ECO HOLIDAY TIPS

Tips for an eco-friendly holiday

Small actions make a big impact! Here are some simple, rewarding ways you can help care for Magnetic Island’s fragile World Heritage environment during your stay.

Have an eco-tip to share? We’d love to hear from you!

PROTECT OUR LOCAL WILDLIFE

Drive with Care: Wildlife can appear on the road at any time, day or night. Keep a close watch for slow-moving locals like koalas, echidnas, and curlews.
Stay Off the Sand: Please don't drive on beaches. Sand dunes are crucial nesting grounds for coastal birds and sea turtles.
Feed Wallabies Safely: Always feed Rock Wallabies the correct, healthy foods to keep them safe and thriving. Even better, resist your "need to feed" urge.
Know Who to Call: Be a wildlife warrior! If you spot an injured animal, contact MI Wildlife Rescue at 0457 634 732. For injured marine turtles on the beach, reach out to the Magnetic Island Network for Turtles via Facebook.
Follow the Seasons: Keep an eye on our Eco Watch Calendar to learn when local turtles, birds, koalas, and reptiles are nesting or on the move.

CHOOSE LOW-WASTE & RECYCLE

Ditch Single-Use Plastics: Refill your water bottle for free around the island, and bring a reusable cup for your takeaway coffee.
Donate Your 10c Containers: Clean and recycle eligible bottles and cans through the 10c return scheme. You can donate your refund to local volunteer groups like Zero Waste Magnetic Island, MIFCO, Wallaby Refuge, or MINT.

Drop-Off Point: Find return locations—including the collection point next to C&K Kindergarten (opposite Lilac St in Nelly Bay)—and full recycling charts at zerowastemi.org.au. Alternatively ask your accommodation provider for where you can leave them.
Bin It Right: Always dispose of your rubbish in designated bins (recycling whenever possible) to keep trash off our beaches and out of the bush.
Shop Second-Hand: Visit the Vinnies Op Shop in Nelly Bay for eco-friendly deals on clothing, books, and vacation essentials.

EXPLORE RESPONSIBLY & GIVE BACK

Cool Efficiently: Turn off your air conditioner when leaving your room. Magnetic Island rooms cool down in just five minutes upon your return!
Hit the Trails: Explore the island on foot via our scenic hiking and bushwalking trails.
Do a Beach Clean: Bring a spare bag when beachcombing to pick up any plastics or marine debris you find along the shore.
Volunteer in Nature: Get your hands dirty helping National Park Volunteers remove invasive weeds. For details on how to join a session, email Kate Thomas at justkatenow@gmail.com

STOP WILDLIFE CARNAGE!

• ALWAYS be aware of wildlife when you're driving - day and night
• PLEASE keep your dogs on a leash when walking them - dogs are not allowed in National Parks.

Slow moving animals like echidnas are hard to see on the road.

Photo by Ethan Mann.

Injured Wildlife

If you’ve found an animal in need of rescuing please call the

MIFCO Rescue Hotline: 0457 634 732

Feeding Rock Wallabies Healthy Treats!

The best places to find rock wallabies are at the end of old jetty road in Arcadia, (the road opposite the Arcadia Village Hotel pool), and along the Presto Breakwater, opposite the ferry terminal in Nelly Bay.

Although feeding wallabies is often advertised, we would prefer the wallabies and other wildlife on the island to forage for their own food. If you have the ‘need to feed’, we ask that you feed rock wallabies ONLY the proper food, in small scattered amounts and not in large heaps. Incorrect food can cause major health problems and lead to their death.

YES

Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Rock melon
Apples
Paw paw
Wallaby pellets

NO
X Avocado or lettuce
X Bread
X Cabbage, broccoli, brussell sprouts or cauliflower
X Guava
X Meats or potato

Feeding Rock Wallabies

Refill for FREE!

Save buying that extra plastic bottle and refill your water at a number of places around Magnetic Island for FREE!

View the Magnetic Island Water Refill Stations Map.

For more information on recycling and our Zero Waste inititatives, visit the Zero Waste Magnetic Island website.

Water Refill

Eco Watch - What's happening each month?

FEBRUARY TO AUGUST is echidna breeding season so you may see them out and about. In breeding season a female echidna will be followed by many males called a ‘train’.

SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER

Koalas are on the move looking for a mate. Please observe from a distance. Don’t go near koalas as they get extremely stressed when people come too close.
Nesting birds. If you find a chick, note where the nest and parents are. If the nest is destroyed or you are unable to return the chick, call the Rescue Hotline.
Reptiles are coming out of hibernation.

NOVEMBER is turtle nesting season.

YEAR ROUND

Wallabies and possums are mainly nocturnal, always on the move, and continually breed. Please drive carefully.

Eco watch