so much to entice
The lively local community on Magnetic Island enables a great range of regular events to take place giving visitors the chance to soak up the Island’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Celebrations and events occur all year round adding to the Island’s irresistible charm.
Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week – September 1st - 6th
Australia’s richest Sailing Regatta is held annually off Magnetic Island and attracts some of the country’s leading mariners and yachts to the magnificent sailing waters of Cleveland Bay. With a great range of divisions, races, functions and entertainment, MIRW is a fabulous event for competitors and spectators alike.
www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
Markets
There are two sets of markets that take place on Magnetic Island. On Friday nights the Arcadian RSL hosts the fabulous night markets where you can enjoy a delicious meal, purchase locally grown produce, and browse stalls of local original art, clothing and jewellery. The Horseshoe Bay markets are held under the trees on the bay’s beautiful beachfront – second and last Sunday of the month. Always a popular event, these delightful markets showcase the arts, crafts and small businesses of the Island. Enjoy local live music while you browse.
Whale Watching – Aug to Oct
The quality of whale watching in Australia is recognised as being amongst the best in the world due to the large numbers of humpback whales visiting the east coast, and Magnetic Island is blessed with front row seats to this inspiring phenomenon. Imagine watching the fifth largest family of whales in the world playing in the warm, calm waters surrounding Magnetic Island. Humpback whales migrate between their Antarctic feeding grounds and the Great Barrier Reef, where they mate and breed in the warm waters. Humpback whales are playful, very powerful, yet often the most gentle creatures of the ocean.
Full Moon Party
Visitors and locals alike get the chance to really let their hair down at the monthly full moon party held on the Island Bar deck at Base in Nelly Bay. Dance the night away under the twinkling stars with the beachfront as your dance floor.
Enjoy an ice-cold beverage and feel the sand between your toes. Featuring the talents of local and international DJ’s this is an island experience not to be missed.
www.stayatbase.com
Great Tropical Jazz Party – 26-28 August
This exciting event takes place over three action packed days and nights in August, and features an impressive assortment of leading international, national and local jazz musicians. Sit back and enjoy the eclectic mix of mainstream and contemporary jazz in an intimate resort setting.
www.magneticislandjazz.org
Comedy Caberet Show – Weekly
“Stage Door Theatre Restaurant” is the most unique entertainment venue in Nth Qld. Every Friday and Saturday night professional entertainers Bernadette Smith and the fabulous Phill Stephens play to packed houses in their hilarious comedy cabaret dinner shows. Great food, fabulous entertainment, the complete night out!
www.stagedoortheatre.com.au
Townsville 400 V8 Supercars – July
The V8 Supercar Championship Series’ latest success story has Fords and Holdens racing on a purpose-built street circuit at Reid Park close to the city centre. Spectators at the Townsville 400 track can expect 3 action packed days of sensational motor racing and entertainment for all ages. The Townsville 400 promises to be “the” sporting event of Queensland as it showcases itself throughout the world. A short ferry trip away from the action-packed, fast-paced thrills of the event, Magnetic Island is the ideal base to relax, regroup, and relive the highlights.
www.v8supercarevents.com.au
Magnetic Island to Townsville 8km Open Water Swim – July
The Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim is a premier long distance open water winter swim, and fast becoming a major event on the Australian Open Water Swimming calendar. The swim is from beautiful Picnic Bay to the beachfront on The Strand, Townsville, a distance of 8km. 2009 saw 69 swimmers accompanied by escort kayakers, outriggers, surf ski paddlers, and support boats, take to the water. Supporters and onlookers can enjoy perfect vantage points perched on the historic jetty and granite rocky headlands surrounding Picnic Bay’s reef fringed shallows. 2010 will be this iconic events 56th year, continuing it’s long history of attracting elite swimmers, with an expected field of 100 solo and team participants.
www.magneticislandswim.com.au
