Queensland · Attraction
Magnetic Island - Forts Walk and Koalas
Wild koalas and WWII history
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Magnetic Island sits just 20 minutes by ferry from Townsville, and the Forts Walk in its national park is the island's most celebrated experience. The 4-kilometre return trail winds through dry tropical forest to Queensland Heritage-listed World War II gun emplacements, with wild koalas regularly spotted dozing in the trees along the way. It combines wildlife, history, and coastal panoramas in a single morning outing.
The walk begins at Forts Junction, located on the main road between Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay. The trail takes around two hours return and passes through open eucalypt woodland where koalas, introduced to the island in the 1930s, are now a healthy wild population. Early morning visits offer the best chance of spotting them active in the lower branches. From the summit, 360-degree views sweep across the Coral Sea, Townsville, and the surrounding bays.
The concrete fortifications at the top are among the best-preserved World War II coastal defence structures in Queensland. Built to protect the port of Townsville from Japanese attack, the gun positions and observation posts remain largely intact. Interpretive signage explains their wartime role.
Access to Magnetic Island is via SeaLink ferry from the Breakwater Ferry Terminal in Townsville, with frequent services daily. The crossing takes around 20 minutes. There is no entry fee for the national park walking tracks themselves.
Scenic views
