Best Thailand Beaches: Magnetic Island

last visited July 2016

Horseshoe Bay post sunset


Magnetic Island (Maggie) is 52 sq km inward size - close 80% is covered yesteryear mountains as well as over one-half is National Park. Most non residential areas characteristic large granite boulders, eucalypt woods as well as hoop pines but in that location are little patches of rainforest inward wetter areas as well as some mangroves on the western coast. 
It is a pop tourist location but over the years has teach a commuter suburb of nearby Townsville as well as a pop retirement destination. As such it has a permanent population approaching 2500 summation many to a greater extent than vacation makers. The biggest town is Horseshoe Bay but Nelly Bay, the site of the newer harbour is to a greater extent than populous - over M compared to 500 odd. Picnic Bay, the site of the original ferry pier as well as the earliest vacation accommodation is following at around 350 amongst Arcadia nudging 300. I'm non sure enough which identify packs the most holidaymakers, but I'm thinking Nelly Bay may i time once again live #1 - in that location is a bunch of novel vacation apartments around the harbour summation a hell of a lot of rental houses as well as other apartments available - many were built to arrange structure workers when the novel port was existence built.
The inward a higher identify modified Google footing epitome shows the i master copy route betwixt Picnic Bay as well as Horseshoe Bay - summation the rather poorly surfaced "road" into the bays inward the island's northward east. I forgot to position a similar rail which runs upward the rather undeveloped westward coast. Each town of course of written report has a network of suburban streets.



Townsville is exclusively 8km across Cleveland Bay - yous tin watch why Maggie became an of import defense seat duiring WW2 - guns on the mount tops could comprehend the approaches to this of import army/navy metropolis (top epitome stolen from Wikepedia)


Maggie as well as Townsville are good as well as really inward tropical North Queensland - close 1175km inward a directly line from Brisbane (1350 yesteryear road) as well as 280 (350) from Cairns. As such it tends to live warm only close all twelvemonth - yous tin exclusively facial expression i or ii days where temperatures are non upward to the beach. Townsville claims to live i of the sunniest cities inward Commonwealth of Australia amongst over 300 days where Ol' Sol is dominant.


THE BEACHES
I won't come inward the ground close which is the best beach on Maggie. This depends on the user. My personal favourite, BALDING, volition non suit a lot of people on line of piece of work organisation human relationship yous involve a twoscore infinitesimal trek to teach in that location as well as it is have on optional. 
I'm thinking the best beach for the average visitor is ALMA - it's attractive, has lots of facilities for picnickers etc, has a SURF CLUB fer those who are a fleck nervous abt the water, tends to pick upward a fleck of south-easterly swell most days so yous tin really trunk surf or board surf small waves a t times, has some snorkeling as well as dive sites as well as is easily accessed from all over Arcadia (walk) or from the nearby jitney halt if coming from other areas. 
People who similar large long beaches may prefer loooong HORSESHOE BAY which volition also live #1 for H2O sports enthusiasts - there's a heap of equipment for hire. 
Lovers of the isolated deserted beach volition either go for ROCKY BAY, or for the four OR SO SMALL BEACHES on the western one-half of the northward coast - but I gotta tell yous getting to them involves no little effort. H5N1 wild carte du jour may live the beach at WEST POINT on the westward coast. Actually whatsoever of the beaches inward the north-east of the isle (see map downward page) volition suit isolated beaches fans who desire to expend less effort.
Keen snorkelers may prefer FLORENCE BAY but if they desire easier access from accommodation, ALMA as well as NELLIE may do the trick. NELLIE involves to a greater extent than swimming.
Divers don't tend to hang around on the beach, but I empathise the top beach for diving is in all probability GEOFFREY which has the Molte wreck as good the usual coral reef. Quite a few other beaches withdraw keep okay diving as do some non-beach sites around the island.



THE NORTH-EAST BEACHES

BALDING BAY
BALDING is a little (abt 250m long) islolated beach inward the north-east of the island. The trek inward is close twoscore minutes from HORSESHOE BAY to the right-background. It is a have on optional beach but on my many visits since the 80s "textiles" withdraw keep outnumbered the naturists yesteryear a long shot. Naturists tend to gravitate towards the left eastern) side of the beach as per the inward a higher identify shot. The sand far left of epitome is part of larger HORSESHOE BAY - don't live tempted to essay to short-cut across the headland - I did way dorsum as well as it took twice the twoscore infinitesimal walk on the dedicated walking tracks inward this area. You are looking due S inward this modified Google footing image.
This expanse is inward the MARINE NATIONAL PARK which agency NO FISHING kemosabes.


BALDING from the eastern end. Large granite boulders amongst interspersed hoop pines brand the headlands inward this expanse pretty spectacular.


