The Magnetic Island Barbie Car
The Magnetic Island barbie car is a small open-top hire car. Who rents them at Nelly Bay, the licence and age rules, the roads hire cars cannot use, and the bus and tour alternatives.
The “barbie car” is what people searching for Magnetic Island call the small open-top hire cars that are a habit on the island. You cannot book one on a tour site: they are rented directly from the hire companies at Nelly Bay. Isle Hire, the closest to the ferry terminal on Sooning Street, lists open-top Daihatsu Miras alongside MINI Cooper convertibles and Mitsubishi Eclipses. You need to be at least 21 with a full licence, and its cars may not drive to Radical, Balding, Arthur or Florence bays.
Hiring an open-top car
Isle Hire, at 140 Sooning Street in Nelly Bay, calls itself the closest car hire to the Nelly Bay ferry terminal, within walking distance. Its fleet list includes MINI Cooper convertibles, Mitsubishi Eclipses, “funky open-top Daihatsu Mira’s”, eight-seat Hyundai Starias and Mitsubishi ASX cars (checked October 2026). Day rates and availability are on its own booking page.
Its rules, from its own FAQ:
- Age: at least 21.
- Licence: a current open licence, Australian or international; a licence that is not in English needs a translation.
- The renter drives: the person named on the hire must be there to collect the car.
- Deposit: a security deposit of AUD 200 (checked October 2026).
Where the hire cars can and cannot go
The island has one main road, from Picnic Bay through Nelly Bay and Arcadia over the hill to Horseshoe Bay, with side roads to the bays. Isle Hire’s cars have no access to the Radical Bay road, which it describes as private and in disrepair, and it says Radical, Arthur, Balding and Florence bays are reached only on foot. The walks start at the Forts Junction: about 1 km to Arthur Bay and 1.8 km to Florence Bay, by the parks service’s figures. Before you head west of Picnic Bay to West Point, read your hire agreement.
Bringing your own car
Magnetic Island Ferries runs the only vehicle ferry, from Ross Street in South Townsville, in about 40 minutes. Standard car fares start from AUD 276 return, its “Magnetic Saver” sailings are about 25% cheaper online, and vehicles must be booked ahead (checked October 2026). Not every mainland rental company allows its cars on the island, so check your agreement first. The ferry guide has the details.
Without a car
Bus 250 runs from Picnic Bay through the Nelly Bay ferry terminal, Arcadia and the Forts stop to Horseshoe Bay, for AUD 0.50 a ride or AUD 1 for the whole day, paid on board by card or cash (checked October 2026). Most tours pick up at the ferry terminal or meet beside it: Magnetic Island Tours’ Maggie Comprehensive drives the island’s roads for five hours with a local guide, and Aquascene’s boat reaches the bays the hire cars cannot.
A day with an open-top car
A hire car gives you the island’s main road and its side roads at your own pace: Picnic Bay’s jetty, the rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay, a swim at Alma Bay, then the hill to Horseshoe Bay. Park at the Forts Junction for the Forts walk, where the parks service says there is a good chance of a wild koala; it suggests going early, when parking is easier. The koalas guide covers the walk.