Magnetic Island

Granite headlands, dry eucalyptus hills and water shifting between deep blue and tropical green. Magnetic Island sits just offshore from Townsville, but much of it still feels detached from the mainland — quieter roads, walking tracks through scrubland, and bays that disappear behind rocky points.

Most of these photographs were taken around the Forts Walk and the eastern side of the island, where the track climbs above Arthur Bay and Florence Bay before opening toward the Coral Sea.

Arrival and coastline

Arrival in Townville, palm trees and views from castle rock. Ferry the following morning.

Framed by palms Looking upward through the palms near the waterfront in the midday heat.

Castle Rock Lookout Panoramic view from the Castle Rock lookout point.

Headlands and open water Granite ridges folding into sheltered bays along the island’s eastern coast.

The Forts walk and jetty

A walking track through dry woodland and wartime ruins, with constant views back across the island and the Coral Sea.

Wide view of Arthur Bay wide pano of Arthur bay and surrounding headlands, taken from the Forts Walk track.

Rock wallaby in the afternoon light One of the island’s rock wallabies moving between granite boulders near the track.

Resting above the trail A koala tucked into the fork of a eucalyptus tree beside the Forts Walk.

Watcher in the canopy A tawny frogmouth blending into the canopy beside the Forts Walk.

Geoffrey Bay jetty The long jetty extending into shallow clear water as the coastline curves toward Arcadia.

Arthur Bay through the scrub The track briefly opens toward Arthur Bay before disappearing back into the dry hillside

Reef patterns below Snorkellers drifting across shallow reef flats in clear tropical water.

Jetty line The old timber jetty stretching toward the horizon under the afternoon sun.