BALDING from the western end. Water shelves fairly slowly, no large waves or tricky currents. Good for families. Sheltered nature of these northern bays (including RADICAL) brand them pop amongst Townsville as well as cruising boaties.


BALDING is i of several beaches inward the bays of north-east Maggie. The other iii tin live reached yesteryear or from the stone oil route that goes from close the start of THE FORTS trekking trail only out of epitome at bottom. There is a practiced trekking rail over the slopes betwixt HORSESHOE BAY (top correct of image) as well as RADICAL. H5N1 side rail heads on downward to BALDING.

RADICAL BAY
RADICAL is a longer beach than BALDING - abt 400m. Because it tin live accessed yesteryear vehicle (signs advise 4wd exclusively but I saw some ordinary cars there) it tends to attract to a greater extent than people but I withdraw keep never seen it busy. When I firstly visited Maggie in that location was a mid-range/backpacker resort inward that cleared expanse behind beach but it has been absent my final 2 visits. That is FLORENCE BAY background left - took me xv minutes to walk the steep inward parts stone oil route from RADICAL
Also a MARINE NATIONAL PARK beach.


If yous click-expand yous volition teach a amend appreciation of the granite boulder-hoop pino landscape around the beach. Water shelves slowly, making it tike friendly, as does lack of currents, tiny waves.

FLORENCE BAY
This 400m long beach is the northern-most of the E coast beaches but long headlands tend to protect it from the prevailing south-easterly trades so that weather condition are ordinarily pretty calm. Its easiest access is via a brusk walking rail off the stone oil Radical Bay "road" towards the southern (left) terminate of the beach. 
When I called inward it seemed to withdraw keep to a greater extent than people than Radical, but even so non crowded. Quite a few of them were snorkeling along a line of buoys which seemed to go downward the border of that reef correct mitt (northern) side of the bay. Printed isle guides cite snorkeling trails fix at NELLIE as well as GEOFFREY BAYS farther S - perchance this is a novel i at FLORENCE.
Divers volition also uncovering this expanse worthwhile.
Also MARINE NATIONAL PARK,

FLORENCE BAY from the S terminate - depression tide hither suggesting the beach shelves piece of cake making it tike friendly. 

ARTHUR BAY
ARTHUR is close 1.3km S of FLORENCE. It is a smaller beach, only over 200m long. It too has reasonable coral as well as fish to cheque out yesteryear both snorkelers as well as divers on the correct inward epitome (northern) side. Divers also withdraw keep the wreck of a steam dredge farther out.
That white topped edifice behind the beach is THE BEACH HOUSE, a individual identify which high-rollers tin rent for holidays. Very flash. Dunno how they managed to teach approving - National Park surrounds. This is also a MARINE NATIONAL PARK beach.
More than a few white granite boulders inward this shot.


I didn't withdraw keep fourth dimension to do the twoscore infinitesimal render walk from FLORENCE, but I afterward got this shot from the start of THE FORTS track. It shows THE BEACH HOUSE nicely.


This higher shot from i of the gun emplacements shows to a greater extent than of the beach. Can't line of piece of work organisation human relationship for the dissimilar color of the sea - same camera, thirty minutes later. Um, maybe the cloud cleared as well as the higher angle reflects to a greater extent than of the sky.



THE EAST COAST BEACHES
Technically FLORENCE as well as ARTHUR are on the E coast - but I prefer to think of them as NORTH-EAST beaches. This leaves the ARCADIA BEACHES, GEOFFRY BAY, NELLIE BAY as well as ROCKY BAY on the lower one-half of the E coast.

ARCADIA BEACHES
It's my personal belief that Arcadia is the pick of Maggie locations for the average visitor. It has ii beaches, i of which, ALMA, is i of the best on the island; heaps of vacation apartments/units - houses - a motel - a guesthouse/baclpackers'; a real overnice pub mit puddle as well as lots more, a little shopping center; some practiced trekking trails into the hills/mountains behind - as well as it's non real far from the ferry port.

ALMA BAY
This little beach (a fleck less than 200m long) is the to a greater extent than northern of Arcadia's 2 beaches.
Snorkeling is okay on the correct mitt (in image) side of the bay. Diving is also pretty practiced - a guy at my backpackers' told me in that location are some easily accessed canyons here.
The edifice instantly behind the sand is the surf club. Adjacent lawns withdraw keep picnic as well as BBQ facilities. The bigger edifice top left is the Arcadia Village Hotel which has an associated motel. Buses halt following the pub giving this beach practiced access from all over the island. You are looking towards the west-north-west inward this image.
ALMA is inward the MARINE NATIONAL PARK.




