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Voykit pocket guide · Australia
Magnetic Island
Yunbenun
Give it 2–3 nights, not a day trip: the ferries stop in the evening and the Forts Walk, snorkel bays and koalas need a full day each.
Magnetic Island sits 8 km off Townsville and takes about 30 minutes by passenger ferry to Nelly Bay. Over half the island is national park, four small villages run up the east coast, and 25 km of walking tracks link the bays. Two or three nights covers the Forts Walk, a snorkel bay and Horseshoe Bay; one night is a rushed sampler.
- Country
- Australia
- Local name
- Yunbenun
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry, calm water)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (stinger season, heat, wet)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AUD
- Money
- Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$). Contactless cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, including public transport in the big cities; some small cafes are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget A$90–140 excl. bed · Mid A$160–260 excl. bed · High A$300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 000 · From mobiles 112
- Plugs
- Types I · 230 V · 50 Hz · Angled two- or three-pin Type I, shared with NZ, Fiji and China; sockets have their own switch — turn it on.
- Tipping
- Cafés and casual meals: Nothing; a tip jar is optional.; Restaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.; Taxi / rideshare: Round up or nothing.; Tours and guides: Optional; A$10–20 for a great day guide.; Surcharges: Weekend and public-holiday surcharges of 10–15% are legal if shown on the menu.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps. Carry plenty on any outback drive or walk.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | A$4–6 |
| Pub meal | A$20–35 |
| Ferry, one way, adult | A$17–20 (check) |
| Snorkel gear hire, one day | A$20–40 (check) |
| Kayak tour | A$69+ |
| eSIM, about a week of data | A$15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TSV · Townsville Airport
- Shuttle or taxi to the Townsville ferry terminals, then about 30 min by ferry to Nelly Bay.
Typical fares
- Townsville → Nelly Bay ferry
- about A$17–20 one way, about 30 min (check)
- Island bus, single
- about A$4–8 (check)
- Moke hire
- from about A$70 a day (check)
Get around
The island bus runs Picnic Bay–Nelly Bay–Arcadia–Horseshoe Bay, roughly every 40 minutes and timed to ferries; pay the driver. Hire a car or moke in Nelly Bay if you want the western bays. Walking tracks are scenic routes, not shortcuts, and some roads have no footpath.
See and do
Known for
- The Forts Walk and WWII ruins
- Wild koalas in the national park
- Horseshoe Bay and Alma Bay
- Snorkelling at Florence and Arthur bays
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Townsville | Passenger ferry from Nelly Bay to Townsville, about 30 min, then walk or shuttle | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Nelly Bay
- Ferry terminal, IGA, cafés and the bus hub; best for a short stay without a car.
- Arcadia
- Between Nelly and Horseshoe; Alma Bay and Geoffrey Bay within walking distance, hostels and a pub.
- Horseshoe Bay
- Largest bay, watersports and sunset; budget beds and the bus terminus.
- Picnic Bay
- Quietest village, jetty fishing and a pub; 10–15 min by bus from Nelly Bay.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| One adult return, please | One adult return, please |
| Does this bus go to Horseshoe Bay? | Does this bus go to Horseshoe Bay? |
| Is it stinger season? | Is it stinger season? |
| Where is the stinger net? | Where is the stinger net? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| What time is the last ferry? | What time is the last ferry? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake or 'G'day' / 'How are you going?'; first names from the start; avoid: Formal titles; long answers to 'how are you'
- Rounds: Buy your round ('shout') when drinking in a group; avoid: Leaving before your shout
- Queues: Queue patiently; sitting in the front seat of a taxi when alone is common; avoid: Pushing in — it is noticed
- Country: Listen to Welcomes and Acknowledgements; use local place names when offered; avoid: Touching artefacts or photographing ceremonies without permission
- Beach: Swim between the flags; respect lifesavers' instructions; avoid: Swimming at unpatrolled beaches alone
- Humour: Expect teasing and understatement; laugh along; avoid: Taking dry sarcasm literally or boasting
- Walking and driving: Keep left on footpaths and escalators; wave thanks to drivers who let you in; avoid: Stopping on the road to photograph kangaroos
Scams and watch-outs
- Stinger season roughly Nov–Apr: swim inside the net at Horseshoe Bay or at patrolled Alma Bay, and follow local signage.
- Book the car ferry well ahead in school holidays; passenger ferries are easier.
- Some beaches (Radical, Balding) are reached by rough 4WD tracks or walking tracks only.
- The last ferries leave in the evening: check the timetable before a late beach day.
- Carry water on walks; the Forts Walk has little shade.
Very safe for tourists; the real risks are marine stingers in summer, sun and dehydration on walks, and wildlife on the road at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Magnetic Island yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Forts Walk and WWII ruins
- Wild koalas in the national park
- Horseshoe Bay and Alma Bay
- Snorkelling at Florence and Arthur bays
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Magnetic Island Ferries: www.magneticislandferry.com.au/
- Queensland Parks — Magnetic Island National Park: parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks/magnetic-island
- Townsville Airport: www.townsvilleairport.com.au/
- Wikivoyage: Magnetic Island, revision 5298272 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5298272
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Magnetic IslandYunbenun
To Nelly Bay ferry terminal, please
To Nelly Bay ferry terminal, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No consulates on the island; US, UK and Canadian consulates are in Sydney, with a US consulate in Melbourne. Check your country's list before you travel.
Island phone coverage is patchy in the national park; download the ferry timetable and a map before you go.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/magnetic-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.