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Rock Wallaby Feeding

Rock Wallabies on Magnetic Island

May 7, 2013 By Jan Robinson 20 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.


When I think of adorable furry creatures on Magnetic Island in North Queensland, I immediately think Koalas! But while it is true they can be found here, both in the wild and in captivity, they do tend to sleep unapproachably in their gum trees. Then I remember our stays at many Magnetic Island holiday houses that back on to the big granite rocks and natural bushland the island is famous for. Sitting in the cool of the afternoon families of cute little rock wallabies would tentatively hop out onto the rocks looking for food.

 

What You Will Find in This Post

Rock Wallabies Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island rock wallabies or more specifically – Allied Rock Wallabies (Petrogale assimilis). Distinguished by a pale cheek stripe and hip stripe. As well as Magnetic Island they live on Palm Island. They also live on the mainland between Townsville and the Burdekin River but I have never seen them on the mainland.

Allied Rick Wallaby

 

If you rent a holiday home on the island, chances are you too will have some of these cheeky late afternoon visitors.  But even if you are just on a Magnetic Island day trip, you can still see and feed wild rock wallabies.

Where to find rock wallabies on Magnetic Island.

To find these timid macropods, turn right onto Sooning Street as you leave the Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal and head up and over the headland onto Marine Parade in Geoffrey Bay. Follow Marine Parade to the far end of Geoffrey Bay, then turn right onto the old Arcadia Jetty Road. The narrow road hugs the ocean with passing bays should you meet on-coming traffic.

If you are on a Magnetic Island bus, just ask the driver to let you off at the Arcadia Hotel.

When you see this sign on the left, turn right into the old jetty road.

Turn right at Arcadia Village sign

Old Arcadia Jetty Road

Old Arcadia Jetty Road

The road hugs the waters of Geoffrey Bay.

Jetty Road hugs the ocean

 

Park at the jetty (before you reach the rock arch over the roadway).

Arcadia Jetty for fish and possum feeding

 

The road deteriorates through the arch – suitable for walking only.

Rock Arch on Arcadia Jetty Road Magnetic Island

 

The shelter on the left, originally used by ferry passengers, is now frequented by rock wallabies.They are accustomed to being fed in this area, with the most wallabies being found after 4.30 p.m.

Rock Wallaby Collage

 

The wallabies live on the rocky granite headland and if it seems there are none around, just loiter near the rocks and their curiosity will get the better of them.

Feeding rock wallabies is a fun family thing to do on Magnetic Island.

Rock Wallaby Feeding

What does a Rock Wallaby Eat?

In the wild, without tourist handouts, they mainly eat new grass after rain and forage for small herbs. As well they find other nutritious items like native fruit, seeds and flowers and non-vegan foods like insect larvae.

If you do decide to feed the wallabies – and they are difficult to resist – it’s important to know what not to feed them.

DO NOT FEED THEM bread, lettuce, cabbage, rhubarb, parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, potatoes.

DO FEED THEM Wallaby pellets (can be purchased at island stores including Arcadia Newsagent at 4/7 Marine Parade) carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, paw paw, rockmelon.

Pursuing wallabies is not recommended, but they accept being hand fed and will come very close of their own accord.

Can you spot the real Wallaby.

Rock Wallaby and Sign

 

Magnetic Island is on our list of fun things to do in Townsville.

Getting to Magnetic Island

Townsville to Magnetic Island is a distance of 8km. Unless you have your own boat, you will need to take the Magnetic Island Ferry (SeaLink Magnetic Island) or the Magnetic Island Car Ferry (Fantasea Magnetic Island).

Sealink Passenger Ferries depart frequently from Sir Leslie Thiess Drive on the Townsville Breakwater opposite the Pier Restaurant. Adult return fair $33 as at February 2018. Buy your Sealink Ticket here.

Fantasea Vehicle Ferry departs from Ross Street in South Townsville on the opposite side of the creek to the passenger ferry.

$196 for a regular vehicle, including up to six passengers (whatever the legal passenger load of the vehicle is). This can be a very affordable option. Passengers without a vehicle can walk on and pay $27 return – bicycles are free. Before purchasing your tickets look around the terminal for tourist brochures which may have discount vouchers in them.

Buses meet the Ferries on arrival at Nelly Bay – it’s cheaper to buy Island bus tickets at the ferry terminal in Townsville when you purchase your ferry ticket. Also check out the Fantasea website for cost savings on Island bus tickets.

    • MORE TRANSPORT INFORMATION

FAQ Answered

Is Car and scooter Hire is available? Yes. Magnetic Island 4 x 4 is close to the Nelly Bay Boat Terminal, Tropical Topless Car Rentals is also nearby and Arcadia Beach Guest House and Car Hire is in Geoffrey Bay.

Is there a public bus service? Yes there is a Magnetic Island bus service that meets each boat.

What is Gabul Walkway? The most easily accessible of Magnetic Island walks, it runs between Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal and Geoffrey Bay, Arcadia

Accommodation Magnetic Island? Yes there is plenty and some accommodation choices in Nelly Bay are within walking distance of the ferry terminal. There is a vast array of holiday units and houses available for rent on the island including two major backpacker options (Base Hostel Magnetic Island in Nelly Bay and Bungalow Bay Magnetic Island located in Horseshoe Bay). There are also Airbnb options.

