Magnetic Island School Holidays: Family-Friendly Adventures & Activities
Magnetic Island School Holidays: Family-Friendly Adventures & Activities
Magnetic Island (Yunbenun) is the perfect destination for school holiday activities with kids. Just a short trip from the mainland, this family-friendly island offers calm bays, pristine beaches, scenic walking trails, and abundant wildlife. Families can enjoy beach days, snorkelling over vibrant reefs, spotting koalas and rock wallabies, and fun water adventures like kayaking and jet skiing. With playgrounds, casual eateries, local markets, and easy access to National and Marine Parks, Magnetic Island makes planning school holiday fun with kids simple and stress-free. Discover the best family-friendly things to do on Magnetic Island and create lasting holiday memories together.
BEACH DAYS AT FAMILY-FRIENDLY BAYS
Picnic Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Alma Bay are perfect for families, offering calm waters, shaded picnic areas, playgrounds, and easy access to cafes and restaurants. Pack a towel and snorkels, then settle in for a relaxed island beach day.
Picnic Bay: The quietest option, home to the iconic jetty, a fenced playground, and top island eateries like Lava Lava, The Brewery, and Restaurant Elsie. Our pick? Start the day early here, a Lava Lava breaky burger in the park is a win-win for everyone.
Horseshoe Bay: Vibrant and lively, with street-life, gelato, and easy walk-in water adventures. Patrolled by Surf Life Saving with a stinger net in summer. Our pick? Grab some fish and chips and relax under a palm tree.
Alma Bay: A much-loved family spot with a large grassy area and plenty of shade. Patrolled by lifeguards, it’s ideal for kids who love rock-hopping and exploring the shoreline. Our pick? Stop by in the late afternoon. When you’ve had enough of the ocean, Arcadia Village across the road has swimming pools, pool tables, a restaurant, and a bar. It’s the perfect spot for a lazy afternoon.
And that’s exactly how we’d do it: morning in Picnic Bay, lunchtime in Horseshoe Bay, and finishing up in our favourite little Alma Bay. A perfect day, the island way.
2. SPOT KOALAS AND ROCK WALLABIES
Magnetic Island is home to the largest colony of free-roaming koalas in northern Queensland. Koalas often lounge in eucalyptus trees along walking tracks like the Forts Walk. Always keep your distance, use your zoom for photos, and never chase or touch them.
Rock wallabies are another island favourite, often seen at Bremner Point near Geoffrey Bay or around the Nelly Bay helipad in the early morning or late afternoon. Watching them hop among the rocks is a quiet but memorable wildlife moment.
Local tip: If you’ve brought the kids’ scooters or bikes, head out to the helipad and let them cruise the pathways while spotting wallabies.
3. SNORKEL STRAIGHT OFF THE BEACH
You don’t need a boat to explore the underwater world on Maggie, the fringing reefs are reachable from the sand. Bring your own snorkel gear or hire masks and fins locally, then head into the calm, clear shallows at Geoffrey Bay, Alma Bay, or Arthur Bay, where colourful fish, coral formations, and even rays and turtles are often visible close to shore.
Geoffrey Bay features a marked snorkel trail with giant clams and coral gardens, Alma Bay’s reef lines the right wall and headland, and secluded Arthur Bay rewards those who make the effort with calm waters and marine life.
Safety note: Wear reef-safe sunscreen, stinger protection in season, and never stand on coral.
4. JET SKIING AND WATER ADVENTURES
Horseshoe Bay is the island’s watersports heart. Magnetic Island Jet Skis, a locally owned company, offers supervised hire and guided tours. Families can take turns driving or riding together, exploring quieter waters, spotting turtles, eagles, and sometimes dolphins. Guided tours head to secluded bays and snorkelling spots, with guides sharing stories about wildlife, natural features, and protected marine parks.
Paddleboards and kayaks are also available for a gentler day, with options to paddle toward White Lady Bay, Horseshoe Bay’s secluded beach, keeping an eye out for turtles and seabirds.
5. EASY COASTAL WALKS AND LOOKOUTS
Magnetic Island’s walking trails range from short strolls to longer National Park paths. There are plenty of easy coastal walks and lookouts perfect for families wanting big views without big climbs.
