Magnetic Island is just such a beautiful place! I could have happily spent another few days here but alas my tight schedule to see the whole of the East coast in 28 days will not permit this.

To get to Magnetic Island you catch a ferry from Townsville and then jump on one of their excellent buses which service the island virtually 24 hours a day! My hostel, Bungalow Beach Koala Resort, is located in Horseshoe Bay famous for being the natural habitat of wild koalas. The accomodation is really nice as the 8 bed dorms are all individual wood cabins set in landscaped grounds.

On my first day I set off on a 3 hour trek taking in the WW2 fort, used to keep a look out for approaching Japs, and the coastal walk back to my hostel - I was constantly tripping over as I stared into the trees in the vain hope that I would catch sight of a wild koala - or maybe not as in my case, where are they all?

Accepting defeat I resorted to visiting the wildlife sanctuary adjoining my hostel, where I was guaranteed not only sight of a koala but even the opportunity to hold one - OK I know it is very touristy thing to do but still it's got to be done! I even had an official photograph taken with a koala, which was lovely but having just completed a very long walk in intense heat my wet sweaty hair was really not a good look.

The beaches and bays around Horseshoe Bay are just so pretty, there is even a nudist beach if you so desired - naturally I gave that one a miss!