Magnetic Island - Dec 2019

It’s become something of a regular trip at Christmas to visit Magnetic Island just off the far north Queensland coast adjacent to Townsville.

I have many fond memories of visiting the island dozens of times right through my childhood and teen years.

It was of course named by Captain Cook as he sailed past in 1770 because of the effect it apparently had on his compass.

Weirdly, there’s little quality seafood and what there is remains expensive.

The Marlin Bar at Horseshoe Bay has no Foxtel. For such a rugby league and sport centred city, it seems almost un-Australian.

Mobile reception can be patchy given the technology used to relay a signal across the water from Townsville.

There are shed-loads of Koalas and Rock Wallabies on the island.

A visit to the world war two fort and coastal gun emplacements is a must and is part of the Koala sanctuary.

My oldest friend from primary school claims we and a few mates created the first schoolees on the island in 1973 following the end of junior high school.