15 Townsville & Magnetic Island Tours, From Cheapest Up

1.Magnetic Island Discovery Tour with Snorkeling & Paddle Boarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,372 reviews · from $114Our pick

Spend five hours exploring Magnetic Island with Aquascene guides including Adam, Kalvin, Anita, and Jahn. Cruise to quiet bays, learn about island and reef life, snorkel with tuition, paddle board, watch for sea eagles and seasonal humpback whales, and enjoy morning tea on a secluded beach. Ferry tickets are separate.

“What an amazing experience! Adam was a wealth of knowledge, and so clearly passionate about Magnetic island. The island itself is so beautiful from the sea, we spent a lovely time in a beautiful little bay where we could swim in the ocean and go out on paddle boards and clamber up to a stunning waterfall, with a lovely morning tea from Jan, who was also very helpful and experienced. The only slight downside was the snorkelling opportunity - this was due to a change in the weather - which meant the conditions were pretty rough and the snorkelling was less than ideal. But still a fabulous experience which I…”

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2.Magnetic Island Tour: Maggie Comprehensive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 376 reviews · from $68

See Magnetic Island with local guides Neil or Tim on a relaxed five-hour loop from Nelly Bay. You’ll visit Picnic Bay, Geoffrey Bay, Horseshoe Bay, island lookouts, and lesser-known stops, with chances to spot rock wallabies and koalas. Morning snacks, bottled water, and island accommodation transfers are included. Lunch, ferry costs, and Aquasearch admission are extra.

“Our driver had great knowledge of Magnetic Island and was very determined to find a koala and wallabies. Good day all round.”

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3.Magnetic Island: Snorkel Discovery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 252 reviews · 5 hours · from $112

Set out from Nelly Bay with local guides including Adam, Jack, and Abby for a five-hour boat tour around Magnetic Island. Expect flexible snorkel stops, secluded beaches, reef fish, coral, morning tea, paddleboards, and calm support for newer swimmers. Conditions shape the route, so the day can include sightseeing when snorkeling is limited.

“The guys were great and very knowledgeable and down to earth was just a great day of fun”

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4.Magnetic Island Sip and Sail Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 240 reviews · from $99

Join Pilgrim Magnetic Island at Boardwalk Restaurant and Bar in Nelly Bay for a 90-minute sunset sail in Cleveland Bay. The small yacht carries no more than 12 people, with local cheese, wine, beer, and soft drinks included. You will return to the same meeting point after sunset views, island scenery, and fresh sea air.

“This experience was exceptional. The captain and crew were incredibly welcoming and very attentive throughout the entirety of the sail. We were provided with a unique experience, a stunning sunset and a delicious cheese platter. Especially recommend the pumpkin chutney.”

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5.Magnetic Island Lunchtime Sailing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 178 reviews · from $171

Join Pilgrim Magnetic Island for a four-hour sailing cruise from Nelly Bay, with a maximum of 12 people aboard. Crew members such as Clayton, Briony, and skipper Paul guide you to a quiet bay, prepare a local prawn and antipasto lunch, and serve beer, wine, and soft drinks. Swimming is included, but snorkeling gear is not.

“A great morning/afternoon sailing. Clayton and Briony fab hosts. The lunch is delicious. Just a shame the dolphins and turtles remained hidden.”

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6.Magnetic Island: Behind the Scenes Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 161 reviews · 5 hours · from $81

Spend five hours exploring Magnetic Island with Tim Bee, the father from Netflix’s Izzy’s Koala World. Visit bays, lookouts, a craft centre, rock wallaby habitat, and a conservation site when conditions allow. The relaxed schedule leaves time to walk, swim, take photos, and hear local stories. Lunch is at your own cost.

“Tim was so knowledgeable and friendly. We really loved our day on beautiful Maggie and the chance to see the koalas. Highly recommend 👌”

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7.Aquascene Circumnavigation Magnetic Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 159 reviews · from $114

Set out from Nelly Bay at 8:30 am for a five-hour cruise around Magnetic Island. Your crew, which may include guides such as Jack, Adam, Abbey, or Kalvin, provides snorkel gear, wetsuits, morning tea, paddleboards, and reef talks. Expect two snorkel stops, quiet bays, a beach visit, and changing plans when weather demands it.

“It was an amazing experience, even with the cloudy weather. The view from the boat is an amazing way to discover the beauty of Maggie island. Highly recommend it!”

