Magnetic Island Hiking & Walking Tracks

The Forts Walk is the island’s most popular walking experience, showcasing many highlights of Magnetic Island National Park—koalas, stunning views and World War II relics all set in the island’s dry tropical landscape.

 

Starting at the Forts Junction, the track winds its way along the ridge with good views above Arthur and Florence Bays. Keep an eye out in the canopy for koalas, and on the ground for stick and stone arrows pointing to where koalas might be - but please keep your distance from koalas to not disturb them.

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On the way up, there are two World War II gun emplacements, one either side of the track. Some of the “rocks” are actually false, being the remains of the camouflaging over the emplacements. Only the tell-tale wire netting give them away.

At the top there are two buildings. One is the Observation Tower where there is an uninterrupted view up and down the coast.

You’ll experience a 360 degree panoramic view from the the Command Post, which is still in use for navigation lights.

Below is Horseshoe Bay Lagoon, and the large flat area which was once pineapple farms. Looking across Horseshoe Bay the large island is Palm Island, one of the many, including Orpheus Island, in the Palm Island Group.

For your safety, please see below for the 'No walk' zone on the roads to and from The Forts.

You can walk this track (not on the main road) to Horseshoe Bay foreshore from The Forts Junction car park. Cross the road from The Forts car park to the bus stop. Nearby you'll see a walking track entrance that runs parallel to the road. If you continue along the track, it meets the road at the bottom of the descent into Horseshoe Bay.

For your safety, please see below for the 'No walk' zone on the roads to and from The Forts.

Beginning at the end of Endeavour Road in Arcadia, this track is also the start of the track to Nelly Bay. About 2 kilometres along the track there is a turnoff to the right that links with the start of the Forts Junction at the main road.

 

If you continue along the track to the left (by not crossing over the road) the track again meets the road at the bottom of the descent into Horseshoe Bay.

For your safety, please see below for the 'No walk' zone on the roads to and from Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay.

From the ferry terminal, turn left at the roundabout and walk through the heart of Nelly Bay, then along the foreshore, past the old helipad, then up a steep hill with magnificent views of Cleveland Bay, Rocky Bay, Picnic Bay and beyond at Good Ju Ju's Lookout.

 

As you keep walking west, you'll reach the crest of the hill into Picnic Bay, where the road turns to the right, and the walking track is slightly left.

 

Follow the track and turn left on Picnic Street to connect to the Hawkings Point walking track, or turn right and continue into Picnic Bay.

At the eastern end of the Horseshoe Bay foreshore the track climbs up and along a ridge. A turn left leads down to Balding Bay. By continuing along the ridge it is about the same distance to Radical Bay.

 

To finish the walk you can either:

1. For a shorter walk, retrace your steps back to Horseshoe Bay or,

2. Follow the road that leads from Radical Bay back to the main road and the Forts Juntion via Florence Bay and Arthur Bay. This is a much longer route, and we HIGHLY recommend that you take 2 litres of drinking water.

For your safety, please see below for the 'No walk' zone on the roads to and from The Forts.

Visit the largest seasonal freshwater lagoon on the island, a good place spot a diversity of bird life.

 

Horseshoe Bay Lagoon is a popular area for bird watching. The track begins on Horseshoe Bay Road, about 200 m from the beach, and leads to a lagoon where a number of waterbirds can be seen. Alternatively walk to the end of Henry Lawson Street on the beachside, and enter the boardwalk.

 

Magpie geese nest in the bulkuru sedges, and the melaceuca woodland is ideal habitat for a number of woodland species. Nov - May/June is the best time.

Built at a cost of AUD $4.7 million, this elevated walkway provides a safe and wonderfully scenic link between two of the Island’s busiest bays.

 

The Nelly Bay end of the walkway starts near the ferry terminal and follows the main road up over Bright Point headland and down into Arcadia. There are several lookouts to pause and enjoy the fabulous views over Geoffrey Bay.

This is one of the easiest and shortest walks with an exceptional view. The track begins at the end of Picnic Street in Picnic Bay and winds its way up to the top of a huge granite boulder.

If you face towards Townsville and across Cleveland Bay, to your left is Cape Cleveland. On the horizon topped with an antennae is Mt Stuart, the highest peak in the area, and above The Strand (Townsville's foreshore) towers Castle Hill. Continuing along the coast to your right is Kissing Point, then Pallarenda (the closest point on the mainland to Magnetic Island).

On other side of the lookout there is a great view of Rocky Bay just below, then along Nelly Bay beach to the Harbour and on to Geoffrey Bay with Arcadia in the distance.

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Looking towards the centre of the Island you will find Mt Cook, at 497metres, it’s the highest peak on the Island.

This track is located along the Radical Bay Track. The start of this track, marked by a National Parks sign, in between Arthur Bay and Florence Bay.

 

Remnants of the World War II searchlight tower still exist today overlooking Florence Bay.

This track starts at the end of Mandalay Avenue and passes through a cool patch of rainforest alongside Gustav Creek before a steady climb to the saddle of the ridge, with Nelly Bay on one side and Horseshoe Bay on the other.

 

Many birds and wildlife can be seen, (as well as bush orchids at the right time year). To this point and back is a 45 minute walk.

For a longer walk continue along the ridge through open eucalypt forest to an excellent view of Horseshoe Bay. A little further on the track divides, (left to Horseshoe Bay Road and later, left again to the Sphinx lookout), or continue on to Arcadia.

When the track reaches the bitumen road, just a short distance up to the left is Alma Bay Lookout, the view is well worth that little extra effort. This is a great walk to take lunch and admire the view.

This track parallels Gabul Way on other side of the main road, (further up the hill) and is part of the hundred year old original footpath that connected the two bays before there was a road, the only other option in those days was by boat.

 

The track starts some way up the hill at the Nelly Bay end and is marked by signs at either end, and has some great views over Geoffrey Bay. It finishes as Gabul Way meets the beach, near the first house.

Following the road past the golf course, this walk is along the bush track that links the bays on the western side of the Island. This area is very different to the rest of the Island.

 

The track passes alongside tidal wetlands, mangroves and saltwater swamps, over four freshwater creeks (after rain), through savannah grasslands and paperbark trees.

 

You will need sturdy footwear, lots of drinking water, and a can of insect repellant, but your reward will be seeing the animals and the birds of the wetlands. At the end of the walk you will be on West Point beach the closest point to the mainland.