How Do You Get to Magnetic Island, and Where Can You See Wild Koalas?

The ferry from Townsville: time, fares and terminals

SeaLink runs the passenger ferry from the Breakwater Terminal on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive in Townsville to the Nelly Bay terminal on Magnetic Island. The crossing takes about 20 to 25 minutes, with departures roughly every hour or so from early morning to late evening, more often at commuter times.

SeaLink's fare page lists an adult return at $44 and a one-way ticket at $23, with app fares slightly lower and child fares about half. A temporary fuel surcharge has applied to all Magnetic Island sailings since June 1, 2026, so the amount you pay may be a little higher. You don't need to book ahead outside school holidays, but buying in the app saves queueing at the terminal.

If you are bringing a car, the separate vehicle ferry, Magnetic Island Ferries, runs from the Ross River terminal in South Townsville; it also takes foot passengers (listed at about $37 return in 2026) but is slower and less frequent.

Getting around: 50-cent buses, topless cars and scooters

The island bus links Picnic Bay, Nelly Bay (the ferry), Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay, with a stop at the Forts Walk junction, and meets most ferries. It is part of Queensland's Translink network, so fares are 50 cents for a single, $1 for a day of unlimited rides and $5 for a week. You can pay the driver with a card or cash.

The island's signature rental is a topless car: open-sided jeeps and small pastel convertibles locals call "barbie cars". Expect roughly $110 to $170 a day in 2026 depending on the company and vehicle, with half-day rates from some operators. Read the hire terms before you go; companies set rules on which unsealed roads you can drive, and the Radical Bay track is often excluded.

Scooters and e-bikes are also hired near the ferry terminal and in Horseshoe Bay, and are a cheap way to reach the bays the bus skips. The island is hilly, so a day of walking between bays is more tiring than the map suggests.

The Forts Walk: the best chance of wild koalas

The Forts Walk is a 4 km return trail (allow about 1.5 to 2 hours) up through open eucalypt woodland to the ruins of the WWII fort complex built in 1942 and 1943 to defend Townsville, ending at a command post with views across the bays. It starts from the Forts car park off Horseshoe Bay Road, between Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay, and the bus stops at the junction.

Magnetic Island has one of the largest wild koala populations in northern Australia, and this woodland is where they are most often seen. Look up into the forks of the gum trees in the first kilometre or so, and watch where other walkers stop and point. Early morning or late afternoon is cooler and better for spotting; sightings are common but never guaranteed. Carry water and a hat, as there is little shade at the top.

Arthur Bay and Florence Bay are on the same side of the island, reached by Radical Bay Road and short tracks down from the Forts area. Both are quiet, rocky-edged coves with good snorkelling at mid to high tide on calm days.

Koala sanctuary, Horseshoe Bay and the rock wallabies

If you want to see a koala up close, the Koala Park at Horseshoe Bay, for years known as Bungalow Bay Koala Village and now run alongside a hostel under the Bounce brand, holds guided wildlife tours with koalas, wombats, crocodiles, lizards and snakes. Booking listings in 2026 show tours of about 90 minutes from around $50 per adult; check current times and prices directly before you go, as the business has changed names several times.

Horseshoe Bay is the island's longest beach and its liveliest strip, with cafes, a pub and water-sports hire. It is the natural place to end the day after the Forts Walk.

The allied rock-wallabies live on the boulders at Geoffrey Bay in Arcadia, near the old ferry jetty and breakwater. They are easiest to see in the late afternoon and around sunset. Keep your distance and don't feed them: human food makes them sick, and park signs ask visitors not to.

Stinger season and when to go

Like the rest of tropical Queensland, Magnetic Island has box jellyfish and Irukandji in its waters during the warmer months, roughly November to May. In season, swim inside the stinger nets at Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay where they are set up, wear a full-body stinger suit for snorkelling, and follow lifeguard signs. Vinegar stations are posted at the main beaches.

The dry season, about May to October, has the most comfortable walking weather and calmer seas. A day trip from Townsville covers the Forts Walk, Horseshoe Bay and the Geoffrey Bay wallabies; stay one or two nights to add the quieter bays and a sunset at Arthur or Florence Bay.

For the wider region, see our tropical North Queensland guide, and check whether you need an ETA or visa in our Australia visa guide.

Frequently asked questions