A Day Trip to Magnetic Island.
Closer Than You Think. Better Than You Imagine.
Looking for the perfect day trip from Townsville? Just a 20-minute ferry ride away, Magnetic Island offers a completely different pace of life. Explore secluded bays, remote beaches and spectacular coastline on a guided jet ski adventure, or enjoy the freedom of a supervised hire in Australia's largest supervised jet ski hire area. Visit iconic locations like Radical Bay and Five Beach Bay, discover hidden corners of the island only accessible by sea, and still have plenty of time to enjoy everything else Maggie has to offer.
Step 1 - Getting Here From Townsville
Sealink - Passenger Ferry
SeaLink operates regular passenger ferries between Townsville and Magnetic Island, with a crossing time of approximately 20 minutes. Ferries depart from the Breakwater Terminal in Townsville.
Magnetic Island Ferries- Vehicle Barge
Bringing a car? Magnetic Island Ferries operates vehicle barges between Townsville and Magnetic Island. The crossing takes approximately 40 minutes.
Our Location
Magnetic Island Jet Skis is located on the Horseshoe Bay foreshore. For our 8:30am tours, we recommend catching the 7:00am SeaLink ferry from Townsville. The connecting bus arrives in Horseshoe Bay just before 8:00am, giving you plenty of time to grab a coffee or a light breakfast before making your way to our office.
Step 2 - Getting to us in Horseshoe Bay
Kinetic Magnetic Island – Bus Service
Regular bus services connect all major bays and attractions on the island. Fares start from just 50 cents, with a $1 all-day hop-on hop-off option available. During peak holiday periods, buses can occasionally fill up, so we recommend planning to arrive in Horseshoe Bay at least 30 minutes before your booked activity. After all, no one wants a rushed holiday experience.
Magnetic Maxi Service – Taxi Service
Taxis are available to meet arriving ferries and provide a quick, convenient transfer around the Island. We recommend pre-booking.
Car, Scooter & Bike Hire – Local Businesses
Want to explore more after your jet ski? Hire a car, scooter or bike and spend the rest of the day discovering Magnetic Island at your own pace. Isle Hire and Best of Magnetic are conveniently located near the Nelly Bay ferry terminal.
The road doesn’t go there, lucky we do.
Easy From Townsville
Getting here is simple, with a 20-minute ferry crossing from Townsville and regular bus and taxi services connecting directly to Horseshoe Bay.
See more of Magnetic Island
Explore hidden bays, secluded beaches and spectacular coastline, discovering parts of Magnetic Island that many visitors never to experience.
The Perfect Day Trip
Whether you're exploring Maggie’s secluded beaches on a guided tour or enjoying the freedom of a supervised hire, you'll have plenty of time afterwards to discover more of Maggie.
Our 90-minute guided adventure explores the remote northern coastline of Magnetic Island, visiting secluded beaches and hidden bays that can only be reached by sea. It's the quickest way to experience the island's most untouched and spectacular locations.
Allow approximately 2.5 hours, including check-in, safety briefing and your time on the water.
The Top End Tour is your 2 hour guided adventure along Magnetic Island's spectacular northern coastline, including the iconic Radical Bay. Packed with sightseeing, local stories, insights into the island's National and Marine Parks, and plenty of fun along the way.
Allow approximately 3 hours, including check-in, safety briefing and your time on the water.
The fastest, easiest and most affordable same-day activity on Magnetic Island. Ride at your own pace in Australia's largest supervised jet ski hire area, with flexible rider swaps so family and friends can share the fun. We brief daily every 45 minutes so there’s plenty of chances for lots of fun!
Allow an additional 30 minutes on top of your chosen hire time for check-in, your safety briefing and time on the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our 90-minute Five Beach Bay Tour is, in our opinion, the perfect adventure for day-trippers. You'll explore some of Magnetic Island's most remote and spectacular coastline, with the ideal mix of exciting jet skiing and relaxed sightseeing. Best of all, you'll still have plenty of time to spot the rock wallabies, tackle a hike, enjoy a long lunch and settle into island time.
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Yes, subject to availability. Our guided tours often book out before the travel date, especially during weekends and school holidays. Our supervised hires usually have more flexibility for same-day bookings. For the best chance of getting out on the water, give us a call and we'll let you know what's available.
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Absolutely. Most of our guests have never ridden a jet ski before. Our tours are designed to explore the most protected side of Magnetic Island, while our supervised hire area is largely sheltered. Expect a little fun bump out the back of Horseshoe Bay and calmer water closer to shore.
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Each jet ski requires a valid photo ID (driver's licence, passport or 18+ card) and a matching Visa or Mastercard for registration, similar to hiring a car. No bond is taken, and charges only apply in the event of an incident.
We recommend wearing comfortable clothing you don't mind getting wet, such as board shorts and a rash shirt. Bring sunscreen, a towel and a small reusable water bottle that fits in the jet ski's glove box. Phones and cameras are welcome, our team will show you the safest way to store them before you head out.
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Minimum age for a passenger with an adult (18+) is 6 years.
Riders aged 16–17 may ride alone, but cannot carry another underage passenger.
A guardian/parent must also be present:
For hires — at the time of rental agreement.
For tours — on the tour with the rider (separate or same ski)
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Single rider maximum: 120 kg
Twin share maximum: 160 kg combined — final decision depends on weather, conditions, and safety evaluation.
All riders must be competent and confident swimmers. Booking confirms this.
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Participants must understand English fluently to follow the safety briefing and contract. If we cannot communicate clearly in English, the ride cannot proceed.
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By booking, you confirm you have no medical conditions that would affect your safety (e.g. back or eye issues), are not pregnant, and will have a 0 BAC (no alcohol) at the time of hire. Failure to meet these requirements disqualifies the booking from refund eligibility.
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We're located on the Horseshoe Bay foreshore, opposite the T-intersection and just a one-minute walk from the bus stop. Free parking is available within easy walking distance.
What People Are Saying
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The absolute time of our lives!
Andrew and Ash were both so friendly, welcoming and professional and they made the whole experience so much fun from start to finish. If you’re visiting Magnetic Island, I can’t recommend this tour highly enough. Incredible scenery, great fun, and fantastic guides. The highlight for me was hearing my son say afterwards, “That’s the best thing I’ve ever done!” That says it all. Thank you!
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Can't recommend highly enough.
I completed the Five Beach Bay Tour with my two teens and can't recommend highly enough. We had such a blast, with the perfect amount of freedom we got to explore more of Maggie. Andrew and Ash were super helpful from the initial enquiry to the very end. Great communication, safety briefing and nothing was a problem. Thanks again for some magical family memories.
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A Fantastic Experience.
We did a 30-minute jet ski ride and it was a fantastic experience. The girls absolutely loved it and came back buzzing with excitement. The staff were excellent and did a great job making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident before heading out. Safety was clearly a priority, which we really appreciated as parents. A fun, well-run experience. Highly recommended.