Magnetic Island
North Queensland’s only residential island holiday retreat and possibly Australia’s best kept secret.
Feel for yourself the alluring charm of Magnetic Island.
Magnetic Island is within a World Heritage Marine Park. Over two thirds of the island is protected National Park. There is 28 km of walking tracks and some of the most stunning and secluded beaches and bays. Some only accessible by boat.
Named by Captain James Cook when he sailed past the island in 1770. He believed that the hills were full of iron ore deposits and this had affected the ships compass. He was found out later to be incorrect but the name remained unchanged.
There is a first-rate selection of snorkelling and scuba diving options available on the island. Picnic Bay, Cockle, Nelly, Geoffrey, Arthur and Florence Bays all provide striking hard and soft coral and the fish life is incredible.
Just 8 km off the coast, and a 20 minute ferry ride from the cosmopolitan tropical city of Townsville you'll find Magnetic Island, the best kept secret of tropical North Queensland.
A 10 minute taxi or airport shuttle ride from the Townsville airport are two ferry terminals. One is Fantasea car ferry and the other is Sealink which is simply a passenger ferry, both of which have regular services to Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island.
For your convenience you can now pre-book your fastcat tickets
From there you can drive your car, take a taxi, hire a vehicle, go in luxury and take a limo or take a short bus ride to Ascot Cottage in Picnic Bay.
Everything you need for your tropical island
holiday
On Magnetic Island you can...
Learn to scuba dive
Dive Yongala wreck
Snorkel over coral reefs
Jet ski
Sailing
Boat hire
Fishing Charters
Sea Kayak tours
Horse rinding on the beach
Cuddle a Koala
Golfing
Bushwalking and more...
Any offers from third parties are not the responsibility of Ascot Cottage
