Every part it’s worthwhile to learn about getting round Magnetic Island, from public transport to automobile rent and even some epic boat journeys.
As soon as you have discovered the way to get right here and checked out all of the wonderful issues to do, the very last thing it’s worthwhile to work out is getting round Magnetic Island!
The island is massive at 52 km², however 75% is designated as a nationwide park with virtually zero entry, other than a couple of climbing trails.
This implies you often simply must navigate your means between the primary resorts of Nelly Bay, Picnic Bar, Arcardia and Horseshoe Bay.
Fortunate for you, there are a number of alternative ways to get round Magnetic Island, and we’ll spotlight all of them on this article.
READ MORE: Here is our full information on the way to get to Magnetic Island, with all the most recent choices and costs.
Getting Round Magnetic Island – Your Complete “How To” Information.
Relying in your funds and the way lengthy you intend to remain, you’ve gotten a number of completely different choices for transportation on Magnetic Island.
Let’s get into them now.
Public bus on Magnetic Island
There’s a native public bus that runs from Picnic Bay to Horseshoe Bay and again all day.
You have got 2 choices and costs for the bus (money solely!):
- One-way ticket it prices $2.80 per particular person per experience.
- Ticket for a day journey it is $7.60 per particular person and you may hop on and off as a lot as you want all day with limitless rides.
It runs each day for an hour from one finish of the island to the opposite, between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
The one draw back because it runs each hour is that in case you miss the bus, you need to wait or stroll. So plan your journey so you may profit from your day.
It is an effective way to see the island on a funds and just about the one different in case you do not wish to lease a automobile or drive your individual automobile from the mainland.
READ MORE: Take a look at our newest information to all of Magnetic Island’s greatest seashores!
The bus stops exterior the ferry terminal, in any respect main bays together with Geoffrey Bay and the Forts Stroll space.
It is extremely appropriate for visiting Magnetic Island from one aspect to the opposite and exploring.
For Sunbus Magnetic Island timetable data click on right here.
Automobile rental on Magnetic Island
There are a number of automobile rental firms on the island.
From computerized and guide SUVs to topless Jeep Wranglers, costs begin from AUD 80 per day for the standard 5 seater SUV.
If you need traditional Instagram pictures, you will nonetheless wish to lease a topless Jeep (or ‘Barbie Auto), which is about the identical value.
Some firms supply half-day leases, full-day leases, or 24-hour leases. In case you are staying longer, some individuals supply reductions for 3 or extra days.
With so many choices, it may be troublesome to know the place to remain on Magnetic Island. That is why we have put collectively our native professional information to the most effective lodging on Maggie!
For nearly all automobile rental firms on the island, their autos are solely allowed on the closed roads between Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay.
Their autos are NOT allowed to transcend the Forts automobile park to Arthur Bay, Florence Bay and Radical Bay, or on the street to West Level.
There are quite a few automobile rental firms on Magnetic Island;
- MI Leases Automobile rental
- Magnetic Island Topless automobile rental
- Isle Rent Automobile rent/rent
- Tropical Palms 4WD
- Rental of magnetic autos 4×4
- Topless tropical automobile rental
- Tropical Palms Resort & 4WD Rent (Picnic Bay)
- Boarding home and automobile rental at Arcadia Seaside (Arcadia)
All automobile rent firms are situated in Nelly Bay (until in any other case said) and are straightforward to find when you get off the ferry terminal.
One of the best ways to get round is to lease a automobile and discover by yourself! We suggest Rental Automobiles, which has the most important vary of autos for the most effective worth available on the market.
Magnetic Island Electrical Bike Leases – the most effective (and most sustainable) option to get round Maggie
There is a new firm on the island that is revolutionizing mobility with road-registered, zero-emission electrical bikes.
Sure, electrical motors. We’re not kidding. That is now the best possible option to get round Magnetic Island if you have not introduced your individual automobile.
Magnetic Island Roaming is run by two legendary locals, Tim and Pam, who bought 14 UBCO e-bikes and now have them out there for each day leases and West Level sundown excursions.
These bikes go as much as 50 km/h and have a spread of 120 km, which implies you may actually race across the island all day with no need to refill or refuel.
Better of all, for the reason that velocity restrict is 50 km/h, you solely want a automobile license to drive, not a motorbike license!
They’re extraordinarily straightforward to experience, haven’t any gears, are very snug and might sort out hills and dust tracks on the Maggie like an actual weapon.
We have carried out them a couple of instances they usually’re plenty of enjoyable. Additionally having a automobile that’s utterly eco-friendly (Tim and Pam additionally cost the batteries with photo voltaic vitality) is such a pleasant addition to Maggie and one thing that every one of us locals are after.
Costs are $55 per day and also you choose them up at Island Dwelling, throughout from Scallywags Cafe.