Because it faces almost due south-east, ALMA picks upward a fleck of swell when the prevailing south-east trades are brisk. However the closeness of the Great Barrier Reef ensures these waves never teach especially big.


But if yous withdraw keep surf yous must withdraw keep a surf club. Somehow I don't think these guys do too many rescues. But surf clubs these days frequently seem to a greater extent than close the social life than saving lives.

GEOFFREY BAY
This is the larger of Arcadia's 2 beaches - abt 1000m long - also inward the MARINE NATIONAL PARK.. 
Tourist regime withdraw keep fix a snorkeling trail inward the bay amongst surface as well as underwater buoys - a swim carte du jour detailing the route as well as what's in that location tin live picked upward ($5 donation) at Arcadia Newsagency as well as Pleasure Divers summation several non-Arcadia locations. 
The reef is a practiced expanse for divers, especially around the wreck of the Molte. This is supposed to live an first-class black dive.
That's ALMA BAY top right.
You are looking almost due northward inward this image.


For those who similar their beaches long as well as quiet, GEOFFREY volition non disappoint. Personally I similar to a greater extent than compact beaches as well as amongst non too many rocks/coral off the beach. Of course, keen snorkelers/divers withdraw keep some other ground for visiting this beach, as outlined up-page.

NELLY BAY
The beach hither is the longest on the island, extending 1400m S from the harbour. The fringing reef is clearly visible inward this shot - this is some other expanse amongst a snorkeling trail. Nellid Bay distributors of these are Base Backpckers, Aquasearch Aquarium, Fishn N Fuel'n, Island Palms, M1 Post Office as well as Tropical Topless Cars.
Other Maggie distributors non already mentioned on this page include Foodworks at Horseshoe Bay as well as M.I. Arts Space at Picnic Bay.
The reef is a practiced expanse for divers.




Although longer, the beach hither is real similar inward graphic symbol to NELLIE BAY.


ROCKY BAY
This rather attractive beach is instantly S of NELLIE BAY - after yous traverse the 300m department of rocks part seen on the far right. That makes access kinda tricky - some other way inward is to hike downward from roughly the seat of where I shot the moving-picture demo instantly below. I could watch a stone oil rail - btw the slope was way steeper than appears inward the shot (something to do amongst the focal length of my elcheapo Olympus steal snapper). There is also a rail downward from BUTLER ST inward PICNIC BAY.
This is a compact beach at 300m long.
That's PICNIC BAY township as well as beach on the far side of the ridge as well as the islands master copy route far right.
You are looking due westward inward this image.


I rock-hopped across from NELLIE inward the tardily 90s, but was inward no mood to do the same the latest 2016 see - I'd been on my feet for over vii hours on a multi-trek of the island's walking  tracks as well as beaches as well as yous gotta cutting this lxx yo geezer some slack. So I shot this i from a NO-NAME VIEWPOINT accessed via a brusk rail off the master copy route across the headland betwixt NELLY as well as PICNIC BAYS. 
Both passes-by saw no-one on the beach, a reflection of the hard access, but this bay is a pretty pop telephone band inward for boaties from Townsville.

The southern terminate of the beach.
Notice in that location is non a lot of sand at highest tide - as well as this wasn't a fourth dimension of manlike someone monarch tides.


Just close the total expanse of the beach shot from the outset of the rocks on the NELLIE BAY side - amend seen if yous click expand.
HAWKINGS POINT LOOKOUT is at the highest spot inward backrgound.



SOUTH COAST BEACH
Maggie is kinda pump shaped which agency in that location is exclusively room for i beach on the S coast.

PICNIC BAY
This 650m long beach is divided yesteryear the original ferry pier - as tin live seen it is exclusively protected from the prevailing SE trades yesteryear Hawkings Point on the right, so that on days when the merchandise winds are upward things could kinda stone as well as roll. I retrieve a pretty stone oil embarkation dorsum inward the 80s.
There is a swimming enclosure inward summertime as well as a surf guild both only left (west) of the pier inward this shot.
The beach itself is abt 650m long. You are looking north-west inward this image.


The beach E of the pier. Looks a fleck daggy at dead depression tide. Kinda interesting - PICNIC BAY was the original picnic/holiday resort location on the island. People dorsum so mustn't withdraw keep liked traveling a fleck farther to uncovering much amend beaches.

West of the pier.



WEST COAST BEACHES
Maggie's westward coast is non its rigid betoken - lotsa mangroves (including both sides of that strip of sand close the 5km marker), non too much sand. On my firstly see inward the 80s I grabbed a cycle inward Picnic Bay as well as started to cycle the stone oil dirt rail along the coast. I shortly got bored as well as turned back.....


