Magnetic Island

When Captain Cook sailed past a thickly wooded mountainous island in 1770, he wrote in his journal that his compass "would not travis well when near it'.It was, he wrote, the most rugged, rocky surface he had ever seen and he believed that the ores in the granite boulders affected his compass.  It took a hundred years after that for the island to be settled by whites. The first guesthouse was built at the turn of the century but since the turn of this century, resorts have been built and the ferry terminal has moved to Nelly Bay. Not so long ago, a wooden ferry plied the waters between Townsville and Picnic Bay on the island and visitors and locals had to jump on to the pier to reach dry land. The island is only 11 kms at its widest point. Mt Cook is 497m.

Today the granite boulders and hoop pines of Magnetic Island, 8km from Townsville and a 20-minute ferry ride, is home to more than 2000 people and a population of wallabies and koalas . Cook's botanist, Joseph Banks noted that three fires were lit as they passed one of the rocky capes evidence of the indigenous settlers on the island who dined on the ample sources of shellfish and fish in the brilliantly blue waters. Resorts with saltwater lagoons and a marina stand today where Aboriginals once fished, but the island has retained its rugged somnolent beauty with the majority of the island, 2533 ha (%) is national park. Time among the swaying tropical palms that fringe so many of the beaches, stands still.

Whale spotting is a popular pastime around the island in mid-August. Many of the bays and beaches can only be accessed by boat. On our day sail, we visit some of the 23 beautiful bays and beaches, each with its own character. At tiny Alma Bay, hugged by granite boulders on either side, one of the most popular family beaches offers lots of rocks to sunbathe and sometimes what the locals like to call 'surf. At Horseshoe Bay the sand stretches as far as the eye can see'and you can spot horse-riders from local Blueys. This settlement, on the eastern side of the island, is known as the restaurant strip and is the largest residential area. It is a popular destination for water sports, joggers, swimmers and the boaties. Nelly Bay is where the ferry docks and is home to regular commuters to the mainland and the local school. Picnic Bay is a sleepy hollow now the ferry no longer docks there. Walk along the promenade or stroll on the intimate beach. Dine at the local pub. Reasonable prices.

The charm of the island, with its 40kms of coastline, is that it is still largely undiscoveredeven though it's easily accessible from Townsville.