Writing about Townsville and Yunbenun
Townsville is the largest city in Australia north of the Sunshine Coast and the one most east-coast travellers drive straight through. Eight kilometres offshore sits Magnetic Island — Yunbenun to the Wulgurukaba people — where roughly three-quarters of the land is national park and the koala colony is the largest in northern Australia.
This is where we write about both: which beaches are worth the bus ride, how long to give the island, where the koalas actually are, and what there is to do once you stop treating the city as a fuel stop.
Start here
Best things to do on Magnetic Island
The Forts Walk, the bays, the wildlife and the water — what actually fills a day on Yunbenun.
The best beaches on Magnetic Island
Twenty-three bays and beaches, and which of them suit swimming, snorkelling, quiet or families.
How many days do you need on Magnetic Island?
Half a day, a full day, or three nights — an honest answer to the question people ask most.
Koala spotting on Magnetic Island
Northern Australia's largest wild colony, where to look for them, and why most visitors walk straight past.
Planning guides
The journal is for ideas. When you are ready to plan, these go into the detail.
Townsville travel guide
The full guide to the city and the island — getting here, getting around, and how long to stay.
Magnetic Island travel guide
The island in detail: the four bays, the national park, the ferry and the walking tracks.
Getting to Magnetic Island
Ferries, timetables, vehicle crossings and what to do about a car.
Getting around Townsville
The city, the airport, the Breakwater terminal and whether you need a vehicle.
Where to stay in Townsville
The Strand, the city, or a night on the island — and which suits which kind of trip.
Townsville tours
Guided days across the city, the island and the reef.
Why Townsville is worth stopping for
It is a real city, not a resort
A port, a garrison town, a university city and a reef research hub all at once. That mix is why it reads completely differently from Cairns, and why visitors expecting a tourist strip are usually surprised by what they find.
It is dry
Townsville sits in a rain shadow and records more than 300 clear days a year. Coming south from the tropics you notice the drop in humidity within an hour, and it makes walking around in the middle of the day genuinely comfortable.
The island is eight kilometres away
Twenty to twenty-five minutes by ferry from the Breakwater terminal, with services through the day. Few Australian cities have a national park island that close.
And the diving
The wreck of the SS Yongala, lost in a cyclone in 1911, lies off this coast and is consistently rated among the best wreck dives in the world.
Where to go next
If you are working out whether Townsville fits your trip, start with how many days you need on Magnetic Island. If you already know you are coming, the Townsville travel guide covers the logistics, and our tours cover the guided days.
Frequently asked
Is Townsville worth visiting?
Yes, and it suits a different traveller than Cairns does. It is a working city with a genuine foreshore, a granite hill in the middle of it, a national park island eight kilometres offshore and one of the world's best wreck dives on its doorstep. It is also markedly drier and less humid than the tropics further north.
How long should I spend in Townsville?
Two days covers the city and a day on Magnetic Island. Three adds a dive or snorkel day. Four or more lets you reach the Paluma Range and the country inland. Most east-coast travellers give it none, which is the actual mistake.
What is Magnetic Island known for?
Twenty-three bays and beaches, roughly three-quarters of the island being national park, the largest wild koala colony in northern Australia, and the WWII Forts Walk. It is also one of very few inhabited islands on the Great Barrier Reef, with a resident community of over 2,300.
What is Yunbenun?
Yunbenun is the name the Wulgurukaba people, the island's Traditional Custodians, have for Magnetic Island. The English name dates only from 1770, when Cook believed the island had disturbed his compass — an effect never reproduced since.
Do I need a car on Magnetic Island?
Usually not. A public bus meets the ferries and covers the four main bays cheaply. A vehicle is only worth it if you want to reach bays the road does not serve, and even then some — Arthur, Florence and Radical — have restricted access and unsealed approaches that most hire agreements exclude.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season, roughly May to October: warm days, low humidity and reliable sun. The wet season is hot and humid with afternoon storms, and marine stingers mean swimming in netted enclosures or a stinger suit from about November to May.
Sources and currency. Island and city details checked against Townsville Enterprise, Queensland Parks and ferry operator sources in August 2026. Published national-park coverage of Magnetic Island ranges from 70 to 78 per cent depending on the source, so we say roughly three-quarters rather than pick a figure. Cooee Tours has been running family-owned Australian touring since 1974.