....but maybe too soon. Near the north-west corner is a little village (WEST POINT) amongst this okay-looking beach. Notice the mangroves bottom correct as well as behind some sections of sand.
Anyway here's something else to cheque out on my following visit. Other things I involve to do is walk some of the tracks haven't done on my four visits so far.


THE NORTHERN BEACHES
Maggie's northward coast nearest photographic television camera (um, I think Google footing really uses satellite shots) - nosotros are facing due S above.
From the left, nosotros withdraw keep already included the little RADICAL as well as BALDING bays' beaches inward the NORTH-EAST section. To their correct nosotros withdraw keep the real long HORSESHOE BAY as well as so starting from that large fundamental headland, the four or five little real isolated beaches of the WESTERN HALF OF THE NORTH COAST.

RADICAL BAY
The beach at RADICAL BAY is in all probability equal amongst ALMA as the island's most popular. It also is the longest at 3km. RADICAL also has the biggest hinterland expanse behind the beach, but in that location are to a greater extent than buidings at NELLY BAY.
There is a summertime rubber (from stingers) swimming enclosure. I read it is floodlit at night.
The northward coast seat as well as the ii long bordering headlands brand this bay real sheltered from the [revao;ong winds as well as in that location is e'er a bunch of yachts as well as cruisers at anchor. I got the impression some are call-ins on a coastal cruise, others are owned yesteryear Townsville residents.


The eastern quarter of RADICAL. This is some other gently shelving beach. Note high tide doesn't teach out a existent lot of sand but Maggie similar all of the central-north coast has a large tidal make (over 5m), which combined amongst a gently shelving bottom, agency lotsa sand flats inward sure enough areas exposed at lowest tide a practiced way into the bay. Very tike friendly.


Turn 180 degrees from the previous shot for the western 3/4 of RADICAL. This is i long beach.

WESTERN BEACHES OF THE NORTH COAST
Ignoring the real terminate of RADICAL far left, nosotros withdraw keep left to correct strips of sand at MAUDE BAY, NORRIS BAY, JOYCE BAY, WILSON BAY as well as HUNTINGFIELD BAY. These are relatively small, varying inward length from 400m to 80m.
They are also extremely isolated - in that location are no roads or fifty-fifty trekking tracks into this area. In the 90s I walked 2km+ along RADICAL, rock-hopped around the extensive headland (much bigger thtn it looks inward this shot) as well as ended upward at MAUDE BAY. The whole thing must withdraw keep taken over iii hours i way. MAUDE was existent nice, completely deserted of course of written report except for a turtle which was having a swim same fourth dimension as me. Didn't carry a photographic television camera dorsum so so I can't demo whatsoever shots. Maybe if yous are a keen kayaker yous could hire i at RADICAL as well as paddle around. There are also yachts,paddle boards, jet skis etc to rent. I empathise most around isle boat tours telephone band in.
These bays are also known for practiced diving amongst diving tours frequently calling in.



TREKKING
Maggie has some bully treks as well as I spent much of my latest see checking ones I hadn't done or re-doing others (this was my fifth Maggie visit).

2016 TREKS
Walks latest visit. Bit hard to watch (same) master copy route carpark starting betoken for FORTS as well as the long NELLY BAY treks. Maybe if yous click-expand.
Scale line top left is 5km long.

THE FORTS TREK
The most popular, most informative as well as as most scenic on the island.
THE FORTS rail leaves from a auto commons high on the master copy route betwixt RADICAL BAY as well as the island's south.
I forgot to position a linear scale on the epitome - it's 600m betwixt the placemarkers for FORTS' CIRCUIT as well as for FLORENCE BAY
This is a 2.8km render trip. You are in all probability looking at a 35 min walk each way but I spent over 2.5 hours all told on line of piece of work organisation human relationship of all the factual data as well as practiced viewpoints.


The Forts trailhead is at the carpark on the master copy ARCADIA to HORSESHOE BAY road. 
The rail instantly across the route is the start of the trek across to NELLY BAY. There is a junction 1km along which leads downward to ARCADIA. 
The route paralleling the master copy route lower correct is the stone oil i into RADICAL BAY, via ARTHUR as well as FLORENCE BAYS. This would live an okay walk - I'll maybe do it following visit.
The jitney inward shot tin teach yous to the CAR PARK from nearly all populated parts of the island. You tin also walk upward from HORSESHOE BAY BEACH inward abt 30nins (2.2km) From ARCADIA takes around the same fourth dimension using the master copy route from the ARCADIA PUB, maybe 10 minutes to a greater extent than if yous purpose the bush tracks which come across upward amongst the rail emerging on the left (see map downward page).


The firstly 450m to the H2O reservoir is upward this sealed route - moderate slope at most. About one-half way upward is a practiced viewpoint for ARTHUR BAY.