Camping Magnetic Island? Is available at Bungalow Bay Resort.

Where is Magnetic Island YHA? At Bungalow Bay, 40 Horseshoe Bay Road.

Is Magnetic Island weather agreeable all year round? Yes it is, but Winter is the best time to visit Magnetic Island. The days are sunny, warm and dry and there are no marine stingers.

 

Read about the beautiful she-oak fringed beach at Florence Bay and the hidden Radical Bay Magnetic Island that lies at the end of a pot-holed road.

Read more of our posts on Australia.

Rock Wallaby Camouflage

Made for Pinning

Rock Wallabies on Magnetic Island Australia roam freely on the granite boulders and come out to be fed in the afternoons.
Cute Rock Wallabies live amongst the rocks on Magnetic Island in North Queensland, Australia

 

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Filed Under: Budget Travel Tips, Townsville, Wildlife

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: « West Point Magnetic Island Sunset
Next Post: Magnetic Island – See you later Nelly Nelly Bay Goodbye»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Krista

    May 7, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    They are so gorgeous!! I’ve never seen rock wallabies before, only the “regular” kind that bound around our paddocks. 🙂 These guys are lovely. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 7, 2013 at 12:38 pm

      It is nice being able to get up close to them and they are very cute 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lisa Wood

    May 7, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    gosh Magnetic Island looks incredible – never realised how pretty it is!
    And the Rock Wallaby’s look so tame, but not sure I would be game enough to have my fingers near there mouth!
    Love how green the side of the road looks.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 7, 2013 at 1:40 pm

      Maggie is really green at the moment Lisa. This is a good time of year to visit.

      Reply
  3. Johanna at ZigaZag WA Travel & Lifestyle

    May 7, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    Aren’t they just gorgeous, and so curious! I loved the picture of the country road on Magnetic Island. Reminded me of how different, and very special your tropical vegetation is over on the East 🙂

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 7, 2013 at 3:43 pm

      I am so used to our vegetation that I did not even think about it when I posted the photos!

      Reply
  4. jenny@atasteoftravel

    May 7, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    What a cute little critter! It reminded me of the quokkas on Rottnest. Magnetic Island looks the perfect place for a house sit! Have fun.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 8, 2013 at 8:21 am

      I have yet to see a quokka in real life, but W.A. is calling us. We may look for a long house-sit over there after B.H. retires.

      Reply
  5. Andrew Graeme Gould

    May 8, 2013 at 9:42 am

    Magnetic Island is one place I didn’t get to in Australia, unfortunately, but these wallabies remind me of the ones we got up close to in Central Australia some years ago, although they might not be the same variety. All the best…

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 8, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      Glad to bring back some Aussie memories for you 🙂

      Reply
  6. Life Images by Jill

    May 8, 2013 at 9:54 am

    One of these days I will need to get to Queensland. We are slowly making our way around the country a piece at a time – pitty one has to work!
    The rock wallabys are so cute. Thanks for taking us to Magnetic Island.
    and have a wonderful week.

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 8, 2013 at 2:55 pm

      Thanks Jill, Let me know when you get here 🙂

      Reply
  7. Josie

    May 10, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    Hi Jan,

    So cute! I love those guys — and the pics of rock formations there on Magnetic Island.
    I had the pleasure of feeding the rock wallabies near Alice Springs a few years back. Someone in town told us about a parking lot next to a rock wall where the cuter-than-cute critters came every evening. The only thing to feed them was food from a dispenser provided there. People sat on the cement curb things at the edge of the parking lot — kind of a barrier between our world and theirs — and handed out the food. At one point I had two sweet little ones eating out of my hand as they held onto my fingers with their tiny paws.
    Josie

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 11, 2013 at 10:37 am

      That is a wonderful idea having the food dispensers right there, that way people are not tempted to feed them bread. At Maggie the pellets can be purchased somewhere or other, but having them right there is better. Presumably the wallabies could not figure out how to access the dispenser, thereby cutting out the middle man 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jess

    May 16, 2013 at 5:40 am

    They’re so tiny and cute! I’m glad there are semi-approved foods, I don’t think I’d be able to resist hand feeding them.

    Though I’m not sure how I’d like walking through those rocks – they look like they’re just barely balanced on top of each other!

    Reply
    • Jan

      May 16, 2013 at 8:32 am

      I have been walking under those rocks since I was 5 years old. (erhum over 35 years). When I was little I used to run through them as I was sure they would fall. But they are rock solid! Thanks for visiting 🙂

      Reply
  9. Chittra M

    March 1, 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Oh they look like the curious ones! Are they endangered?

    Reply
    • Jan

      March 1, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      No. Quite the opposite. Their numbers are too great because they are being artificially fed by tourists. If they relied on natural foods they would not reproduce as often.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. See You Later Nelly on Magnetic Island says:
    May 9, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    […] is not full of childhood memories  – ARCADIA holds that place in my […]

    Reply
  2. Tuesday in Townsville Boats moored in Ross Creek Townsville says:
    April 1, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    […] was ruffling the water.  At 5.30 a.m.  the first of nineteen daily Sealink Ferry departures to Magnetic Island had woken the Breakwater end of the creek, but things were a little sleepier up at the City […]

    Reply

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