Magnetic Island, Australia, Travel Video Guide
Magnetic Island, ten minutes ferry ride from Townsville is unique in that it has a permanent residential population of about 2,000 people.
This means unlike alot of 'resort' islands, Magnetic caters for all budgets. More than half the Island is national park and thus wildlife such as koalas, wallabies, possums and birdlife are plentiful.
I didn't interview a local on Magnetic, I decided I would just concentrate on the natural beauty of the Island. I got some great wildlife shots and the beaches and bays are to die for.
Accommodation :
Three Beaches Tasmania Location
A perfect launching pad to the spectacular Huon Valley southern Tasmania, this home is a 50-minute drive from the state capital city Hobart, through some of the most picturesque scenery in Australia. Once you leave the CBD on your journey to your Airbnb Tasmania, there are no traffic lights to or from Eggs and Bacon Bay. Bruny Island is a scenic 30 minute drive from the house, making this home the perfect launch pad. Ideally placed to visit the Tahune Airwalk, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Geeveston & Hastings Caves, it is an 11-minute drive to vibrant Huon Valley regional café, music & arts hub Cygnet township which is filled with conveniences including independent supermarkets, organic produce shops, gift shops, take-away food, petrol stations, newsagent, pharmacy, doctors, post office, library, museum, art galleries, bookstore, butcher & café/restaurants. The Cygnet Arts, Craft & Produce Market is held 10am – 2pm on the first and third Sunday of every month & the biennial Le Weekend French culture festival in February & annual Cygnet Folk Festival in January draw large numbers & critical acclaim. The Taste of the Huon annual food, wine & entertainment festival showcases the best produce of the region & takes place in Ranelagh near Huonville every March, drawing crowds of over 20,000.
The Huon Valley region is a Foodies paradise with apple & cherry orchards, strawberry, salmon, trout, pig, sheep, cattle, truffle, garlic, mushroom, native Pepperberry & saffron farming, honey producers, wineries & boutique cider, vodka & gin makers & a sheep farm & cheesery. Celebrity Chef, writer & star of the SBS TV series Gourmet Farmer (filmed in nearby Glaziers Bay) Matthew Evans has made the area famous for food lovers with his local Fat Pig Farm feasts, cookery school & recipe books.
With picturesque winding roads descending from a panoramic view of Randalls Bay & the Hartz Mountains, through farms with grazing sheep & lambs down to three beautiful & distinctive beaches, it is little wonder this Huon Valley locale is home to Australia’s most well-known Conservationist & former leader of the national Greens political party. Eggs and Bacon Bay beach is a minute’s walk away from this unique Airbnb Tasmania house, with the convenience of picnic benches, boat ramp and public toilets. A one-minute drive or pleasant 10-15-minute walk will take you to Randalls Bay Beach with its pretty boats, stunning sandstone cliffs, barbecue/picnic hut, public toilets & boat ramp. Mickeys Beach & conservation area is a scenic 15-minute clifftop hike from Randall’s Bay (or one minute by car) and is well worth seeing for its beautiful protected beach great for smaller children.
Wildlife abounds in Eggs and Bacon Bay with daily visits to the house from Kookaburras, Superb Fairy Wrens & Scarlet Robins & nightly appearances of Pademelons, Brush & Ring-Tailed Possums. Wallabies, Tasmanian Devils, Spotted & Tiger Quolls are also common. Dolphins are frequently seen frolicking close in to shore at nearby Verona Sands Beach.
ACTIVITIES
-Swimming & beachgoing
-Picnicking
-Hiking / Bushwalking - walking tracks include Echo Sugarloaf track & Mickeys Beach track
-Scenic drives - Bruny Island Ferry is a scenic 30 minute drive & a perfect day trip
-Natural landmarks – Sleeping Beauty mountain range
-Wildlife watching
-Dolphin watching - at Ninepin Point Beach Verona Sands
-Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) viewing
-Fishing
-Boating
-Sailing
-Cycling
-Diving & snorkelling
-Geocaching
-Golf - at Huon Valley Golf Club
-Homewares, clothing & giftware shopping
- Art In Use, Australia Post Shop, Cobweb Designs, Cygnet Market, Cygnet News, Home & Body,
- Lanique Design, Near & Far, Refind, Southern Swan, Three Twigs, Trove
-Art gallery visits - Lovett Gallery, Huon Art, Stanley's Studio Gallery
-Sculpture Trail
-Café / Restaurant experiences
-Fresh produce & art / craft markets
-Massage & natural therapies
-Farm feasting / degustation with celebrity chef & TV presenter Matthew Evans
-Winery visits & cellar door sales
-Boutique Gin / Vodka / Cider maker visits & cellar door sales
-Sheep farm & cheesery with café, award winning sheep’s whey cheeses, gin, vodka & liqueurs
-Saffron farm visits & shopping
-Salmon / Trout smokehouse visits & shopping
-Cookery classes
-Weaving classes
-Festivals –annual Cygnet Folk Festival in January, annual Middleton Country Fair & Scarecrow Festival in February, the annual Huon Blues & Roots Festival in February, biennial Le Weekend French culture festival in February, annual A Taste of the Huon food, wine & entertainment Festival in March, the annual Huon Small Farms Expo in March, the annual Handmade in Cygnet open studio art trail in April, the annual Bruny Island Adventure Bay Blues & Roots Festival in June, the annual Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival in July & the annual Huon Show every November, just to name a few!