Past the reservoir the rail narrows a bit, becomes sandy gravel (good underfoot/no steps) as well as has roughly the same gradient. This continues for abt 1km to the outset of the FORTS CIRCUIT.
Along the way is interesting data close isle geology/geography, flora/fauna, history both pre-war as well as military, the edifice of the forts as well as much more. I'm no nature/history/military buff but I works life this fascinating. There are side tracks leading to the ruins (now only foundations) of the military camp kitchen, officers' mess, females' sleeping quarters as well as more.


I also spotted this guy* track-side. Actually I heard him firstly - a kinda depression grunting-growl. I think he was trying to tell me to teach lost. * coulda been a gal.


Start of the 850m long FORTS' CIRCUIT. That's the Command Post top left.


The FORTS' CIRCUIT is a fleck narrower as well as rougher underfoot as well as the firstly 3rd has some steeper uphill sections/steps but these are non long plenty to worry whatsoever but the real unfit. 


One of the firstly places reached at top is the mount for GUN 2. Pillbox at nurture is part of secondary ammo store - master copy ammo dump downward the loma away from incoming shells.


Command post


Commanders' persuasion of Cape Cleveland to the south. Any Japanese ship sneaking into Cleveland Bay (the approach to Townsville) would live upward for a hot time. In fact the exclusively shot inward anger during the state of war was at an American sub which forgot to transmit the code-word of the day.


SIGNALS POST from the COMMAND POST. Roof-top antenna is for modern communications.


Inside SIGNALS POST are to a greater extent than interesting data panels.

GOOD VIEWS
RADICAL BAY from the SIGNALS POST.

The high shot of ARTHUR BAY seen upward page is from the COMMAND POST.

Layout of the forts area.
For scale it is 185m betwixt the placemarks of "signals post" as well as "gun 2" at the top of image.


FORTS' CAR PARK TO NELLY BAY TREK
After the FORTS excursion I walked across the master copy route as well as took the well-signposted rail heading south-west into the bush. This is a longer walk - my innovation was to go correct thru to the waterfront at Nelly Bay, abt 6.6km.


My start top right, destination bottom left.
 Note the WHITE line showing the rail upward from close the terminate of Endeavour Rd inward a higher identify ARCADIA. There is a viewpoint at the real top of Endeavour Rd. 
You tin also come upward up from Arcadia yesteryear taking the BLUE rail from the master copy route part way upward the hill. In the 80s I would run upward hither as well as go along the circuit to NELLY BAY as well as dorsum to my digs inward ARCADIA via themain road. I seem to retrieve it took me abt an lx minutes - but seeing nosotros are talking over 10km, maybe that's a rosy memory. Then again, I was a keen runner inward those days. These days bad knees forestall running on bush tracks - my (way shorter) walk from carpark to Nelly Bay seafront took only over 2.5 hours


 SECTION 1  – 1km/25mins.
The FORTS carpark as well as ARCADIA TRACK INTERSECTION are roughly equal inward superlative at 120m/400ft but the rail undulates  – slopes never arrive a higher identify moderate as well as the surface is practiced amongst no roots or tricky rocks. I can’t retrieve whatsoever steps. The vegetation is dry out eucyalyptus woods - typical Aussie bush, Nice.
I saw to a greater extent than people on this brusk 1km department than the residual of my walk. I got the impression a lot of people come upward up on the branch tracks from ARCADIA to do the super pop FORTS WALK.


Track junction at the terminate of department 1. I had come upward inward on the rail top left, would go along bottom left (past my backpack) - branch to ARCADIA bottom right.


SECTION 2 – abt 2.8km/60mins.  
At firstly yous climb a fleck but (moderate slopes) so traverse across the ridge amongst tree/rock filtered views of HORSESHOE BAY. Gently undulating across hither – other slopes never too steep. Surface/vegetation generally similar to section 1.

For the 10 to xv minutes across the side of the ridge I must withdraw keep taken a dozen pics of RADICAL BAY - but in that location were e'er trees as well as rocks which stopped a completely unobstructed shot. This was the best I got - as well as so I had to bush-bash considerably off the track.

SECTION iii –  Abt1.8km/40mins
The rail turns left (south) as well as drops downward a gully towards NELLY BAY. Steepest department of the trek – unfit people walking the other way may involve a few breathers. Surface rougher amongst to a greater extent than roots, scattered rocks as well as step-downs, but non too difficult. Vegetation reflects wetter gully microclimate  – fifty-fifty some little patches of rainforest.

Steepest slopes** on my route as well as most hard underfoot but neither too bad.
**you may betoken out I was goiig downward loma - but my knees HATE downward hills.

