What to do on Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is an underrated gem that is another of our favourite islands in Australia. Most of our adventure tours in Australia will stop here en route either to or from Cairns. It's a wee bit of a gem so let us let you in on our secret.
Heading up the East Coast, you’re bound to see some amazing sights but Magnetic Island is an absolute beauty – with a national park covering over 50% of the island, wildlife encounters are common, and the secluded beaches dotted around provide a private slice of paradise. It's a great place to take a holiday from travelling and put your feet up or keep up the pace with some incredible opportunities to keep active. Here's our guide on what to do on Magnetic Island.

Take in the views on the Fort Walk
Take a hike on Magnetic Island for breathtaking views
Day 1, Afternoon
Arriving on the ferry in the afternoon, you’ll lay eyes on Magnetic Island for the first time. Named because apparently, the island began interfering with the compasses of Captain James Cook and his crew, we can tell you there is some sort of magnetic pull to this place – albeit maybe because it is just so beautiful.
After checking into your hostel, we highly recommend heading out on the Forts Walk for sunset. Combining WWII history with stunning scenery, this 1.5-hour walk will lead you to a vantage point where you can admire the horizon and surrounding islands. Don’t forget to look up, as Magnetic Island is one of the few places in Australia where you can see wild koalas dozing in the trees (seriously, they sleep up to 22 hours a day, they’re almost guaranteed to be asleep). Enjoy the sunset up high, before heading back to the hostel for a few beers with your mates.
Look out for a sleeping koala in the trees
Day 2
Stray Tours gives you a free day here to plan exactly what you want or what your pocket feels like doing as well. Take the opportunity to personalise your journey here to create some great memories or relax and soak up some chill. Here are our suggestions of how you can spend your day on Magnetic Island.
4WD Adventure Day Tour
We highly recommend renting a 4WD to fully explore the island. With a vehicle at your disposal, you’ll be sure to get further off the beaten track, find little beaches with no one on them, and feel like a bunch of glamourous castaways.
If you pack a snorkel in your day kit (rent these from your hostel), you can immerse yourself in the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef and see even more incredible wildlife under the water. Our sunset spot for today has got to be the West End Beach. Only accessible by 4WD, you’ll feel extra special as you watch the sun dip behind mainland Australia from this side of the island. A delightful experience!
If you’re serious about saving money or just not keen on a vehicle, you can walk or rent a bicycle to explore the area. There are plenty of walking tracks and with half the beauty of this place underwater, your only expense today needs to be a snorkel. Watch out for turtles, sting rays, reef sharks and of course, hundreds of species of fish.
Don’t forget the GoPro and stinger suit, and give the creatures some space (we hear turtles get anxious). Once you’ve had enough exploring for one day, you can head back to the hostel and laze in a hammock by the pool.

4WD adventure around Magnetic Island
Water a lot of adventure? SCUBA diving & kayaking
If 4WD adventure is not your vibe there is so much more you can do on Magnetic Beach. If you’re fizzing over Maggie Island and want more, getting out on the water is next on your agenda. Rent a sea kayak with a mate and explore some hidden coves for the day, or head out on a boat trip to the best snorkelling spots.
SCUBA diving? If you have a license already you can hire the full get-up and get out on the reef on a day trip out on the Great Barrier Reef. There’s something about spending the day at sea that is so pleasantly exhausting, so we’d guess that after all that beautiful exploring, you’re ready for an early night.
In the past, Stray has stayed at Magnetic Island YHA
Simply relax in paradise on Magnetic Island
If all this active adventure is making you tired just reading it you might choose to take it easy, relax by the pool or beach and read a good book. Head out to one of the many beaches, find some shade, and set up in paradise for the day. Treat yourself to a delicious lunch in Horseshoe Bay, we recommend Café Nourish for a healthy and satisfying meal. Celebrate the end of your holiday from travelling (because that is a real thing), with fish and chips on the beach.
A great place to see koalas - in their natural habitat
Maggie Island is one of our favourite spots on the East Coast, we hope you love it as much as we do. From koalas and rock wallabies to sea turtles and starfish, there is an abundance of wildlife to meet and places to explore. This is a destination you won’t forget!
In the meantime, check out our current tours for more inspiration for the most amazing East Coast trip.