← Townsville Airport Marathon·Day trip

Magnetic Island: A Day of Koalas and Bus Rides

A 20 minute ferry to a granite island of bays and koalas, seen from an island bus so the legs can rest.

DurationDay trip
TransitSeaLink passenger ferry from Townsville to Nelly Bay, about 20 min
DepartsBreakwater Terminal, Townsville

After the Townsville Marathon: Magnetic Island

The Route: Townsville Breakwater Terminal → Nelly Bay → Horseshoe Bay → Townsville Logistics: The SeaLink passenger ferry takes about 20 minutes each way, with multiple daily services. Check the timetable and book ahead for the day you want. Leave luggage at the Townsville hotel. Marathon Month: August Duration: Day trip

Townsville Breakwater Terminal ──(about 20 mins ferry)──> Nelly Bay ──(island bus)──> Horseshoe Bay
                                                                                           │
Townsville Breakwater Terminal <──(about 20 mins ferry)──────────────────────────────────┘

The Townsville Airport Marathon finishes at Jezzine Barracks on a Sunday morning in August, and by Monday the legs want something that asks for very little. Magnetic Island is 20 minutes across the water, and a bus route links its bays, so most of the effort is sitting down.

August on Magnetic Island: the dry season. Days are warm and sunny, typically in the mid twenties Celsius, with cooler nights and light breezes. It is outside the main marine stinger season, which is usually October to April, though you should still check the current local advice before swimming. Humpback whales pass the coast in winter and can sometimes be seen from the ferry or the headlands, but sightings are not guaranteed.

The ferry lands at Nelly Bay, where the island bus meets it. The route runs to Horseshoe Bay on the north side, and it is the easiest way to see the island after a marathon. Check the current bus timetable and fares. The roads are winding and hilly, so a bus is far better than cycling.

Horseshoe Bay has a long, gently curving beach with a level foreshore path, benches and a few cafés, and a walk of a kilometre or so along the sand is enough. The Bungalow Bay Koala Village near the bay offers wildlife encounters with koalas and other animals, and tours are booked by session, so check the times and prices. Koalas can also be seen in the wild on the island, including along the Forts Walk, but that route is a long, steep climb that should wait for another visit.

For a swim or a snorkel, the sheltered bays on the eastern side, such as Nelly Bay, are calm on most days. Check the water conditions and any stinger advice before entering.

For lunch, Noodies on the Beach at Horseshoe Bay is a well-known beachfront spot, and there are cafés at Nelly Bay and Arcadia. Check winter hours.

Take a late afternoon ferry back. Confirm the last sailing at booking, and allow a buffer for the walk to the terminal.