SECTION four – A directly 1km/20min stroll slightly downhill along MANDALAY AVE to NELLY BAY waterfront. . If yous are tired yous may luck inward (modern idiom is "LUCK OUT" - that makes no sense) inward on a passing jitney which runs most of this distance – but exclusively every 40/60mins.

Finish of bush department 3/start of street walk four hither at the real top of Mandalay Ave. If walking the other way don't live tempted to withdraw keep the wider dirt rail out of frame to left of zebra barrier.

Finish of department four at the waterfront close NELLY BAY harbour. Check the relatively novel vacation apartments inward the harbour precinct.


GETTING BACK TO THE START
WALKING – plow left at the waterfront, withdraw keep the master copy route yesteryear the harbour, over the loma to ARCADIA (the scenic GABUL WAY “boardwalk” (metal) does this), along the beach to close the pub. From hither yous tin either:  H5N1 - hike upward the fairly steep highway to the FORTS CARPARK. (4.3km/60mins total).  B - hike part way upward the highway as well as withdraw keep the signposted rail (the BLUE rail inward the map above) as well as so plow correct at the master copy rail for the carpark. Maybe add together 500m/10mins.   C - uncovering your way to close the terminate of ENDEAVOUR ROAD north-west of the pub where a rail  (WHITE above) goes upward as well as joins the rail inward B. Apparently in that location is a practiced viewpoint along here. Abt same kms/mins as B.
THE EASY WAY: walk a pair of hundred meters across to the harbour terminal as well as outflow on the following jitney to HORSESHOE BAY which volition allow yous off at the CARPARK.
Better still, teach off at ARCADIA PUB, withdraw keep a good earned beer as well as so teach the following jitney upward the loma to the carpark.

Me? I walked across to the harbour as well as jumped on the following jitney to PICNIC BAY. I even so wanted to teach some beach pix of PICNIC as well as ROCKY BAYS as shown upward page as well as do the rather practiced trek upward to the bully VIEWPOINT on HAWKING POINT (see below).


HAWKING POINT
This is a bully trivial walk. It takes yous upward to a viewing platform on a large granite boulder at the highest part of HAWKING POINT, the headland betwixt PICNIC as well as ROCKY BAYS. Views which are arguably amend than from the forts are the reward.


This brusk (less than 500m i way/15 mins) trek starts at a parking expanse at the top of PICNIC ST - the start is exclusively 750m from the pier as well as pub inward PICNIC BAY. That's part of ROCKY BAY beach top right.


The brusk rail has a mixture of slopes from storey thru moderate to fairly steep but never reaches properly steep. The inward a higher identify is typical of the surface - some rocks, step-ups (no closed spaced stairs from memory), a few roots but never especially hard underfoot.

VIEWS ARE GREAT...
ROCKY as well as NELLY BAYS to the north. 


PICNIC BAY to the west.


TOWNSVILLE across CLEVERLAND BAY to the south-west.

When I came downward from the viewpoint I took the master copy route over the headland to NELLLY BAY (there is a real brusk bush rail close the top which leads to in all probability the best overview of ROCKY BAY - watch moving-picture demo upward page), caught a jitney upward to the harbour as well as walked 300m to the start of the headland over to GEOFFREY BAY inward monastic tell to walk the novel GABUL WAY following the master copy road. 

GABUL WAY
This novel metallic "boardwalk" runs on the sea side of the master copy route across the headland betwixt NELLIE as well as GOEFFREY BAYS - distance 1km/abt twenty mins+stops
There is also the quondam HERITAGE TRACK which goes across higher on the headland to the left of the master copy road. I din't withdraw keep fourth dimension to do it.


Slopes moderate at most. H5N1 short, piece of cake as well as scenic walk.


There are outrigger viewing platforms every 200m or so. Some practiced headland, sea as well as beach vistas along here. Above is the beach along GEOFFREY BAY to the ARCADIA HEADLAND.
Pic kinda tedious - fairly tardily inward the 24-hour interval as well as getting ready to rain.

After leaving the "boardwalk" I trudged along the beach to ALMA BAY out of sight behind the lowest part of the far headland, snapped the pix up-page as well as so jumped on a jitney for my backpackers' digs at HORSESHOE BAY.



HORSEHOE BAY to RADICAL/BALDING BAY
I did these several times on before days of my remain on line of piece of work organisation human relationship they atomic number 82 across to my favourite beaches.

HORSESHOE at left, BALDING top as well as RADICAL right. Stages 1 as well as 2 are close equal: 800m/15 mins each. Stage iii slightly longer - add together tell five mins.

STAGE 1 - 450m/12 mins.
First fourth dimension may live a fleck tricky finding the trailhead:
Best bet is to caput E on RADICAL BAY BEACH for close 300m yesteryear the terminate of the beachfront esplanade as well as withdraw keep the rail upward on the far side of the eastern-most household (note these houses don't withdraw keep a route - all withdraw keep 4wds for beach access). 
This tin live a fleck hard around the highest tides inward the calendar month - yous may withdraw keep to wade across those moisture spots on the sand. 


