Top ways on the water

JET-SKI

Hire an adrenaline-pumping jet ski with Jet Ski Hire Magnetic Island, or explore the waters around Townsville and Magnetic Island with Townsville Jet Ski and Watercraft or Magnetic Jet Ski Tours.

Kayak

Hire a kayak to explore coastal communities and in-land waterways, or join a tour with Magnetic Island Sea Kayaks to visit secluded bays.

Sailing

Charter a vessel or join a sailing tour with Big Mama Sailing or Pilgrim Sailing to explore the pristine waters surrounding Townsville and Magnetic Island. Everyone’s covered with all day adventure tours to relaxing sunset cruises.

Kiteboarding

Lynch’s Beach, Pallarenda and Cungulla are favourites for kiteboarding, and are suitable for anyone from beginners to experts.

STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDING

Standup paddleboarders are spoilt for choice in our patch! From Orpheus Island to Paluma Dam. You can bring your own board, or hire equipment from In the Loop on The Strand while you’re here!

On Tour

Immerse in aquatic nature, and leave with a greater understanding of the world around you with an Aquascene Charters tour of Magnetic Island, guided by Master Reef Guides

Within a two-hour boat ride from Townsville, you can access some of the most secluded and pristine sections of the entire Great Barrier Reef.

Popular day-trip destinations include John Brewer, Lodestone, Stanley and Wheeler Reefs, offering shallow coral gardens brimming with marine life and deeper coral canyons and bommies for divers to explore up to 25 metres underwater.

Dive It

Certified divers should have the SS Yongala wreck at the top of their bucket list, recognised as the best wreck dive along the Great Barrier Reef and one of the top 10 in the world. Lying 30 metres below, the wreck captivates divers with its array of hard and soft coral, spectacular marine life, intact preservation and pristine beauty.

Museum of Underwater Art on John Brewer Reef, the world’s first underwater museum is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Resting on the sandy sea floor at 16m, this dive is an evolving art piece.

Magnetic Island is blessed with fringing coral reef ripe for discovery. Unexpectedly also home to many shipwrecks, and World War II relics.

Snorkel It

Walk straight off the beach and discover stunning fringing reefs with permanent selfguided snorkel trails at two Magnetic Island locations.

Beginners can visit the Nelly Bay trail to stay close to shore while exploring stunning, diverse coral; while more experienced snorkelers can venture out to see amazing schools of fish and sunken World War II relics Geoffrey Bay. Self-guide swim cards are

The tropical waters along our Queensland coast are inviting all year round, but here are our top tips to swim safe.

Swim at patrolled beaches

Slip, slop, slap

Wear a stinger suits, between November & May.

Be Crocwise and SharkSmar t g o guid ed

Ask a Surf Life Saver for advice if you need.

• Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive

• Pro Dive

Magnetic Island

• Pleasure Divers

Magnetic Island

• Aquascene Charters

• Remote Area Dive

• Yongala Dive

Whether you’re a ‘fly’n’flopper’ wanting golden shores or indulging your seeker spirit with an island adventure, we’ve got the perfect island for you in Townsville North Queensland. Let’s take island hopping to the next level!

Magnetic Island

Just 20 minutes from Townsville, Magnetic Island boasts the natural beauty and serenity of an island paradise within a thriving community. Filled with eucalyptus woodlands and rocky foreshores, Magnetic Island is a haven for uniquely Australian wildlife, boasting Northern Australia’s largest colony of koalas living in the wild.

The perfect escape for families, friends and couples, “Maggie” – as the locals call it – has a diverse range of accommodation styles, from luxury homes to backpacker hostels. Sit back and relax on a sailing trip, have a hit at the Island’s golf course, up the ante with watersports galore, or find a stretch of sand from one of the Island’s 23 bays and beaches, to enjoy all to yourself.

For the more active adventurer, explore rocky outcrops and the National Park that covers two-thirds of the island, hike to secluded bays on more than 20km of walking trails, hit the water on a jet ski tour, and explore what lies beneath the surface with snorkel trails and tours leading straight off the beach.

How To Visit

SeaLink Queensland passenger ferry*, Magnetic Island Ferries car barge* or via helicopter. Once on the island, taxis and buses are available to go exploring, or hire a car or scooter to travel in tropical style.

*Multiple services daily –check online timetable for times.

Hinchinbrook Island

The largest National Park island on the Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook Island is completely uninhabited to protect its stunning biodiversity. Only 40 people are permitted to camp on Hinchinbrook Island at any one time, giving visitors the best possible experience to connect with, and truly appreciate, the raw Jurassic beauty of this natural island playground.

Hiking is the name of the game on this island, and if you have a real thirst for adventure, you can’t go past the 32km Thorsborne Trail. But if you’re short on time, enjoy a day of exploration with a guided tour with Wild Hinchinbrook Adventures

How To Visit

Local boat charter/transfer from Lucinda (2 hours north of Townsville) with Wild Hinchinbrook Adventures, or view from above with Hinchinbrook Adventures.

Orpheus Island

Covered in over 1,300 hectares of pristine National Park, Orpheus Island offers a unique encounter with amazing reef, beautiful bush walks and scenic lookouts. Book into the island’s luxury resort, capped to indulge only 28 exclusive guests at any one time.

Experience endless adventure with all-inclusive meals, water sports equipment and more – perfect for lovers of exclusive and tranquil holidays. Visitors can also experience the magic of Orpheus by setting up a self-sufficient campsite in one of the island’s three camping areas (permit available via Queensland National Parks Booking Service).

How To Visit

Charter boat, or helicopter.

Pelorus Island

Just north of Orpheus Island lies the pristine Pelorus Island, offering spectacular snorkel and dive experiences on fringing reefs accessible right off the beach - with self-sufficient camping permitted (permits apply).

Pelorus Island has undergone a major transformation with the addition of a private boutique retreat – Pelorus Island Retreat*. The retreat boasts five luxuriously appointed and expansive suites for guests seeking unparalleled levels of privacy and personalised service alongside barefoot adventure and a genuine connection to nature.

*Opening late 2023.

How To Visit

Charter boat or via helicopter.

TOWNSVILLE