One of the best place to visit when in Townsville is Magnetic Island. The island is about 8 kilometers offshore of Townsville. It is very accessible to get to the the island by the ferries. They are available from Breakwater terminal (Townsville CBD) to Nelly bay. It only takes 20-25 minutes to travel to the island, and the ferry is available every hour and seven days a week.
So what are the things to do on Magnetic Island? There are water activities available like jet skiing, snorkeling, swimming, and fishing. If you are not a fan of water activities don’t worry! There are also some land based activities that you can do. Among those on the island are feeding rock wallabies, walking to the forts where you can have a chance to spot koala and beautiful views of the bay and the surrounding mountains. Moreover, you can also get a chance to cuddle a koala, feed lorikeets and see crocodiles at the Bungalow Bay Koala Village near Horseshoe Bay. There are also various hotels and restaurants if you were planning to spend a night on the island.
Don’t worry about getting around the island because there are buses which is the most economic way of traveling around. If you want your own car or scooter there are a couple rentals on the island that offer affordable prices. One other thing to get around the island is by walking. Walking is fun and enjoyable especially when walking with your friends.
During my visit, I was lucky enough to spot about 5 wild koalas while walking to the forts. I enjoyed fishing, unfortunately didn’t catch a good size though and I also had fun feeding the rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay. Magnetic Island is a memorable experience to have with just about $25 return ferry ticket and whole day bus pass, it is indeed worth it. I highly recommend international students like me to go and visit Magnetic Island, it is a good place to unwind, relax, and de-stress your self. Don’t miss out visiting this wonderful place while studying here in Townsville.
