A return ticket on SeaLink's fast catamarans between Townsville and Magnetic Island: about 20 minutes each way, up to 17 return services a day, and no need to pick a sailing in advance. Use it any time within six months.
Days
- About 20 minutes each way
Group size
- Public ferry service
Start / finish
- Townsville / Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island / Townsville
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- SeaLink high-speed passenger catamaran
Meals
- No meals are listed as included
Route
Included experiences
- Breakwater Ferry Terminal — board in Townsville for any sailing
- The crossing — about 20 minutes by fast catamaran
- Nelly Bay — arrive at Magnetic Island's main terminal
- Magnetic Island — koalas, rock wallabies, bays and the Forts Walk
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
4.9
Based on 50 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 50 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the ferry service for its ease of booking online, on-time reliability, clean and comfortable vessels, friendly and helpful staff, and convenient 20-minute crossing to Magnetic Island. The service's flexibility—with no set departure times for walk-on passengers, frequent sailings, and good connections to island buses—stands out as particularly valued, along with the competitive pricing and reasonable fares. The main caveat is that luggage storage space is limited, which some travellers found inconvenient, particularly for longer stays or those with mobility concerns, though a few also noted that the crossing can occasionally be rough depending on sea conditions.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Fantastic staff on and off the boat”
The ferry was on time and enjoyable, and the staff were friendly and helpful. When I accidentally booked extra seats on the way home, they refunded me without fuss.
“Sealink Ferry trip”
We enjoyed our trip from Townsville to Magnetic Island. A bit rough going over but smoother back, and only 20 minutes each way.
“Super!”
Right after booking, customer service sent our barcoded tickets, so we boarded as soon as we arrived. Very efficient.
“Best way to get to MAGGIE”
Booking on the app was easy and the tickets downloaded straight away. Boarding had little guidance or announcements, which needs improving in the busy holidays. The 20-minute trip was clean and smooth; better communication would make it very good.
“Easy transport to and from Magnetic Island”
Booking was easy, and not having to pick a set time coming from the airport took the stress out of possible delays. Friendly staff made boarding easy.
“Great experience....”
My whole family enjoyed our day visit to the island. A wonderful day, and we'll be back next holiday.
