After a day in the Whitsundays on board Seabourn Odyssey as she sails from Auckland to Bali, we docked in Townsville which is a real contrast to Hamilton Island and its surrounds. This is a real working city and as if to emphasise that point, the port itself is undergoing massive reconstruction which meant we had to be tendered while tied up at port.

The tender ride itself was only five minutes to the Breakwater Reef terminal right in the heart of the city and it’s also the launching point for one of Townsville’s main tourist attractions, Magnetic Island.

Just 8 kilometres off the coast of one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, Magnetic Island can be excused for letting the pace of modern life slip by, and “Maggie” as she’s known to locals is the type of place that demands nothing of you except that you kick back and chill out.

The Townsville locals naturally have known about the little gem on their doorstep for years, and the 25 minute cruise across the bay to Magnetic Island is a ritual which is now also becoming familiar to visitors from further afield in Australia and from overseas.

The arrival into Nelly Bay sets the scene for the unique atmosphere of this World Heritage listed island: you cruise across the sparkling deep blue water and ahead looms the stunning physical presence of huge boulders set against tropical forests and a mountainous backdrop. Rocky headlands rise up over beautiful unspoiled beaches which are dotted with magnificent pine trees. Snorkelers, swimmers and kayakers enjoy the balmy waters and small reefs that ring the island.

They say that first impressions are crucial and Maggie turns on the charm right from the start but that doesn’t mean she’s only skin deep - the stunning headlands link 23 bays and beaches and two thirds of the island is National Park with 24 kilometres of stunning bush walks which provide access to remote swimming spots and the native wildlife which includes koalas, rock wallabies and more than 100 species of birds.

Exploring the island independently is a great way to experience its natural beauty and hiring a ubiquitous mini-moke, even for just a day, will provide enough time to cruise around the major bays including Alma, Picnic and Horseshoe and get you close to walking tracks which lead to more secluded beaches including Balding Bay, Florence Bay and Rocky Bay.

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