There is an alternative rail behind the beach which leaves from the terminate of the suburban street (Henry Lawson St) behind the beachfront esplanade (may live clearer if yous click-expand).

Once on phase 1 yous shortly start out to climb into the heights betwixt the bays. Slopes hither vary from moderate thru fairly steep to a real brusk department of properly steep. The final few minutes at top is fairly storey going. Underfoot is pretty practiced - a few granite measuring ups (no sustained stairways from memory) as well as few scattered rocks or tree roots. Nice eucalyptus woods along here.

STAGE 2 - 450m/12 mins
Turns left at the signpost for BALDING BAY. The rail is fairly storey for a few minutes as well as so begins to drib to the beach. Slopes never arrive a higher identify fairly steep (easy going downward except if yous withdraw keep bad knees etc - non too bad coming up). The surface becomes to a greater extent than hard - plenty of big/medium/small rocks as well as boulders scattered across the path as well as no shortage of tree roots. However this is non a nasty rail tp walk.
As bad as it gets.

STAGE iii - 550m/15 mins
This is a continuation of STAGE 1 as well as is real similar - a fleck longer, goes a fleck higher, maybe a fleck rougher as well as steeper inward parts.
This dude was goofing off inward a trackside tree.



HORSESHOE BAY LAGOON
This is an piece of cake i - a 400m rail off the master copy route into HORSESHOE BAY exclusively 300m from the beach. I did it inward a spare twenty minutes I had after breakfast my final 24-hour interval - my backpacker's articulation was only out of shot bottom right. Unfortunately the rail does non go along around the lagoon. And some dude has built a household northward of the i closest the trail as well as fenced the southern (lower) part of the lagoon approaches, so yous can't corporation downward there. I think in that location may live access to the western part of the lagoon (far left inward image) from streets across there.

The trailhead - behind yous withdraw keep a narrow, flat, piece of cake underfoot rail amongst similar vegetation.

From the terminate of the rail it is a fleck hard to watch the whole lagoon. I withdraw keep an thought in that location is some other rail at the far (western) side - this may afford a wider view. 
Twitchers complaint - this is plainly an of import aeroplane breeding expanse inward the moisture flavor - was pretty tranquillity one-half way thru the dry.




HORSESHOE BAY YHA - BUNGALOW BAY KOALA VILLAGE
One place, ii names. This was where I stayed latest trip - as well as i time before early on this century. Not because I think it the best backpackers' on the isle but because its location on the island's master copy route exclusively 400m from Horseshoe Bay beach is closed to the rail across to my favourite beaches inward the north-east of the island. 
The articulation is non only for backpackers. There seemed to live a considerable number of families, i Japanese educatee grouping - summation tranquillity a few greyness nomads (Aussie retirees taking wages of the camping ground as well as van sites).


Camping as well as van areas hateful quite important opened upward space, but sections around the bungalows are nicely landscaped


Night lighting nicely highlighs landscaping



There are ii sizable areas for tents (a slight slope but non too bad) and.....


....several sections for campervans. About one-half a dozen sites withdraw keep leveling pads. 
Note the wild-life lower right. Lots of wallabies hopping around plus.....


....no shortage of these trivial devils (possums) especially where in that location is food. Don't feed them, don't teach out nutrient unattended for a second, store it on the military camp kitchen shelves or some other identify they can't reach, don't behave upon them (they are nasty trivial buggers as well as withdraw keep abrupt teeth).
There's also a bunch of what I telephone band squealer** birds walking around on their unusually long legs . They are practiced nutrient scroungers too but non brazen thieves similar the possums.
**at black they start squealing similar someone having their pharynx cut.


If animals inward the wild are non plenty for you, the articulation has this KOALA SANCTUARY inward the south-east corner. Here yous tin non exclusively cuddle koalas (careful - they withdraw keep abrupt claws as well as a propensity to crap on people) but concord a python, cheque out other snakes + a croc as well as feed some overnice birds. I've seen plenty of these inward the wild as well as gave it a missy but the identify was real pop amongst guests as well as outsiders despite the $29 entrance fee.


Lounging expanse greets yous on arrival. Reception counter nurture right. Bar nurture middle (this is a YHA affiliated identify - as such it does non withdraw keep the booze-ban of directly YHA joints). 
There is no eating theatre but the bar tin do pizzas, toasted sandwiches as well as similar - real popular.
Lack of eating theatre no existent work - seafront esplanade starting 400m northward has plenty of practiced value repast places, And of course of written report yous tin create your ain materials upward inward the military camp kitchen.


