Why Magnetic Island offers one of the best holidays for kids

From its bays and beaches to trails and tiny villages, Magnetic Island is a natural wonderland for families and a great place to set the kids free in the great outdoors. ‘Maggie’, as the locals call it, is conveniently located only 20 minutes by boat from Townsville and sets the stage for one of the best holidays for kids. Ever.

The island has a range of family-friendly accommodation in its handful of charming settlements, along with a safe, laid-back vibe. But the showstopper is that over half of the island is national park, meaning there are plenty of places to explore, making you and your kids feel like you’re in another world.

Here are just a few reasons why Maggie is the perfect island for families.

The beautiful beaches are just the start of the adventure

A beach day is a sure-fire family favourite - but choosing which beach on Maggie is tricky. There's 23 beaches here on the island, each lined with golden sand and lapped by the warm waters of the Coral Sea. 

Some beaches are harder to access (requiring a hike in) making them a haven for backpackers, while others are not patrolled or have no facilities. The best pick for families is Alma Bay in Arcadia.

Alma Bay also has a shaded area, playground, gas barbecues, picnic tables and toilets. A semicircle shaped bay bounded by jumbles of rocks, making it ideal for anyone who loves to climb. The water is shallow, usually calm and patrolled by lifesavers.

You can stretch your legs on world-class walking trails

Want to burn off some energy and take a walk? The island’s unspoilt natural beauty is a unique combination of stunning headlands, eucalypt forests, and remnants of rainforest, making it a hiker’s paradise. There are around 25km of bush walks, some accessing historic sites, remote swimming spots, and native wildlife including Australia’s largest colony of koalas in the wild.

An easy trail for younger kids on Magnetic Island is the Butterfly Walk; it’s a flat, 15-minute ramble starting in Horseshoe Bay, and is famous for its population of butterflies.

If your kids are older, the Forts Walk is arguably the island’s number one hike. Starting at the Forts car park, a moderate walk of around 4km return across undulating terrain will lead you to some fascinating World War II forts - and stunning views across the island. 

Wildlife-spotting is a full time activity

If your kids love animals, they'll love Maggie. On this magical island, there's no need to plan wildlife spotting activities - they'll simply happen as you go about the day. That's the true beauty of this place.

There are two key wildlife seasons on the island. Whale watching takes place from August to October, when humpback whales migrate north to the Great Barrier Reef. Between November and January, turtles come ashore to nest and lay their eggs, and can be spotted at night particularly around Nelly Bay, Radical Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

Another great treat for kids is spotting cute rock wallabies that come out to play at sunset on the granite boulders overlooking the old barge jetty at Arcadia Bay.

You can get up close with a koala

A holiday with kids on Magnetic Island is your best chance to spot koalas in the wild. Tackle one of the walking tracks - short or long - and keep your eyes peeled to the gum trees above. 

Want a guaranteed moment with these sleepy marsupials? Bungalow Bay Koala Village should also be on your Magnetic Island hit list. This fun-packed eco-resort is one of the few places in the world where your kids can meet a koala up close, before tucking into a real bush tucker breakfast cooked over a campfire – three mornings each week.

The village also offers two daily educational wildlife tours with rangers, where you can make friends with a giant wombat, bearded dragons, and turtles. Just don’t try to kiss the python or the baby saltwater crocodile.

There's a whole other world to discover underwater

Magnetic Island is home to some of the Townsville region's most incredible snorkelling and dive sites. If your kids are old enough, any family holiday here should include some time spent beneath the surface. 

You can even explore on your own, using the two self-guided trails to snorkel the balmy waters around the island. The Nelly Bay snorkel trail is ideal for beginners, starting just 100m off the beach, and following the reef closest to the shore. Lettuce, boulder and staghorn corals are in abundance.

The snorkel trail at Geoffrey Bay is more suited to stronger swimmers and older kids and starts 390m off Arcadia Bay. It takes in relics including a German Moltke wreck which sunk in 1913. Expect to see sweetlip, barramundi, cod, and harmless epaulette sharks.

Want the locals to show you around? Book a snorkel or dive tour instead. There are quite a few operators on the island, and they know the best dive sites and secluded coves to explore. Try Aquascene, Magnetic Island Time Cruises, Pro Dive or Pleasure Divers. 

It's all about time on the water

There's a lot to love on land, but Maggie shines brightest when you're surrounded by its sparkling waters. Just the ferry cruise here will make you want to book another way to spend time taking in its natural beauty from top deck. 

Discover the island and its beautiful beaches on a lunchtime cruise with Pilgrim Sailing. Think 58-feet of luxury sailing yacht complete with beanbags for adults, and two cockpits for kids.

The scenery will captivate you as it slips silently by - and the family will be well fed with a barbecue lunch pitstop at one of the many quiet bays.

If your kids are budding sailors, the hosts are more than willing to show them the ropes and get children involved en route.

For more adrenaline-filled fun, head to Horseshoe Bay where you can go jet-skiing, kayaking, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, fishing, or watch the kids enjoy tube rides.

Only have a weekend to explore Magnetic Island? Use this helpful 48-hour itinerary to keep the family on track.