Alternatively, you may guide a sundown tour to West Level with Tim, which is the one option to get to this a part of the island with out your individual automobile or strolling (rental vehicles and scooters on the island are prohibited from driving the nation roads to West Level).
Be sure you let the blokes know while you guide that NOMADasaurus despatched you!
Scooter rental on Magnetic Island
One of many issues we cherished most about Magnetic Island was that the entire place had the texture of a southern Thai island like Koh Tao or Koh Phangan.
And one of many issues that provides that vibe is that there are lots of people using round on scooters.
You possibly can rent a scooter on Magnetic Island from Street Runner Scooter Rent for simply $40 a day.
The corporate affords scooters with one and two seats, path bikes and street bikes. After we had been there on the island, we noticed lots of people renting scooters and that is positively the right place to do it.
READ MORE: Here is the way to profit from simply in the future on Magnetic Island!
When renting, examine with the house owners the place you CAN and CAN’T go, as there are rental restrictions.
If you wish to head to West Level for sundown or Radical Bay, look into path bike leases in case you have the correct allow.
When renting a scooter, bear in mind to significantly take into account your security. It is all enjoyable and video games till somebody falls and cuts a pores and skin or breaks a bone.
Be accountable and put on acceptable clothes when driving across the island. Do not drive round in a bikini or shorts. In case you take off your garments, it should harm.
Street Runner Scooter Rent is situated in Nelly Bay and is a brief stroll from the ferry terminal.
Purple scooters
These mini electrical scooters have made their option to Magnetic Island and are a fairly fast and handy, if a bit costly, option to get round in case you’re simply making an attempt to get from level A to level B.
You will discover these Beam scooters at Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal, in entrance of Base Backpackers and subsequent to Alma Bay.
The fee is $1 for the preliminary rental and 75 cents after a minute, utilizing wi-fi fee for activation.
They’re geo-locked to solely work from Base Backpackers to Alma Bay, so you may’t take them to Picnic Bay or up the Horseshoe Bay Street hill.
Simply please, please, do not throw these away while you’re carried out with them.
This has change into a extremely damaging factor for the locals as drunk vacationers will actually dump them on the paths or roads after they run out of battery or crash them.
If individuals proceed to destroy them, they are going to be banned from the island. Be good and everybody can take pleasure in them.
Bicycles on Magnetic Island
Take your bike on the ferry (free) or rent one on Magnetic Island.
The primary roads on the island are effectively maintained and closed between bays. There are nice strolling/biking trails alongside the water and on dust roads.
Having a motorbike on the island makes it simpler (and sooner) to get from bay to bay.
READ MORE: Take a look at our complete ‘Journey to Australia’ information to reply any questions you might need.
Stroll on Magnetic Island
In case you’re questioning the way to get round Magnetic Island on foot, we have got excellent news and unhealthy information for you.
Sure, you may discover the island on foot. However sadly you will not see an excessive amount of.
The coves are fairly removed from one another, and it takes time to stroll between them.
Then again, you’ll get to some completely gorgeous locations!
In case you’re into climbing, strolling is the one option to get to the well-known viewpoints, and if you wish to head to Horseshoe Bay from Nelly Bay, you may sort out the improbable path straight throughout the island.
There are greater than 26 km of climbing trails across the island to discover, so remember to pack your climbing boots.
When exploring the coves, we predict one of the simplest ways to take pleasure in them is on foot. You possibly can take all of it in slowly and possibly spot belongings you would by no means see in case you had been in a bus or automobile, particularly the little koalas which can be all over the place on the island.
Taxi service on Magnetic Island
There’s a taxi firm on the island known as Checker Cabs they usually can take you and your suitcase to your lodging while you first arrive.
You’ll sometimes discover taxis ready round within the bays or you may name forward and organize a choose up from the ferry terminal.
It is a nice option to come dwelling after having fun with a pleasant dinner or having a couple of too many drinks at sundown.
One factor to remember is that taxis run in response to island time (ie they aren’t very punctual or common) and their quantity is restricted. Be sure to give your self loads of time if it’s worthwhile to depend on one.
READ MORE: Take a look at our information to what to do in Townsville whilst you’re within the space!
Day journeys to Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island affords a number of day excursions so you may take a look at among the most important websites, each on land and on the water.
You possibly can hop on a bus tour with an area information to see among the island’s sights and study a little bit of historical past, or you may cruise the water on a speedboat or sailboat to succeed in locations that aren’t accessible by land.
This boat tour is our favourite right here and we extremely suggest it.
Driving your individual automobile
In case you plan to be on the island for a couple of days and have your individual automobile and some pals or household to separate the prices, the best possible option to get round Magnetic Island is to deliver your automobile over by ferry.
It’s extremely costly, beginning at $220 round-trip for a normal-sized automobile, so it isn’t price it for only one or two days. As an alternative, lease a automobile on the island if that is the way you wish to discover the place.
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