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8.Magnetic Island Round-Trip Ferry From Townsville

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 142 reviews · from $32Best value

Take a SeaLink North Queensland ferry from Townsville to Nelly Bay in about 20 minutes. Your return ticket stays valid for six months, giving you time for beaches, koala spotting, walks, swimming, dining, or an overnight stay. Buses meet ferry arrivals, and departures run up to 17 times daily.

“Fat efficient and reliable. Friendly staff who are well presented. Would travel with them again. Although writing 100 words is a bit hard.”

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9.Magnetic Island: Guided Bus Tour with Morning Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 129 reviews · 5 hours · from $67

Take a five-hour guided minibus tour of Magnetic Island with a local guide such as Neil or Tim. Visit lookouts, bays, the Picnic Bay Jetty, Geoffrey Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Aquasearch. You’ll have time for swimming and lunch, plus a seasonal Butterfly Forest Walk from June to September. Ferry fare and lunch cost extra.

“One of the best days of our holiday in Townsville! Tim was a fabulous host and provided us with a great experience on Magnetic Island. We really appreciated the “behind the scenes” work being done to rescue and re-home koala’s back into their natural habitat.”

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10.Aquascene Magnetic Island Sunset & Shipwreck Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $114

Board at 123 Sooning St, Nelly Bay, for a small-group sunset cruise along Magnetic Island’s coast to the SS City of Adelaide shipwreck. Your guide shares local history, birdlife, art, and island stories while live acoustic music plays onboard. The tour lasts about two hours, with ferry tickets, drinks, and snacks extra.

“Seeing Magnetic Island from this perspective and hearing all the great stories made me love the island even more”

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11.4H Snorkeling and Fishing Cruise on Magnetic Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · from $114

Join local skipper Drew for a four-hour cruise from Horseshoe Bay around Magnetic Island. You can snorkel at Florence and Arthur bays, fish for coral trout or mackerel, explore boat-only viewpoints, and hear entertaining island stories. The group is capped at eight, with gear supplied and stops shaped by weather and sea conditions.

“Great small group trip. Drew was hospitable and the facilities were great. Family and I had a great time”

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12.Magnetic Island: West Coast Eco Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $89

Join guide Tim for a 3.5-hour West Coast Eco Adventure on Magnetic Island. Ride rugged tracks beyond normal vehicle access, look for koalas and other wildlife, visit conservation and cultural sites, and pause for seasonal morning tea with coffee, tea, chairs, and beach blankets. Pick-up is available at Nelly Bay or Picnic Bay.

“I first went on West Coast Eco Adventure in February, taking a second tour last week (March 2024). I thoroughly enjoyed both tours, and each was a little different. Tim is so informative and knowledgeable and is obviously very passionate aboRead more”

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13.Magnetic Island Tour Behind the Scenes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $82

Join local guide Tim Bee, known from Izzy’s Koala World, for a five-hour tour of Magnetic Island. Visit Nelly Bay, Picnic Bay, Geoffrey Bay, the Forts area, Alma Bay, and Horseshoe Bay while looking for koalas and rock wallabies. The small-group format, island stories, and scenic stops make this a useful first look at Maggie.

“What an incredible tour with Tim who I later found out is a Netflix personality in Izzy’s Koala World. He is a dynamic speaker and gave us an insight into the history and life on Magnetic Island. One of the many highlights on this trip was hiRead more”

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14.Magnetic Island: Lunchtime Sailing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 37 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $169

Join Captain Clayton and crew for a four to six-hour cruise from Nelly Bay or the Breakwater Terminal. Sail the Magnetic Island coast aboard a 58-foot yacht, anchor in a quiet bay, swim from the boat or use the giant inflatable mat, then enjoy local seafood, antipasto, organic wine, or local beer.

“The quiet sail… A swim in the ocean - beautiful … thanks for the help pulling me out of the water! Food was delicious, a lovely crew so good!!! xc”

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15.Magnetic Island: West Coast Eco Adventure Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 29 reviews · 3h 30m · from $88

Meet guide Tim at Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal for a 3.5-hour ride along Magnetic Island’s rough west coast. Expect secluded beaches, creeks, mangroves, wildlife spotting, island history, and a local morning tea with coffee, juice, fruit, and sweet treats. The route can change with weather and tides.

“It was an amazing tour, Tim is an excellent tour guide. He is full of passion and knowledge. The tour was very flexible and we saw some koalas, green ants and know much more about the plants on the island. The tour is highly recommended. PS: greetings to Kenneth, he was a very special employee 😉. Greets from Tobi & Olli”

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