Nice puddle expanse following lounging-bar area.


Chez tezza,


Indside pretty neat - beds comfy as well as sturdy, plenty room for iii people as well as gear. HB YHA also has 8 someone huts summation flasher cabins for couples.


Tezza goes for the artistic shot.


In all, HORSESHOE BAY YHA was a pretty practiced place. But non perfect. The perimeter lighting at the otherwise okay shower-toilet-laundry block was misfortunate inward spots hiding a few of import steps on the path, in that location were non plenty cooking pots etc inward the busy military camp kitchen as well as non plenty hole-and-corner eating places exterior (it rained iii days of my stay, fairly uncommon for Maggie, especially inward dry out season). There was a lack of dining plates etc too but this was because reception volition furnish a dining kit for a little deposit**- something that was non explained to me on mass in. Fortunately I had my ain dining kit from camping ground on Frazer as well as Dunk Islands.
**good thought - ensures people launder their materials up.





WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY?
I withdraw keep done five holidays on Maggie - stayed inward a vacation storey at ARCADIA inward the mid-80s, a vacation household (actually a minor identify built for structure workers for the novel harbour) inward NELLY BAY a few years later, a backpackers' articulation which no longer exists at RADICAL BAY inward the tardily 90s as well as some other RADICAL backpackers' twice this century including latest trip.
Seems similar I favour RADICAL - but I gotta tell the proximity of the trailhead to my favourite north-east beaches colours my choice. 
Thing is after my latest see I reckon the isle jitney service is so practiced the inward a higher identify is non an issue.  I feel that maybe yous should withdraw the most attractive accommodation yous fancy as well as go for it no-matter where it is located.
Note that if yous remain inward PICNIC BAY as well as a lot of  NELLY BAY yous volition withdraw keep to alter buses (if yous haven't alternative transport) at the harbour to achieve places north. Not a bargain breaker for me.
If I'm traveling solo following visit, I'm planning to remain at BASE BACKPACKERS' on the rocks betwixt NELLY as well as ROCKY BAYS. Looked pretty overnice to me as well as gets practiced reviews.

PICNIC BAY - has teach a fleck of a backwater since the novel harbour was opened. Still has a bunch of accommodation places as well as a practiced pub.


NELLY BAY has the harbour, jitney interchange, the most people, the most businesses as well as the most accommodation, especially late built accommodation around the harbour. It has the biggest supermarket, an IGA at the harbour as well as also a FOODLANDS a fleck south.
You are looking due northward inward this modified GOOGLE EARTH image.


ARCADIA - I think if I had Lady Tezza (she doesn't similar backpackers') amongst me as well as works life a competitively priced identify hither (and in that location is no shortage) I'd go for it. Arcadia's ALMA BAY is i of the best beaches on the island, the pub is a practiced i amongst lotsa repast deals as well as a overnice pool, as well as Arcadia is pretty fundamental - non too far to the harbour, practiced treks, other overnice beaches etc.


HORSESHOE BAY - has a bully trivial strip of businesses inward dorsum of the beach towards the eastern terminate which includes some accommodation places, a pub, some bars as well as restaurant/cafes competing similar mad for the tourist dollar pregnant some attractive deals. Seems to live the identify day-trippers from Townsville gravitate towards the terminate of the day.


LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! - that's what the realters banging on about. This H2O ice cream articulation following the jitney halt seems to withdraw keep been paying attention


GETTING TO MAGNETIC
With so many commuters as well as 24-hour interval trippers, Maggie has a real practiced ferry service.

A SEALINK rider ferry loading at NELLY BAY pier. Trip duration 20-25 mins leaving every 45-60 mins. They depart from Townsville's river pier which is a overnice 15min walk from the CBD (frequent buses too). ferry timetable

You tin also convey your vehicle across.
FANTASEA VEHICLE FERRY arriving at NELLY BAY. timetable

GETTIING AROUND
SUNBUS run a fairly frequent as well as inexpensive service linking all towns (except tiny WEST POINT) on the island. Daily multi-use tickets are practiced value for the isle explorer.
You tin also hire cars, vans, mopeds as well as bicycles - in that location are outlets at the harbour precinct as well as elsewhere.

Maggie must withdraw keep the world's biggest surviving stock of MINI MOKES (those Aussie produced little jeeps on a Mini 850 platform). When I firstly visited inward the tardily 80s I hired i as well as latest see they are even so around. As they have on out (the final i was built inward '81) the involve for opened upward air motoring (the inward a higher identify i has its roof upward on line of piece of work organisation human relationship it was threatening to rain) has been met yesteryear converting little  DAIHATSU HATCHBACKS (abt iii generations old) into cabriolets. 

Have a practiced see gang.






















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