About this tour
Board a sailing yacht from Magnetic Island for six hours of coastal cruising, swimming and wildlife spotting. After a short ferry from Townsville, you'll anchor in a sheltered bay with granite outcrops and hoop pines as your backdrop. Swim or beachcomb, then settle in for locally sourced prawns and antipasto paired with regional wines and beers. Watch for sea eagles, kites, reef fish and turtles in their natural habitat. The crew invites you to take the helm or learn sailing basics if keen. Return ferry included.
Highlights
- Granite boulder coastline dotted with native hoop pines
- Anchor in a quiet bay for swimming and beach time
- Locally caught prawns and antipasto gravy platter
- Regional wines and craft beers included all day
- Sea eagles, kites, turtles and reef fish sightings
- Optional hands-on sailing instruction from crew
- Return ferry to Townsville included in price
What to expect
You'll catch the ferry to Magnetic Island, then board the yacht for a leisurely sail hugging the rocky shoreline. Once anchored in a bay, you're free to swim, explore the beach or simply rest on deck. Lunch arrives mid-afternoon—a spread of local prawns, cured meats and fresh bread, paired with drinks of your choice. The crew are chatty about local ecology and willing to teach sailing if you're interested. Wildlife encounters aren't guaranteed but sea eagles and reef fish are regulars. Allow time to relax; this isn't a packed itinerary.
Good to know
Bring your own snorkelling gear if you want to explore underwater. The boat isn't ideal for those with heart conditions. Children must have adult supervision. Strollers welcome. Ferry runs regularly so timing is flexible. Public transport gets you to the Townsville dock.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.