Wildlife encounters on Magnetic Island

At last, a proper Delvy adventure! This time off to Magnetic Island, 8 kilometres east of the city of Townsville in north Queensland. After an intense year of getting things back in order from Cyclone Debbie, it was a wonderful feeling to be going on a holiday, together, and to discover new places.

First stop, the Big 4 Walkabout Palms in Townsville to rendezvous with friends for dinner, who dropped in on their way back to Rollingstone, a 30 minute drive to the north. A pity the BBQ didn’t work but we made good use of the electric frying pan instead, which was supplied in the camp kitchen.

The next morning, we left in good time to get to the Fantasea Cruising Magnetic terminal on Ross Street. It’s rare to see a 7-metre motorhome on the vehicular ferry but as we both work for the parent company in the Whitsundays we were given some special treatment. Lucky us!

Cruising to Magnetic Island with Fantasea

The 40-minute crossing was over in no time as we chatted to the Master and crew, and arrived into Nelly Bay, one of more than 20 bays and beaches around Magnetic Island. Disembarking Fantasea Arcadia, we drove up and over the narrow winding road to Bungalow Bay Koala Village, our campsite for the next two nights on the northern side of the island at Horseshoe Bay.

We were given a complimentary cement slab to park beside and a 240-volt power post to plug into and our own outdoor shower stall, all facing towards the on-site Koala Sanctuary. The savings we made on our ‘accommodation’ we spent on tickets for the daily wildlife show and a Sunday morning buffet breakfast.

Bungalow Bay campsite with chicken

After taking all of 5 minutes to set up camp and to say hello to the resident chickens, we each threw a towel over our shoulder and took a stroll to the beach. Passing the quaint Horseshoe Bay State School, which closed in 1972 due to the population decline from Severe Tropical Cyclone Althea, we stumbled across a bush track that eventually led us to the large expanse of Horseshoe Bay and ready for a dip in the netted swimming enclosure. Of course, it was fish and chips for lunch before heading back to base for the wildlife show.

Horseshoe Bay School, now used as a community hall

Horseshoe Bay beach

Popular with the international tourists, we were the only ‘locals’ to join the interactive tour where participants are encouraged to touch and hold various native wildlife such as lizards, crocodiles, birds, wombats, pythons, turtles and koalas. On finishing the tour, we hand fed a large group of lorikeets - something I haven’t done since I was a child – and were amused by the loud squeals emitting from several young European girls as these colourful birds flapped and flitted on their heads.

 

Bearded dragon

Gary kissing Kevin, a Red-tailed black cockatoo

Electus parrot

Jimmy the Carpet python

Harry the wombat

Turtle time

First time for everything!

Magnetic Island prides itself on having an average of 320 days of sunshine per year, but as it happened we arrived during its wettest week in over three years! Early on day two we donned our raincoats and hiking boots for the 10 kilometre round trip up to The Forts, a former Royal Australian Navy artillery battery, built in 1942/1943, and operating until the end of World War II. This is a magnificent walk full of history and breathtaking views – well worth the effort. Wander through the remains of the camp before you pick your way around the 830-metre circuit track. Learn about the forts’ operations through the interpretive signs and enjoy the 360-degree views at the top of the signal station. And if you’re really lucky, you may spot a koala or two in the surrounding eucalypt woodlands.

How it was all made. 25 local men built the track and the concrete block forts in 10 months, becoming operational on 10 July, 1943 

Enchanting forest, especially in the wet

The artillery command post manned by the Australian Women's Army Service

View of Horseshoe Bay from the top

With a 26-foot (7.9 m) barrel the 155 mm gun could fire a 105-pound (48 kg) shell up to 18,000 yards (16,000 m) with a 6-foot (1.8 m) recoil

Inspecting the officer's ablutions block, just some of the remains of the permanent living encampment at the battery

Mixed eucalypt woodlands - one of the 23 vegetation types found on Magnetic Island

Wandering back down the hiking trail towards the camping ground, we bumped into some mountain bikers preparing the course for an event the next day. One of the bikes was electric – how quickly technology evolves. It would have been great to have one of those when we lived on Mt Buller!

On the morning of departure, we enjoyed a tasty buffet breakfast with our wildlife friends then drove to Picnic Bay, walked along the historic jetty, and admired the avenue of magnificent Moreton Bay fig trees before lining up for the ferry. There is so much to explore on and around Magnetic Island, we will just have to return another day.

Historic Picnic Bay jetty

Nature's architecture

 In keeping with the boating theme, on disembarking we popped into the Maritime Museum of Townsville just up the road. We didn’t realise that the mission of the Krait and Operation Jaywick was modelled on a practice raid undertaken in Townsville Harbour in June 1943. We freedom camped at the Krait departure site on Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, so were familiar with this extraordinary story.  The tragic story, with associated artefacts, of the Yongala left us in a sombre mood so it was time to depart for the northern beaches of Townsville and cheer up over a Sunday roast dinner with friends.

The practice raid on Townsville Harbour, which was copied during Operation Jaywick in Singapore Harbour During WWII

Bushland Beach, north Townsville

It was an early departure the next morning, to try and beat the worst of the rain as it followed us down the coast, but it ended up being a slow, wet trip all the way home. Thank goodness we can pull over anytime and have a cup of tea in the dry comfort of Delvy.

Crossing the Burdekin River at Home Hill - this time with water flowing