Explore Magnetic Island in three days with Cystic Fibrosis advocate Emmah Money

As part of Queensland’s Year of Accessible Tourism, I was invited to explore the unspoilt beauty of Magnetic Island in Townsville. 

Travelling with an invisible illness can have its challenges, as although a physical, mental or neurological condition may not be visible from the outside, it doesn’t mean living with it comes with ease. Cystic Fibrosis is a lung disease, and it does come with limitations. When you're immunocompromised, the flight alone can put your health at risk, and then there’s the crowds once you arrive. 

Having an invisible illness doesn’t mean I'm unable to travel though – instead, I take the necessary steps to prepare. For example, ensuring I’m healthy prior to travelling, getting pre travel vaccinations, taking medication with me, having hand sanitiser available, and wearing a mask on flights to avoid contracting an infection in the confined space. With that essential list ticked off, we were so excited to get to Magnetic Island – it's quite the adventure to get there from Adelaide with three children in tow, but worth it!

After flying directly into Townsville, we picked up a rental car and headed straight to Magnetic Island Ferries. It’s about a 40-minute ride to get to the island (enjoy an ice-cream from the ferry shop and sit on the upper level along the way), and on arrival, we headed straight to our resort for the next few days.

Day One

Conveniently located near the boarding dock of the ferry, Peppers Blue on Blue Resort on Nelly Bay Marina is surrounded by water and has a real ‘island feel’ about it. The spacious family unit has three bedrooms and a separate bathroom for the kids, and the space is wheelchair accessible too. There's also a kitchen so there's the option to go the local shops and cook at the resort. However, a real highlight is the private balcony with your very own plunge pool overlooking the water. 

Start your morning with a delicious buffet breakfast at the on-site restaurant to prepare for a fun day ahead. The resort has a large outdoor pool overlooking the water so you can spend the morning relaxing or for a dose of adventure, join one of the many island daily tours departing the resort, such as the family-friendly Aquascene Magnetic Island boat – you can even take your wheelchair or pram on board. The crew provides an intimate tour exploring the iconic beauty of the island, and if you’re lucky, you may even see a humpback whale or sea turtle. Throughout the day, you'll be treated to lunch on the water, and you can make the most of the water activities at each stop, including snorkelling, paddle boarding and even laying on the beach.

As evening rolls around, stroll around the marina (wheelchair and pram friendly) and soak in the serenity of the island ahead of dining at Boardwalk Restaurant and Bar where you can sit outside under the fairy lights and enjoy the ocean by moonlight.

Day Two

After leaning into holiday-mode life gently, today is a great time to visit the island’s best spots, starting with a visit to Horseshoe Bay. After a swim in the ocean (which has protected netting, so you know it’s safe to swim), wander around like a local, browsing the nearby cafes and shops. 

Be sure to visit the on-site wildlife park at Selina Magnetic Island to meet the local native animals – you can even book a tour in advance to hold a koala or python and see the crocodiles up close and personal. Grab dinner from Horseshoe Bay Fish and Chips and head down to Arcadia to dine on the local beach while watching the sunset. 

Day Three

If you've never seen a rock-wallaby before, Geoffrey Bay is a wonderful spot to spend your morning as they’re often seen at sunrise and sunset. Keep quiet when exploring the rocks as you don’t want to scare them. 
 
If you like to explore, grab your camera and head to Forts Walk to hike amongst the hills and learn about the history of WWII with plaques along the trail. Keep a lookout for wild Koalas.

I began CF Mummy to show others how to live as normal as possible despite living with a life-threatening illness. Whilst Cystic Fibrosis does interrupt my day-to-day, it doesn't define me or the opportunities I want to take. As a mother of three, I want to make long lasting memories through travel with my children, and knowing this can be done with support gives me great peace of mind.

Searching for more ideas? Here are the best things to do on Magnetic Island.