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Length: 19 km
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Duration: 5hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal
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End: Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal
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Location: Magnetic Island
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Closest Town: Nelly Bay
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Distance from CBD: 1354km
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State: QLD
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Latitude: -19.159062
Longitude: 146.85517
Keep the Trail Access info current...

Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...

Magnetic Island...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
The Nelly and Horseshoe Bay Curcuit is a beautiful walk through thick bushland and pockets of tropical forest. You will walk half way through the lovely Horseshoe Bay with bars and restaurants which provide a great spot for a lunch break.
From Nelly Bay, this walk passes through a rainforest pocket, climbs gradually to the saddle between Nelly and Horseshoe Bays and follows a ridge with views over Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay. The track then branches, with one track leading on to Horseshoe Bay, where you can continue on to other tracks. The hike commences at the ferry terminal on Magnetic Island turning left along the Mandalay Avenue which ends at the hiking trail. After the first 3 km you reach the first steep incline, approximately 200m of elevation gain within approximately 2km. From here the trail is relatively steady going back to almost sea level at a distance of 10 km. Another short incline follows at the 11km mark followed by a steady and exhausting ascent at at 15km mark on the way back.
About the region
For those that enjoy discovering nature on foot, Magnetic Island offers an extensive 25km network of walking trails that guide visitors through thick bushland, ranging from dry wattles and the beautiful barks of eucalypts to pockets of rainforest. Along the way discover many lookout points boasting stunning views of the surrounding bays and beaches!
The most famous and popular trail of them all is the Forts Walk which is roughly a 90 minute return walk and is the best place on the island to see Northern Australia's largest population of koalas in the wild. The Forts Walk offers magical 360 degree views of the coast and Coral Sea. It is here that you will also discover fascinating WWII history with a number of gun emplacements, an observation tower and a command post still intact.
Getting there
Take the ferry from Townsville near Breakwater Marina. It's a 20 minutes trip to the Island. The hike commences at the ferry terminal on Magnetic Island turning left along the Mandalay Avenue which ends at the hiking trail.
GPX File
Max elevation: 289 m
Min elevation: 54 m
Total climbing: 459 m
Total descent: -460 m