Australia
Magnetic Island
Granite headlands and eucalyptus forests rising from Coral Sea waters off tropical Queensland.
Magnetic Island feels like a continental fragment, its granite boulders and hoop pine forests more reminiscent of mainland ranges than typical coral islands. The ferry crossing reveals an island of substantial hills and protected bays, where eucalyptus woodlands drop toward boulder-strewn beaches. This is bushland by the sea, where rock wallabies emerge at dusk and koalas rest in the canopy overhead.
What draws people here
- —granite boulder formations creating natural swimming pools and hidden coves
- —eucalyptus forests harboring wild koalas and rock wallabies
- —walking trails threading through bushland to secluded beaches
- —protected bays with fringing coral reefs for snorkeling
Island character
nature•wildlife•beaches
Island rhythm
morning
Koalas drowse in roadside eucalyptus trees as the first ferries arrive from the mainland
afternoon
Granite boulders radiate heat while snorkelers explore the fringing reefs of protected bays
night
Rock wallabies emerge to graze in the twilight as fruit bats take flight from the forest canopy
Best ways to experience Magnetic Island
- 01drive the coastal road connecting Picnic Bay to Horseshoe Bay through bushland
- 02hike the Forts Walk through eucalyptus forest to WWII gun emplacements
- 03walk the boulder-hop track to Balding Bay's secluded swimming holes
- 04cycle between the small settlements along the eastern coastline