Enjoy a Townsville Holiday and The Best of Beautiful Magnetic Island
We watch quietly as the rock wallaby gently picks up the pieces of carrot we had left her. She brings it closer to her mouth for a nibble. ‘’Mum look … there’s a baby,’’ my daughter whispers in my ear, telling me to ‘’shhh’’ before I can even answer. Sure enough, a tiny little head pops out from her pouch, extends an adorable little paw and reaches out to feel the piece of carrot.
After a good sniff of the small carrot piece, the baby rock-wallaby decides a nap would be a better idea. Eyes slowly closing, his head lolls to one side. He tries numerous times to nap, waking up to reposition himself before finally turning around to dive headfirst into the pouch. I guess he wants to get some shut-eye minus the sunlight.
We wait and watch. Another rock-wallaby appears a few metres behind us and forages around for something to eat. It is a wonderfully Australian experience unique to Magnetic Island and likewise, your Townsville family holiday.
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Discover The Wonders of Magnetic Island on Your Townsville Holiday
Here at Geoffrey Bay on Magnetic Island, there is a large population of rock wallabies. They gather every evening among the large boulders on the old jetty. Signage here explains what can be fed to them so carrots and wallaby pellets are A-Okay, but lettuce and broccoli will give them a belly ache.
Magnetic Island is home to not only a large population of rock wallabies but also one of the largest wild populations of koalas in Australia. Tackling the 4km return Forts Walk is a great way to spot them and as that the eucalyptus trees don’t appear to be the towering kind, as a result, the koalas are usually at a great viewing height. The Forts Walk is a popular track on the island that leads to historic WWII fortifications.
Once you reach the actual forts, you are allowed to climb up the ladders inside them and enjoy 360-degree views from the top of the fortifications. Trust me, this will be one of the highlights of your Townsville holiday!
With 23 beautiful beaches to choose from and an official snorkelling trail, Magnetic Island is a wonderful place to relax and unwind among nature. Make sure you check out our previous article on all the Fantastic Things to do on Magnetic Island.
Credit – Tourism and Events Queensland
Stay Well in comfort at the Park Regis Anchorage
A quick 25-minute fast cat over the water will see you back on the mainland at Townsville. The small city is chill and offers up an amazing array of family-friendly holiday experiences.
Staying at the Park Regis Anchorage, a surprisingly affordable and incredibly spacious apartment building fronting Ross Creek on Palmer St, families can retire to a comfortable air-conditioned base while exploring Townsville and its surroundings. The Park Regis is an upscale brand of quality accommodation and is part of Stay Well, one of the largest hotel management groups in the Asia Pacific.
Stay Well properties take health and safety seriously and since March 2020, have enhanced their cleaning and sanitization measures with the ‘’Stay Well’’ program. You can read more about the Stay Well Program here.
Although it’s located near the restaurant precinct of Townsville, the two-bedroom apartments also feature a fully decked out kitchen. So if you would rather not purchase takeaway for every meal for your Townsville holiday, this is easily managed.
Credit – StayWell Park Regis
Explore Terrific Townsville on Your Family Holiday
Townsville often lives in the shadow of Cairns a further 350 km north when it comes to family holiday destinations. However, this charming city and its surroundings are seriously under-rated, offering many of the great features that Cairns does for families. This includes access to the reef, beautiful freshwater swimming holes and a fantastic free-to-use public beachfront area.
Make sure to check out our list of family-friendly things you can do in Townsville. Alternatively, here’s a quick summary of fun things to do on your Townsville holiday:
- Hang out at The Strand
- Watch art come to life on the Augmented Reality Public Art Trail
- Hire a scooter and snap a selfie in front of the Townsville sign
- Learn about crocodiles at the Billabong Sanctuary
- Roadtrip out to stunning waterfalls and waterholes
- Visit Reef HQ Aquarium and Museum of Tropical Queensland
- Explore the Maritime Museum of Townsville
Credit – Jessica Palmer
Looking for More Townsville and Magnetic Island Inspiration?
For more information on great places and awesome activities to do as a family in Townsville and Magnetic Island, jump on over to our Townsville & Magnetic Island page. Alternatively, head back to the home page for Australian and worldwide inspiration.
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Resources For Visiting Townsville & Magnetic Island
Getting to and Around Townsville
Located in North Queensland, Townsville can be found around 350km South of Cairns, and 1,330km North of Brisbane. Get a great deal on flights into Townsville at Trip.com. If you have flown in and need to hire a car, score a great deal through Discover Cars.
Getting to and Around Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is located around 10km off the coast of Townsville in North Queensland. It’s as easy as jumping on one of the ferries below.
Magnetic Island Ferry
Magnetic Island is reached by ferry from Townsville. There are currently two main ferry services, a 25-minute passenger only ferry and a 45-minute vehicle and passenger ferry. I’ll be writing more on this soon, stay tuned!
Hire a topless car on Magnetic Island island for a bit of fun!
Accommodation Townsville
We couldn’t fault the Park Regis Anchorage for great value, location and plenty of space. This is the best self contained accommodation in Townsville!
Accommodation Magnetic Island
Camping
We stayed at a HipCamp on Magnetic Island for a very affordable price. Learn more about HipCamp here and receive $10 credit for signing up using the link within the blog!
Hotel Style Accommodation
