Horseshoe Bay is the largest bay on Magnetic Island and is ideal for water sports, with almost every type of watercraft available for hire. It is also a popular departure point for sailing, cruising, fishing and kayaking trips. Visitors can even enjoy horse riding in the bay’s safe, purpose-built swimming enclosure. Horseshoe Bay Beachfront is considered the island’s tourist hub, with a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars offering live entertainment. The area is also great for families, with playground facilities and sheltered picnic tables close to the beach.
Arcadia is the smallest of the four main bays around Magnetic Island, encompassing two of the island’s most prominent bays, Alma Bay and Geoffrey Bay. Geoffrey Bay is a Marine National Park Zone, well worth exploring at low tide. The old barge jetty on the left side of the bay is a great spot to watch rock wallabies feeding at dusk. Alma Bay is a popular swimming spot for locals and visitors alike, with the beach patrolled on weekends and public holidays. Gas barbecues, picnic tables, playgrounds, changing areas and toilets make it an ideal location for groups and families.
Tucked between Arcadia and Radical Bay, Arthur Bay is one of Magnetic Island’s quieter, more secluded spots, reached via a scenic stretch of the island’s walking track network. Its calm, clear waters and fringing coral make it a favourite for snorkelling, with an abundance of coral and marine life just off the shore. With little in the way of facilities and far fewer crowds than the island’s main bays, Arthur Bay is perfect for travellers seeking a peaceful escape and a more untouched slice of the island’s natural beauty.
Nelly Bay is the island’s passenger ferry arrival point from the mainland (Townsville) and is a great spot for an early morning run or a leisurely walk. It’s also well suited to swimming, windsurfing, sailing a catamaran or snorkelling on the fringing reef. Towards the northern end of the beach is a sheltered, coin-operated barbecue area and a children’s playground.
Picnic Bay is located at the southern end of Magnetic Island. A number of shops and restaurants can be found throughout the Picnic Bay Mall, alongside a range of accommodation options, including hostels and hotels. In the middle of the bay sits the old jetty, no longer in use but a popular spot for fishing. In the back streets of the township, you’ll find a well-loved local golf course. The two bays flanking Picnic Bay are also well worth a visit: to the west, Cockle Bay is home to the wreck of the City of Adelaide, while to the east, Rocky Bay is a local favourite for sun-seekers and ranks among the island’s top spots for swimming and snorkelling.
