Maggie may entice you to stay!

'Magnetic Island was known as Yunberun by Aboriginal traditional owners the Walgurukaba -Wulguru=canoe/kaba=people. Then much later in 1770 British explorer Captain James Cook found that his compass went awry as he sailed past-hence Magnetical Island it became'


After departing the marina at Townsville we spent 10 days at beautiful Magnetic Island. We originally did not plan to spend this amount of time there, but what can I say, it IS beautiful!
(the following three images are not mine-my camera has died a very untimely death, so my iphone is generally put to use)

Map of the island. Manatee took us past Picnic Bay, Nelly Bay and Florence Bay to Horseshoe Bay.

Our time was spent at anchor in Horseshoe Bay as it is not included in the National Park (most of the Island is) so Ruby could also enjoy the Island. This Bay, yep shaped like a horseshoe, had a glorious beach with a small strip of cafes, shops and two taverns. It was a fine combination of Island life and civilisation.

The café strip at Horseshoe Bay

View of Horseshoe Bay-a very popular anchorage. Recently a cruising yachty told us there were 44 boats in the anchorage!

Mini mokes and scooters were the usual form of transport but we caught the bus around the island, mostly with our hearts in our mouths! It is a mountainous island with narrow, winding roads and bus drivers usually ignored the 'buses and trucks use low gear' notices. We both learnt to not look sideways lest we see the buses sides overhanging the roads!

The 'tropic jazz festival' took place during our stay and we stayed for a few sessions as well as attending a couple of markets.

We enjoyed the company of lots of fish who took up residence under Manatee, so of course fishing was off the agenda, but feeding our companions was on. We saw lots of turtles in the bay and for a couple of evenings dolphins did the rounds of the anchorage. Lorikeets were abundant in the park as café staff fed them every day, some being so bold as to fly into the café demanding their munchies!

There were also lots of bushwalks to be enjoyed (without Ruby)- our favourite was to Radical Bay.

Gorgeous Radical Bay

Once we has all regained our sea legs and Ruby started with 'not that beach AGAIN' and a man and his dog told us there were whales frolicking off the island we knew it was time to go.