Attractions on Magnetic Island
There are some beautiful places to visit on Magnetic Island while you are staying at Beachside Apartments:
Magnetic Island National Park
Easily accessible from Townsville, Magnetic Island presents a striking landscape of massive granite boulders, towering hoop pines, scenic sandy bays and fringing reefs. The island is noted for its abundant wildlife and varied history. Explore the island's most picturesque spots via a 36 kilometre network of walking tracks. Look for koalas, rock-wallabies, possums and a variety of birds. Swim or snorkel in secluded sandy bays and explore diverse reef and fish life. Go sailing.
Discover the island's rich cultural heritage. Learn about the Wulgurukaba Aboriginal people's strong island connections. Visit World War II sites and imagine being a soldier watching the sea.
Nelly Bay is Magnetic Island's main residential bay. It is the first point of access to the island, as both the passenger and car ferries terminate here. Most transport facilities, from bicycles to car hire, are available for collection near the terminal.
Tour operators also meet with corresponding ferries here. The local bus services and taxi rank are conveniently located just outside the terminal. Most of the Magnetic Island's shopping and amenities are located in Nelly Bay. Nelly Bay is a great place to go for that early morning run or a leisurely walk. It's also the perfect place to go swimming or snorkeling on the fringing coral reef. And towards the northern end of the beach you will find a children's playground and a coin-operated barbecue area and further along, sheltered picnic tables and toilets.
Fishing at Magnetic Island
Island fishing just has to be seen to be believed. A catch is virtually guaranteed, and what a catch it can be; 22 pound Coral Trout and 44 pound Spanish Mackerel are among the trophies happy fishermen have taken home.
From the beaches, rocky points and inshore waters, you can also catch species such as bream, flathead, whiting, queen fish and trevally. Fresh bait is best, using prawns, pilchards, squid or herring.
Fishing tackle and bait can be purchased from many places on the Island, also boat with outboard motors can be hired. There are boat ramps located in Picnic, Nelly and Horseshoe bay.
Some of the best fishing spots are Middle Reef, West Point, Orchard Rocks, the wrecks; Palmosa and Argonant in Horseshoe Bay, the rocks off Bright Point, Nobby Head and the Picnic Bay Jetty.
Local Fishing trips can be booked for a few hours or more, with a professional fishing guide who knows the right spots, so good results are assured.
Wreck Diving at Magnetic Island
Located within the waters of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Magnetic Island has a wealth of interesting dive sites, whether diving from the shore or a boat. Some of the best places to dive on the Island are found in Geoffrey, Alma, Arthur and Florence Bays, also off Bright Point and the reef in Nelly Bay. Also there are many exciting wrecks to explore located just metres off the beach.
The Moltke wreck, a German barque in Geoffrey Bay is an excellent dive, especially at night, with a large variety of coral in a concentrated area and teeming with fish life.
The wreck is marked by a post near the Arcadia wharf. The wreck of the Platypus an old dredge, is in Arthur Bay, on the left hand side out towards the point in a rocky cove and is encrusted with hard corals.
Most ships were sunk as shelters to moorings, or jetties. But the Island's rocks have also claimed the schooner Lavina in Rocky Bay, and the ketch Lallah Rookh was wrecked on Bremner Point, in 1896.
The Bee, a steam launch, was the first regular ferry service to the mainland, it came to grief on Knobby Point near Picnic Bay in 1901.
The waters around Magnetic Island are warm with a winter average of 23 degrees Celsius and a summer average of 28 degrees Celsius. The wrecks are relatively shallow, so are perfect for novices or for relaxed enjoyable diving.
Magnetic Island Walking Tracks
For an opportunity to see Magnetic Island's wildlife and enjoy spectacular views, why not take the time and traverse through the Island's six main walking tracks. Choose walks that range from 30 minutes to two and a half hours to complete. There are wonderful sights to be seen no matter which track you choose!
Nelly Bay
Nelly Bay is Magnetic Island's main residential bay. It is the first point of access to the island, as both the
passenger and car ferries terminate
here. Most transport facilities, from bicycles to car hire, are available for collection near the terminal. Tour operators also meet with corresponding ferries here. The local bus services and taxi rank are conveniently located just outside the terminal.
Most of the Magnetic Island's shopping and amenities are located in Nelly Bay. Nelly Bay is a great place to go for that early morning run or a leisurely walk. It's also the perfect place to go swimming or snorkeling on the fringing coral reef. And towards the northern end of the beach you will find a children's playground and a coin-operated barbecue area and further along, sheltered picnic tables and toilets.
Arcadia at Magnetic Island
Arcadia is the smallest of the four main bays around Magnetic Island. Arcadia surrounds two of the Island's prominent bays; Alma Bay and Geoffrey Bay.
Geoffrey Bay is a Marine National Park Zone, which signifies no fishing or collecting, but is great for exploring during low tide. The old barge jetty, which is situated on the left side, is a great spot for feeding rock wallabies at dusk.
Alma Bay is a very popular swimming spot for local and visitors alike. The Arcadian Life Saving Club patrols the beach on weekends and public holidays. There are also public amenities such as a gas barbecue, picnic tables, shaded children's play ground, changing areas and toilets.
Alma Bay is also famous for it's ANZAC Day Commemorations. Real-life soldiers from the Thirty-fifth Field Squadron (Reservist Engineers) annually re-enact the events that took place and make a dawn landing right onto the beach.
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is the largest bay on Magnetic Island. Ideal for watersports, almost every watercraft imaginable is available for hire as well as being a departure point for sailing, cruising, fishing and kayak trips. Here too, you can experience swimming on horseback. There is also a new safe swimming enclosure.
Normally several fishing boats can be seen anchored at the eastern end of the bay making ready for their trip out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Also, just a few hundred metres from the main roads, in the Horseshoe Bay Lagoon Environmental Park. If you approach quietly you may see some of the many water birds which frequent this fresh water lagoon especially after a wet season.
Horseshoe Bay Beachfront is considered the tourist strip of the Island, with a substantial array of restaurants, cafes, and bars with live entertainment. The area is also great for families with playground facilities and sheltered picnic tables.
Picnic Bay
Picnic Bay is located at the south end of Magnetic Island. There are a number of shops and restaurants situated throughout the Picnic Bay Mall, as well as a selection of accommodation, including hostels and hotels. You can also hire bikes, cars and scooters to get around the island. Situated in the middle of the bay is the old jetty, which is no longer used, but a great spot for fishing.
Towards the back streets of the township is a popular golf course often used to improve the skills of Greg Norman. The two bays either side of Picnic Bay are well worth visiting. To the west is Cockle Bay where you will find the wrecked City Of Adelaide, and to the east is Rocky Bay which is a local hotspot for sun-lovers and one of the Island's top beaches for swimming and snorkelling.
