Parks & Wildlife

Magnetic Island parks and wildlife gives you a great chance to head out and go bush. With two thirds of the island as National Park combined with it's Marine Park areas, 23 bays and beaches, it has a truely unique combination of flora and fauna.

The island is home to over 186 types of birds including kookaburras, sulphur crested cockatoos, brahminy kites and the island's iconic bush-stone curlew.

This world heritage island is nestled in the Great Barrier Reef and is surrounded by fringing reefs. Magnetic Island also has an abundance of fish, turtles and gems of the sea.

5184 hectares of the island's protected National Park includes thick bushland, ranging from dry wattles and the beautiful bark of eucalypts to pockets of rainforest, as well as hoop pine rocky outcrops.

The Forts walk is one of the best areas to spot koalas and 360 degree views of the coast and the Coral Sea, including Cleveland Bay.

Just down the road in Horseshoe Bay, there is a large lagoon with walkways which comes to life especially through wet season.

Alternatively hop aboard and discover it's 23 hidden beaches and bays which are some of the best in North Queensland.

Professor Betsy Jackes has created the definitive list of Plants of Magnetic Island which you can view online.

The island is also home to a large colony of rock wallabies. The world class bush walks on the island allow you to get up close and personal with the local fauna in their natural habitats.

Magnetic Island is definitely a unique tropical island destination surrounded by abundant wildlife and exotic flora.

Magnetic Island - the dry tropics nestled between the northern and southern wet tropics
The area from Ingham (1 hour north of Townsville) to approximately half an hour's drive before Airlie Beach, has an unusual climate. With wet tropics on either side of it, this area is the North Queensland Dry Tropics. The region is primarily defined by the catchment area of the Burdekin River and extends into marine waters and includes Magnetic Island and the Palm Islands.

Cuddle a koala or kiss a croc!
Head to Bungalow Bay Koala Village to get up close and personal and cuddle a koala or kiss a croc on their interactive wildlife tours (three times daily).

For more information on the Bush Stone Curlew, Whale Watching, Coral Spawning and Turtle Breeding, click here.

Feeding rock wallabies and the local wildlife
Although feeding wallabies is often advertised, we would prefer the wallabies and other wildlife on the island to forage for their own food.

Human interference causes over population and an ecological imbalance.

If you have the 'need to feed', we ask that you feed rock wallabies ONLY the proper food which includes:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Rock melon
• Apples
• Paw paw, or
• Wallaby pellets which are available from most retail outlets.

Please DON'T feed them:
x Avocado - the seed and skin are toxic
x Bread - can cause improper chewing leading to soft gums and bacteria in the gums.
x Cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts or cauliflower - causes gastroenteriits, pain, salivation, diarrhoea and upper digestive tract disturbances.
x Guava - leaves and seedlings cause intestinal blockage.
x Lettuce - being 96% water it holds more residual pesticide spray.
x Meats - can cause blockage
x Potato - can cause stomach ache, nausea and vomiting, incoordination, breathing problems and coma, (sweet potato is not from the family of the ordinary potato).

Visit the Magnetic Island Parks and Wildlife Office
Opening hours
The national park is open all year round. The park office is open 7.30 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, park duties permitting.

QPWS Magnetic Island
22 Hurst Street, Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island QLD 4819
Call: (07) 4778 5378

Helping injured, trapped or orphaned wildlife
If you have sick, injured or orphaned wildlife please call the Wildlife Care Station on 4758 1457 or 0458 716 922, located at 8 Sooning Street, Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island run by experienced licensed wildlife carers notifying what your wildlife emergency is. They will take emergency wildlife cases 24/7 assess, treat, and liaison with the vet in Nelly Bay.

Magnetic Island Veterinary Surgery, Nelly Bay will deal with emergency injury cases during business hours on 4778 5977. Please call the surgery or the Wildlife Care Station prior to arrival.

National Parks and Wildlife Service on 4778 5378.

Magnetic Island Fauna Care Organization (MIFCO) on 0427 918 130.

To report injured wildlife any time contact the Wildlife Care Station Magnetic Island on 4758 1457 or 0458 716 922.

(Photos courtesy of Claudia Gaber).