Serving as the transport and tourism hub of Magnetic Island, Nelly Bay faces Cape Cleveland on the south-east coast of the island. It is clustered with restaurants, cafes and grocery stores where you can pick up supplies before exploring the palm-fringed beaches and hiking trails nearby.
Stretching south-west of the ferry terminal is the Nelly Bay Foreshore, where you’ll find a children’s playground, picnic tables and barbecue facilities. You can enjoy a dip in the shallow waters or venture further afield to go snorkelling on the fringing coral reef.
To learn more about the marine life that inhabits the surrounding waters, visit the Aquasearch Aquarium. It was established by Dr. Richard Braley in 1998 as a research and education hub. In addition to a variety of soft and hard corals, its tanks are home to freshwater and marine species, such as the endearing anemone fish.
Getting there
Regular passenger ferries connect from Townsville to Nelly Bay while vehicular barges travel from South Townsville. Public buses connect to both Picnic Bay and Horseshoe Bay while cars, scooters and bicycles can be rented for exploring Magnetic Island. Nelly Bay is small enough to explore on foot.