Townsville and Magnetic Island 6/4/16 – 9/4/16
(R) So we waited around for 6 and a half hours before catching the bus to our next destination, followed by a 4 hour drive, arriving in Townsville at midnight. We missed the last ferry so booked into a hotel.
The following day after breaky we got the ferry and was soon at our next backpackers, the X Base at Nelly bay on Magnetic Island. To our great surprise we found ourselves in a private double dorm on the seafront, with the beach just below our doorway. WOW in a backpackers what a score. This dorm is what you would call an “A” frame building with ensuite, aircon, TV and even a kettle! Even a hair dryer!!! (T – shite bed tho unless you like sleeping on springs)
Once settled in we tore ourselves from the amazing view and walked 15 min to get some emergency supplies – chocolate and cigarettes.
We were given an evening meal and a welcome drink voucher, so with these in hand off we trotted.
On day 2 after a complimentary breakfast, we decided to get an all day bus pass, (not bad value at $7 each) and ventured to a wonderful koala sanctuary on the island. Whilst there we paid for a guided tour with only a dozen of us as a group. What we hadn’t gathered was that the tour included handling, a black crested parakeet which took seeds from our lips,  baby croc, lizards, snakes and of course koalas. Our koala was called Pebbles and was as cute as a 3 year old koala could possibly be. What a great experience and a MUST DO when here for all. We also took the bus to horseshoe bay, aptly named with its massive beach. Due to it being sting suite season, cos of the tinny weeny jelly fish called Irukandji, which are potentially deadly, the sea was out of bounds so no swimming on this trip. Which was a great shame as the sea was glorious and stunning, and the weather today was 31’ in the shade with high humidity. No wonder they call this area the tropical coast! We wanted to take full advantage of the “hidden bays” around the island, but decided we couldn’t due to the humidity.
Day three, (our last day), we walked into Nelly Bay for coffee and breakfast in a great little cafe, before a 5 minute bus ride to the harbour to catch our 20 minute ferry back to the mainland, before our 6 hour greyhound bus journey to Cairns, (our last one in a 7 week tour of Queensland.)
I’ve got to admit the X Base backpackers on Magnetic Island is the bees knees, the dogs (you know what), and, a new phrase I’ve learnt here, the ducks nuts! An absolute paradise of a place, especially if like us you opt for 1 of 3 private double dorms right on the edge of the sea, set high above rocks, with the sound of the waves crashing underneath you as you sleep – a proper slice of heaven. Who’d have thought I would be recommending a backpackers to stay in let alone a X Base backpackers.