Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island: Snorkelling & rock wallabies
Geoffrey Bay on Magnetic Island is one of the best places in Queensland for snorkelling. And once you’ve finished the Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail, you can say hello to the rock wallabies that hang out on the headland.
Where is Geoffrey Bay?
Geoffrey Bay is a beach on Magnetic Island near Townsville, Queensland. It is in the village of Arcadia on the eastern side of the island. Geoffrey Bay beach is about 1km long and faces south-east. It lies just to the south of Alma Bay.
Snorkelling at Geoffrey Bay
Geoffrey Bay is arguably the best place to go snorkelling on Magnetic Island – and one of the best in Queensland. A coral reef lines the whole length of the beach, and there is abundant marine life around it.
The Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail takes in plenty of fish and coral, but also a few man-made additions. These include the wreck of the Moltke and a WWII bomber jet’s propeller.
Non-snorkellers can often see plenty of fish from the old Arcadia Jetty.
7 Magnetic Island experiences to book in advance
- Sort out your return ferry ticket from Townsville.
- Get the best of the coastline on a five hour boat tour with snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding.
- See the sky change – on a sunset and shipwrecks cruise.
- See all the island highlights – on an afternoon island tour combining heritage, culture and nature.
- Cram it all in on a five hour comprehensive island tour.
- Take to the water on a lunchtime sailing cruise.
- See subaquatic creativity – on a Museum of Underwater Art and Great Barrier Reef day trip.
Geoffrey Bay rock wallabies
The other highlight of Geoffrey Bay is the rock wallaby population that hangs out here. They move around the bay a bit, but sightings are most common on the northern headland.
The best time to see rock wallabies on Magnetic Island is around sunrise or sunset, when they tend to be at their most active.
How to get to Geoffrey Bay
If you’re not hiring a car on Magnetic Island, or bringing one across on the Magnetic Island ferry, the easiest way to get to Geoffrey Bay is by bus. The island’s main bus service – route 250 – stops on Marine Parade opposite the beach.
Other beaches on Magnetic Island worth investigating include Arthur Bay, Florence Bay and Radical Bay in the north-east of the island. All three are connected by a popular walking track. You shouldn’t worry too much about crocodiles on Magnetic Island beaches – this is Croc Country, but they don’t like to hang out on beaches and the rare ones spotted are quickly targeted for removal.
More Queensland travel
How to go camping on Denman Island in the Whitsundays.
Where to stop on the Gold Coast to Townsville drive.
What to see on a Rockhampton to Cairns road trip.
Is there anywhere worth seeing on the Noosa to Bundaberg drive?
Why visit Greenmount Beach in Coolangatta?