If you’re visiting Magnetic Island there’s a whole bunch of free things to do in your downtime once you’ve had enough swimming and hiking (can you ever have enough?). Enjoy some Queensland hospitality, our beautiful outdoors and friendly locals as you explore this gorgeous island on the cheap. You can read all about our favourite things to do on Magnetic Island here.
Getting around:
You can bring your car over with you on the ferry, but if you don’t have one, then the local buses service the island frequently. Check the timetable here. There are a couple of taxis on the island – call Checker Cabs on 07 4426 2885.
Best free things to do on Magnetic Island:
See the wallabies:
Everyone loves these beautiful little spotted rock wallabies who live in the rocks around the island. Many are quite familiar with people, and while feeding them is not encouraged, if you must, please only offer them carrot or apple. The best places to find them are at Bremner Point at Geoffrey Bay (around the site of the original ferry wharf, thereis a little parking or you can get the bus), and around at the breakwater at Nelly Bay. They make a strange, off-putting hissing sound – but they’re perfectly safe.
Take a photos at the rock, feed the fish and explore the snorkel trail
While you’re at Bremner point this rock is a very popular spot for photographs. Follow the trail underneath the archway around to the point. It’s a nice sunrise spot if you’re an early bird.
Feed the rainbow lorikeets
Bungalow Bay YHA has free rainbow lorikeet feeding every Tuesday afternoon at 4.30.It’s on your right on the road in to Horseshoe Bay. After lorikeet feeding stay for pizza and drinks at the Deck Bar – you can also stay here in cabins or camp.
Nelly Beach playground
This isa fab little playground under the fig trees on the Nelly Bay esplanade. From here you can wander to the breakwall and spot rock wallabies.
Walk through thousands of migrating butterflies
During winter blue tiger butterflies migrate to the island and in many places create a wall of fluttering blue wings. You can see them at the old Horseshoe Bay school on Dent street, or in little bush paths off the track to Radical Bay.
Nelly Bay Memorial Gardens
This tiny cemetery dates back to the 1920s and has only five gravestones. It’s a sweet little memorial garden worth a little wander.
Little bushwalk on the way to Shaka
Further along the road, on the beach sidewise beautiful bush walk with tiny lookouts over the mangroves and information about the nature here. Is a nice little stop for kids and the Shaka food truck (smoothies, vegan cakes and burgers) is just a little further on.
Fishing
Magnetic Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, but there are a number of places where recreational fishing is allowed and you can drop your line. Most popular are Nelly Bay Harbour, Horseshoe Bay Beach and the Picnic Bay Wharf.
Picnic Bay Wharf
Once the arrival point for ferries into Magnetic Island, the Picnic Bay jetty is now a heritage-listed local landmark and a popular spot for wedding photos both on the jetty and under it near the pylons. You’ll see local kids fishing here most days and jumping off the jetty at high tide.
Cane toad races at Arcadia
The toad races are on every Wednesday night at the Arcadia Pub at around 8pm. They’re free to watch, although you may like to buy a toad or grab a beer and some fab pub grub. There’s lots of parking, or catch the bus. The stop is Alma Bay and is right outside the pub.
Sunday Markets at Horseshoe Bay
The markets are on each Sunday from 9am – 2pm with stalls of local goods made by islanders. There’s live music, a fun holiday atmosphere and you can have a swim or grab some food and a coffee too.
Wreck spotting
Magnetic Island is surrounded by shipwrecks, more than 20 known ones in fact – many brought here and sunk to create breakwalls. There are also more than 217 known plane wrecks around the Townsville coast and a number of these are n the Magnetic Island waters too, many at Geoffrey Bay. Townsville – just 20 minutes away and the jumping off point to the island – is a major military base and both Australian and US soldiers were based here during the war.
The wreck the SS City of Adelaide
One of the most popular shipwrecks in the SS City of Adelaide at Cockle Bay. At low tide you can walk out to this wreck – wear reef shoes and look out for stingrays and stone fish – now covered in rust and green water plants.
Sunset at West Point
You’ll need a 4WD to get out here as the road is a little rough, but once youre out at the beach it’s gorgeous. You can fish here, but most people come for the sunset with a picnic and wine and just enjoy the end of the day. NOTE: Don’t swim here…can be a little sharkey, crocy, and stingrayey.
Shell beach at Horseshoe Bay
Shell beach is at the far left of Horseshoe Bay. It’s a tiny little area full of tiny shells and well worth an explore. You can also find the creek and lagoon behind this part of the beach.
Snorkel trail
There are two snorkel trails on the island, marked with yellow buoys. One is at Brenmer Point and the other is down the end of Nelly Bay beach, next to Base Backpackers. You can pick up a snorkel trail laminated map at the dive shops for five dollars. Just slip it on your wrist and off you go.
Have a great time on the island. You can read all about why we moved here, here.