Accessible spots include:
Gabul Way: elevated walkway with Geoffrey Bay views
Rocky Bay Lookout: sweeping views over Cleveland Bay
Hawkings Point: short walk from Picnic Bay with wide ocean vistas
For a little more adventure, the Forts Walk combines National Park trails, WWII history, scenic lookouts, and frequent wildlife sightings, including koalas.
6. SEA KAYAKING
Paddle along the coastline for a relaxed, family-friendly adventure. It’s hard to beat paddling over clear water, seagrass beds, and coral gardens on the way to secluded spots like White Lady Bay. Keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins, and seabirds as you move through Horseshoe Bay’s anchorage. Other favourite paddling spots include Geoffrey Bay and Cockle Bay (BYO kayak).
Local tip: Hiring a kayak from Horseshoe Bay Beach Hire is a calm, confidence-building way for kids to learn about marine life and island ecology while having fun on the water.
7. WILDLIFE AND NATURE EXPERIENCES
Guided wildlife and marine tours give families a deeper connection to nature. Spot koalas, rock wallabies, turtles, dolphins, and a huge variety of birds. Expert guides share fascinating stories about behaviour, habitat, and conservation, making every encounter hands-on and educational.
Family favourite: Magnetic Island Tours combine gentle walking and wildlife spotting with natural history stories, while trips with Aquascene Magnetic Island mix beach and ocean experiences, creating holiday memories that kids remember long after they leave.
8. FISHING AND JETTY FUN
The Picnic Bay Jetty is a family favourite for relaxed fun. Cast a line, watch boats glide past, or simply enjoy the breeze. Spot fish below the surface and soak up quiet moments together. Picnic Bay also has restaurants, a kids’ playground, BBQs, and beachside space, making it easy to extend a morning of fishing into a relaxed afternoon.
Local tip: Early mornings and late afternoons are best for fish feeding and gentle light.
9. PLAYGROUND AND PARK TIME
Every main bay, Nelly Bay, Alma Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Picnic Bay: has grassy areas, shaded picnic spots, and well-maintained playgrounds. Kids can run, climb, and play between beach trips, walks, or water adventures.
Local tip: The Nelly Bay playground is our biggest and is the perfect spot for burning off any energy left after a beach morning, bring a ball, frisbee or a kite and let the kids run free.
10. TREAT STOPS AND CASUAL EATS
School holidays are made for easy eats, think ice creams, fish and chips, and fresh fruit smoothies. These are our picks for family-friendly options:
Lava Lava: great coffee, smoothies, baked goods, and good, honest food.
Horseshoe Bay Fish and Chips: no explanation needed.
Adele’s: located in Horseshoe Bay, and the gelato doesn’t get better.
Local tip: Grab a smoothie from Lava Lava and enjoy it on the foreshore during some beach time.
11. MARKETS AND LOCAL FINDS
Weekend visits should always include the Sunday Horseshoe Bay Markets or if the trip is timed right smaller pop-ups markets in Picnic Bay (at the Brewery) and Nelly Bay (at Jungle Club). Browse handmade pieces by local artists, island-inspired artworks and souvenirs, island-based clothing lines, and delicious treats. Many markets feature live music and casual dining, creating a relaxed, community-focused vibe.
Local tip: Vonnie’s poffertjes at the weekly Horseshoe Bay markets are the perfect breakfast before letting the kids run wild on the beach.
12. WILDLIFE WATCHING FROM THE SHORE
Families can enjoy wildlife from beaches and headlands without a boat or tour. Spot rock wallabies at Bremner Point or the Nelly Bay Helipad, or watch Brahminy Kites and ospreys hunting over the ocean in Horseshoe Bay. Tide pools and shallow bays along Geoffrey Bay are home to small fish, crabs, and other fascinating creatures.
Handy School Holiday Tips
Remember, Magnetic Island is all about taking it easy, so there’s no need to rush or try to do everything. Hop on the local bus to move easily between bays, pack reef-safe sunscreen, wear hats and sun-safe clothing, carry plenty of water, and during the warmer months make sure everyone is suited up with stinger suits.
Magnetic Island is where school holiday memories happen naturally: sandy feet, salty hair, wildlife sightings, and days that feel simple, relaxed, and fun.
Photos supplied by Tourism and Events Queensland