Yep, we moved to an island, and it turns out it the best move we could have made! We’re on Magnetic Island, a beautiful little spot 20 minutes off the coast of Townsville in Queensland and part of the Great Barrier Reef.
Our first week was really good – we both feel settled and happy, we’ve made friends, we’ve explored a little and I’ve found a little café/coffee shop that I love. We’re happy.
The beautiful pools at Alma Bay
Where we live.
We live in an apartment near the marina in Nelly Bay. It’s kind of the business area of the island, where the IGA is, where the ferry terminal is and where the school is. It has two rooms and two bathrooms and the complex has four pools plus views across the water. Rock wallabies live in the rocks and Coe out for carrots!
Nelly Bay is gorgeous with a lovely swimming beach (the nudist beach apparently, I will try to confirm). The apartment complex is pretty good but I have a very noisy neighbour so I will be working on that, and once peace is back I’ll be super happy again.
One of the swimming pools at our complex
Emmie’s new school.
Emmie adores her school. Her teacher is lovely, she has beautiful, friendly classmates and the school is just amazing. You can read all about it here and her story about her first day. She is still just as much in love with it as she was when she started. And she received two awards and a lovely email from her teacher saying how much she was enjoying having Emmie at the school. We will definitely be finishing off the school year here, and maybe even complete year six here too.
On our way to school
The beaches.
We have only explored a couple of beaches so far and they were both amazing. Some beaches here are right near a bus stop, others need a hike and walk in, some are only accessible by four wheel drive and others need a boat.
Possible nudist beach TBC
We spent an afternoon at Arthur Beach, and a day at Alma Beach, both close to each other between Nelly Bay and Horseshoe Bay. Crystal clear water, soft sand, fabulous snorkeling and stunning views of huge grey boulders contrasting against the turquoise blue of the ocean and the green bushland.
Alma is one of the most family friendly beaches I’ve ever seen. Calm water in a small bay with little swimming holes around its rocky edges, the beach is as pretty as it is safe. There’s a playground, showers and changerooms, swings, BBQs and a surf club and the beach is patrolled too. It’s perfect.
Alma Bay is divine
Shopping.
There’s an IGA here in Nelly Bay right at the ferry terminal, and a Foodworks a little further down the road. I did a delivery shop from Woolies…I’m not sure how successful it was. The thing is there are options and it’s not hard to grab what you need from the shops, just a little more expensive – but often not. There’s a bakery, a Mitre 10, a Vinnies and lots of restaurants and bars all over the island. We still have to try most of them out but we will get there
Fun.
Emmie has joined the theatre group and has had two play dates with more on the way. I’ve met a few mums from school, a few families from Instagram and a friend of a friend who lives in Townsville but is really an islander, and who introduced me to lots of locals at a beach BBQ on the weekend. It’s slow and it suits me just fine (apart from my noisy neighbour).
Scallywags Café is right near the school and its where I grab my morning coffee and sometimes sit and do a bit of writing. Aprt from good coffee and great food they also have live music and this week we are seeing Rueb’s Circus Show. We cant wait. The Arcadia Hotel, just around in the next bay from us has events each evening so next Wednesday we will be heading over there for the toad races. Another must see!
There is just so so much to do that we haven’t tried yet – jet skis, kayaking, hiring a topless car and driving around the island, boat tours and so much more. But we have time to try it all.
Heaven.
Getting around.
We don’t have a car – ours was written off just before we set off traveling last year – so we get around by bus. It’s super easy and the buses are always on time. I am thinking about getting a car though, just to make things a little easier. Just a cheapie to get us around. We’ll see.
Our first week has been fabulous, we are very happy and I hope this is how we will be for the rest of the year. Fingers crossed the honeymoon lasts forever.
And if you’re feeling nervous about travelling check out our comprehensive family travel safety guide HOLIDAY SAFE: The complete guide to staying safe when traveling with kids It has everything you need to know about traveling safely on our family holiday or extended trip.