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A Shady Entrance to the Beach

Florence Bay on Magnetic Island

May 14, 2013 By Jan Robinson 12 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.


Florence Bay Magnetic Island has a tropical sandy beach, fringed by She Oak trees whose needle like leaves filter the sun and let the ocean breezes through.

The Beach at Florence Bay

On week-ends Florence Bay is sprinkled with yachts and power boats, an indication of it’s safe anchorage and inshore coral reef.  On week days you could well be the only person on the beach. Buoys mark the extent of the reef, where boats are not allowed to anchor.

The pot holed road that leads to Florence helps keeps the crowds away.

The road to Florence Bay

Occasionally we venture over from Townsville in our faithful old boat and anchor for an hour of snorkelling and beach walks or climb the rocks for a different perspective.  This week we are so lucky to be house-sitting on the Island, which means we get to visit Florence several times – these photos are actually taken on two different days.

A Shady Entrance to the Beach

Years ago before they closed the final stretch of access road, we would drive our hire Moke onto the foreshore and park in the shade of the she oak or Coastal Casuarina trees. The cushion of fallen flowers posing as pine needles was and is, the perfect place for a picnic.

The brown balls that litter the beach are the fallen fruits of the Casuarinas.

Florence Bay

Today, we drove our 4 wheel drive (transported over to the island on the vehicle barge) to the parking area, a short walk from the beach.  As with the rest of Magnetic Island, the parking area has fact boards about the history of the bay.

Florence Bay through the she oaks

We are well away from traffic and crowds at Florence, the only noise being the birds, waves and wind. 

Beach at Florence Bay

The Island has been pounded by strong south easterlies for days and we know without checking that visibility on the reef will be poor.

Beach Walk Florence Bay

We opt instead for a beach walk, but not before I photograph the view through the She Oaks… repeatedly.

Looking through the She Oaks

Nothing says North Queensland Beach more than the wispy swaying of graceful She Oaks.

Magnetic Island

Obsession is a good thing, right?

Final Florence Bay photo.

This post is linked to TUESDAY AROUND THE WORLD at Communal Global.

Budget Travel Tips.

The Public Bus stops at the Forts Walk Parking Area on the Horseshoe Bay Road, from where it is a  3.6km return trip to Florence Bay.

Check to see what roads your Hire Car is allowed on.  The road although paved has many large potholes.

There is a basic toilet amenity block at Florence Bay, but there are no shops at Florence or the other two bays on this road (Arthur and Radical).

Magnetic Island, 8km offshore from Townsville, was named by Captain Cook when his compass malfunctioned, leading him to believe the Island had Magnetic properties.

Read about fun things to do in Townsville here.

Read about koalas on Magnetic Island here.

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Filed Under: Townsville, tropical lifestyle

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

Previous Post: «Nelly Bay Goodbye Magnetic Island – See you later Nelly
Next Post: Kaikoura A Meal of Crayfish with a side of Whale Seal and Dolphin Kaikoura Walk»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Cunningham

    May 14, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    Beautiful! I could so enjoy some time in a place like this!

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 15, 2013 at 9:53 am

      Thanks for visiting Kim. We are very lucky to live in Tropical North Queensland, but I can’t wait to Visit Turkey and Cambodia later in the year. The wait is driving me crazy. Thank goodness we got this house-sit on Maggie. A holiday only 25 minutes from home 🙂

      Reply
  2. Leigh

    May 15, 2013 at 12:04 am

    Actually going to the beach as part of day to day life is such a foreign concept to me. Beaches only go hand in hand with vacations. Looks lovely and those She Oaks have fantastic needles.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 15, 2013 at 9:46 am

      Ha Ha, Snow is a very foreign concept to us! Even on holidays we do not usually see it. We once spent a week skiing at Perisher Valley in the Snowy Mountains of Australia. We went outside one night when the snow was blowing horizontal and it was the most wonderful experience. I think we are very lazy dressers in North Queensland because we only wear sun dresses or shorts and singlet tops or T Shirts. In colder climates we find it hard to think about layers. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Lisa Wood

    May 15, 2013 at 8:43 am

    I keep thinking “Almost like a private Island” while reading and looking at the photos. Florence Bay looks ideal for a day of walking and reflection – such a peaceful looking spot!

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 15, 2013 at 9:41 am

      It is very quiet – except for week-ends. But Maggie is fairly quiet and restful place:)

      Reply
  4. Buckeroomama

    May 15, 2013 at 11:01 am

    Oh, you make me long for the beach! This is beautiful.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 15, 2013 at 1:28 pm

      Thanks for visiting Buckeroomama 🙂

      Reply
  5. Johanna at ZigaZag WA Travel & Lifestyle

    May 15, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    How lucky to be house sitting and enjoying Magnetic Island! YOur pics are lovely and I think I visited that same stretch of beach in 1983 when I was backpacking! I could probably dig out the photo, and may well do later tonight to see if it’s one and the same!

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 15, 2013 at 1:23 pm

      Johanna I did not realize you had been over here before! A lot of the bays do look the same. There are still a lot of backpackers on the island.

      Reply
  6. Andrew Graeme Gould

    May 16, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Looks like a lovely place, Jan…

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 16, 2013 at 12:59 pm

      Agreed Andrew. Look forward to more of your Santiago shots from above on a clear day.

      Reply

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