrate such a beautiful gem. 

Hawkings Point Track ~
Once you reach the top, you will see Townsville in the distance and breathtaking views of Picnic Bay. I used to run up this track so as you could imagine it’s not that difficult. Bring up a backpack with some food, a blanket and enjoy a golden sunset ✧

Tip ~ Don’t forget a flash light for heading back down.
1.2km Return (Approx. 1 hour)
Grade: Easy-Moderate, steep but short

Horseshoe Bay ~
I’d say this is the most popular beach on the island. Best part about this spot is it requires zero walking to witness the sunset. You can either watch the sunset from the beach or you can head to the pub and enjoy a meal with an oceanview. 

 Hope you enjoyed! Comment below if you’ve been to Magnetic Island! ~ Ash x