Nelly Bay Guide

Nelly Bay Ferry Port

Hidden in a niche between rugged, tree-topped hills is Nelly Bay, a small port town found on Magnetic Island just a few miles north from the coast of Queensland, Australia. The island, named after the disruptive magnetic effect the area inflicted on the compass of Captain Cook during an 18th Century expedition, is an oasis of unspoiled wildlife. Over half of the mountainous isle is protected by a national park that plays host to swathes of Eucalypt woodland and the population of Koala Bears that live therein. The famed Great Barrier Reef lies a short way off the northern coast too and coral reefs hug the shoreline – the perfect location for keen divers. The port of Nelly Bay is a gateway for travellers wanting to reach Australia. Passenger ships regularly leave the south-eastern tip of the isle to Townsville on the mainland, a city considered the unofficial capital of North Queensland by locals. Ferries sail the narrow strip of the Pacific multiple times per day, a service provided by either Sealink or Fantasea. The ferry terminal is relatively small and sits at one end of a marina that juts into a sheltered section of the turquoise sea. Beachside apartments line the surrounding coastline, offering views over the pristine golden sands of the nearby beach. Due to the size of the island, getting to the port is easy regardless of where you are staying. A road route curves along the eastern coast, around the national park, connecting all of the urban settlements from Horseshoe Bay in the north to Picnic Bay in the south. A bus route regularly traverses this stretch of the island, with one stop arriving directly at the port.