Magnetic Island (Written by Tina)

Magnetic Island (MI) We boarded the ferry at 8.30am for our one and only Island adventure. I was on this island more than 20years ago, but I don’t remember much of if except for crouching down in the back of a Moke that Mum & Lee Sutcliff drove around on the steep and windy roads. I also learned that “bitumen” was not a swear word but that is another story. The view of Townville & MI we not very spectacular due to the dust and smoke haze that have been hanging around for days, never the less it was a very nice trip across the 8km’s of ocean to get to MI, nice and calm water just the way we like it. We arrived in Nelly Bay and awaited the public bus that would be our mode of transport around the island, it was only $6.30 for a day trip, and you can get off pretty much well as much as you like. First stop Horseshoe Bay, it is still a bit early and the town is not really awake yet, so a quite stroll up the beach to check out what water sports are available, jet skiing, tubing, swimming net all looked good. We decided to choose our next mode of transport a walk from Horseshoe Bay to The Forts walk about 8km up and down rocky tracks in our flip flops! No injuries to report phew! The first bay we walked too was call Balding Bay, it was so secluded and pretty, someone in a catamaran was moored in the bay.

We walked around the bay stripped off our shorts & T-shirts and went for a well earned dip, it was very warm and still early in the day but the water was cool & refreshing, after a quick dip we headed back to the track, this island really looks like we are on some Greek island with the Ring Pines and all of the rocks.

Onto Radical Bay which looks like there used to be some sort of structure but we did not find this out. From here we took the “bitumen” and walked the road around to Florence Bay, here we need a swim after all of the hot sun & steep roads we had walked. I forgot to buy some goggles & did not hire any so missed out some great reef viewing.

From here the road got steeper but we did get to see 2 Kolas a mummy & its baby further up the tree, it made it all the more worth while. Once we got back to the bus stop we headed back to Horseshoe Bay for some cold beer & lunch. There is not a whole lot to do unless you hired something,

so back on the bus & round to Picnic Bay, the Jetty is supposed to be good fishing, we did not bring our fishing gear! While we were there this guy feed 2 sea eagles off the deck that was cool. He hooked onto something but lost it, tell us about it! Picnic Bay is below Nelly Bay & on the other side of the island to Horseshoe Bay & the wind had picked up a little by now, we had to wait a while for the next bus so we, had you guessed it, another beer, we also had a read of the Townsville paper, and caught up a bit on local news. Then back to Nelly Bay and the ferry back to Townsville, once again nice calm seas prevailed. Next time we are hiring a Moke for the fun of it!