Blogs from Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia, Oceania - page 10

Hi guys! We are just back from sailing the Whitsundays and thought we'd better quickly do the blog before heading off to Frasier Island tonight on the overnight bus... We spent 3 days in Magnetic Island which was beautiful and very chilled out. I think we wrote a bit about it last time anyway. Our accommodation was very sweet if rather remote - we were kept up most of the night by curlews and possums... anyway it was nice to have our own place and it made a good alternative to the hostels. The first day we pottered about getting to grips with stuff and then the second day we hired a 4x4 and set off round the island. There's not much to cover really, just a few very beautiful natural bays, a bit of off-roading ... read more

Normally by about 7am the sun shines through the cracks in our 'hell boy' and we are all awoken. This morning was different.... an eighteen wheeler belonging to 'Ricky' was casting a shadow over the whole van. We were strictly up to catch the ferry to 'Magnetic island' and had to face the devastation of what happened the night previous. It was not pretty! Last night Ollie had half-heartedly asked a couple of swedish girls to join us on the ferry, which to my/our amazement (even after seeing us last night) agreed to come along. So we convoyed to the ferry dock (hellboy followed by 'big bessie'), left their camper in the carpack and boarded the ferry with the two girls squashed in the back of our camper. Not comfortable for them I'm sure, but it ... read more

So after the excitement of last week I think we managed to follow up quite well! We've spent the last few days on Magnetic Island, just off the coast from Townsville. The island is of a reasonable size and is constructed from granite rocks which look like lots of big boulders stacked together. There are lots of pretty beaches and coves, and vast Eucalyptus forests abundant with wildlife! We stayed in the Bungalow Bay hostel where the dorms are little wooden chalets and there is an onsite koala sanctuary. There were lots of wild birds including parakeets (one of which landed on Emily's head), kookaboroughs and some which sounded like women shrieking! It was good to be close to the wildlife but frequently being woken up in the night by the birds wasn't quite so good! ... read more

2nd July - Disorganisation Pays Off! After some very bad planning, i.e. not actually booking a hostel in Townsville (our next stop) we were left with no accomodation and so decided to get the ferry accross to Magnetic Island - ferry terminal was right next to the Townsville Greyhound Stop. I'm so glad we did this because Magnetic Island (so called because Captain Cooks compass failed to work as he sailed past) is awesome. Amy has now decided she wants to retire to Magnetic Island with Darren. We booked another dirty pit that called itself a hostel, 'Travellers Hideaway' - avoid at all costs. We were staying on the first floor and the building was actually on a tilt. You grab the handrail as you go up and it falls away from the staircase....but the ... read more

Turns out kangaroo is very very nice... really lean meat, melted in the mouth- definitely going to be having it again! On to mission beach yesterday, quite a nice little place but unfortunately the weather wasnt so great.. we went out on friday night to the local "club" which is about a 15 minute free shuttle ride away. unfortunately when we wanted to leave we were told the shuttle wouldnt take anyone back for another 3 hours cause they wanted people to stay and spend money... no cabs in sight so we decided to walk back the "gentle 20 minute, half an hour walk along the beach". An hour later and we still havnt arrived back at teh hostel. We have no idea if we have walked past it or are going in the right direction, ... read more