Paddling in Magnetic Island National Park

Magnetic Island sits in Cleveland Bay, roughly 8 kilometres off Townsville in tropical north Queensland, and the national park covers much of its interior and fringing coastline.

The water here is warm, sheltered in places, and shaped by granite headlands, seagrass beds, coral gardens, and secluded bays that have no road access.

This is sea kayaking country — open-water coastal paddling where tides, wind, and wildlife matter more than current or gradient. The main launching point for paddling within the national park is Horseshoe Bay, on the island's northern shore.

From there, the coastline runs out past large granite boulders toward Balding Bay and Radical Bay — both accessible only by water — making the paddle genuinely exploratory rather than just scenic.

The morning route around the northern tip passes within metres of the granite faces and crosses seagrass beds where sea turtles surface regularly. Dolphins appear along the same stretch, and wading birds and birds of prey work the shoreline.

Between July and September, humpback whales move through on migration, and the open water between headlands puts paddlers in range.

The Sunset Tour stays inside Horseshoe Bay itself, paddling toward Horseshoe Bay Point before drifting back across the seagrass and coral gardens as the light drops.

It's a calmer, more contained paddle — appropriate for the conditions at the end of the day and still productive for turtle sightings. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service recognises sea kayaking as a primary activity in Magnetic Island National Park.

The park sits within a World Heritage area and also adjoins Marine Park, so the usual expectation applies: take nothing, leave nothing, and keep distance from wildlife. Chinaman Creek is within the park's waters.

Single and double kayaks are available for rent to experienced paddlers who want to explore independently. The water rewards those who move quietly — the granite coast doesn't give up its best angles from a ferry deck.