The Magnetic Island Ferry from Townsville
The Magnetic Island ferry: SeaLink's 20-minute crossing from Townsville to Nelly Bay, the timetable, fares and app price, the car ferry from Ross Street, parking and luggage.
Two ferries cross from Townsville to Magnetic Island. SeaLink’s passenger ferry leaves the Breakwater terminal on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive up to 17 times a day and takes about 20 minutes to Nelly Bay; an adult return costs AUD 44 at the counter or AUD 41.50 on the SeaLink app, plus an AUD 2 fuel surcharge (checked October 2026). Magnetic Island Ferries runs the only vehicle ferry, from Ross Street in South Townsville, in about 40 minutes.
You do not need to book SeaLink ahead: its tickets are not tied to a sailing. If you want the ferry in the same basket as your tours, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before, the SeaLink return is on GetYourGuide from US$32 (checked October 2026), open-dated for 180 days:
SeaLink: the passenger ferry
SeaLink North Queensland runs the passenger ferry from the Breakwater Terminal, Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville, to the Nelly Bay Terminal on Magnetic Island. The crossing takes about 20 minutes. Boarding starts about 15 minutes before departure, so be at the terminal 20 minutes early.
| Townsville to the island | Island to Townsville | |
|---|---|---|
| Early (Monday to Saturday only) | 5:30 am, 7:00 am | 6:00 am, 7:45 am |
| Morning, every day | 6:30, 7:45, 8:45, 9:30, 10:30, 11:40 | 7:00, 8:25, 9:30, 10:05, 11:05 |
| Afternoon, every day | 1:00 pm, 2:15, 3:50, 4:30 | 12:15 pm, 1:35, 3:00, 4:30, 5:10 |
| Evening, every day | 6:00 pm, 7:30, 9:20 | 6:35 pm, 8:00, 10:00 |
| Weekdays only | 5:25 pm | 6:00 pm |
| Wednesday to Saturday | 10:30 pm | 11:00 pm |
SeaLink’s standard timetable, checked October 2026. Some early and late sailings do not run on public holidays, and SeaLink can change it without notice.
On Christmas Day 2026 SeaLink runs five sailings from Townsville, from 8:45 am to 3:50 pm, and on Boxing Day, 28 December and New Year’s Day 2027 thirteen sailings from 7:00 am to 9:20 pm. On Saturday 7 November 2026 the last sailings move to 11:00 pm from Townsville and 11:30 pm from the island.
SeaLink fares
| Ticket | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | AUD 23 | AUD 44, or AUD 41.50 on the SeaLink app |
| Child (5 to 14) | AUD 11.50 | AUD 22 |
| Concession | AUD 11.50 | AUD 22 |
| Student | AUD 15 | AUD 29.50 |
| Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) | AUD 95 |
SeaLink’s fares from 1 February 2026, checked October 2026. A fuel surcharge has been added since 1 June 2026: AUD 1 on a single, AUD 2 on a return, AUD 4 on a family ticket.
Standard tickets are valid for six months. Frequent visitors can buy a Flexi ticket of ten one-way trips (AUD 140 for adults) or a week of unlimited travel (AUD 127). The SeaLink ferry is not a Translink service, so Queensland’s 50-cent public transport fares do not apply to it. Children under five travel free and need no ticket.
Buying the ferry on GetYourGuide or Viator
The SeaLink return is sold on GetYourGuide from US$32 (checked October 2026) and on Viator as the round-trip ferry from Townsville from US$35 (checked October 2026). It is the same boat. The reasons to buy it there are one account for the ferry and your tours, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before; the SeaLink app’s AUD 41.50 return is the lowest price for the ferry alone.
The vehicle ferry
Magnetic Island Ferries runs the only car ferry, from Ross Street, South Townsville, to the marina at Nelly Bay, Harbour Drive. The crossing is about 8 km and takes about 40 minutes; on its vessel Jubilee it is closer to 55. Standard car fares start from AUD 276 return, priced by the vehicle’s size, and its “Magnetic Saver” sailings are about 25% cheaper when booked online (checked October 2026). Vehicle bookings are essential, and a walk-on ticket does not cover a vehicle. Walk-on passengers can use it too, at AUD 37 for an adult return.
Not every Townsville rental company lets its cars go to the island; check your rental agreement before you book the barge. The other way to drive on the island is to hire there, a short walk from the Nelly Bay terminal (see the barbie car guide).
Bags, bikes, dogs and parking
- Luggage: as much as one person can carry on in one trip; a suitcase up to about 100 x 50 x 40 cm and 20 kg. Lockers at the Townsville terminal cost from AUD 10 for 24 hours.
- Bikes and scooters: carry-on only, on the outer deck, up to 30 kg; e-bikes and e-scooters must be off and cannot charge on board.
- Dogs: muzzled, on the outer decks.
- Parking at the Breakwater terminal: AUD 10.50 a car for 24 hours; the car park is not fenced (checked October 2026).
On the island
Bus 250 meets the ferry at Nelly Bay and runs to Picnic Bay one way and through Arcadia to Horseshoe Bay the other, for AUD 0.50 a ride or AUD 1 for the day, by card or cash on board (checked October 2026). Most tours meet at or beside the Nelly Bay terminal, so take a ferry that lands at least 15 minutes before your tour starts.
Return Ferry from Townsville to Magnetic Island (SeaLink)
SeaLink's return on GetYourGuide, open-dated for 180 days, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check the ferry →Magnetic Island Discovery Tour: Snorkelling and Paddle Boarding
Aquascene's Discovery Tour meets a minute from the terminal: five hours of snorkelling and paddle boarding. Be on Peppers' deck by 8:15: take the 7:00 am from Townsville (Monday to Saturday) or the 6:30.
See the tour →Magnetic Island Tour: Maggie Comprehensive
Magnetic Island Tours' five-hour bus loop with a local guide, from the courtesy-vehicle lane at the terminal at 9:15.
See the bus tour →Prices, ratings and review counts from the Viator and GetYourGuide listings (checked October 2026). Operators price by season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
The day trip guide puts the ferry and a tour together into one day.
The SeaLink Return Ferry, Open-Dated
SeaLink's return ferry from Townsville to Nelly Bay on GetYourGuide: about 20 minutes each way, valid for 180 days, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check the ferry ticket