Magnetic Island
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Magnetic Island, just offshore from the city of Townsville, Queensland, Australia in Cleveland Bay is a 52 km² mountainous island which has effectively become a suburb of Townsville having well over 2000 permanent residents. There is a large 27 km² national park and bird sanctuary and excellent walking tracks can be taken between the populated bays and to fascinating tourist destinations such as the World War II Forts.
The island has long become established as a holiday destination with many hotels and several resorts in operation to cater for all levels of service.
The Island is a haven for wildlife and is 54% National Park which is mostly located on the steep hilly interior and ruggesd north western side.
One of the most distinctive features of Magnetic are the native Bush Stone-curlews - a bird with a piercing cry which has woken many a visitor in the night when they are most active.
Koalas are relatively common on the Island and can easily be found on the famous Forts Walk.
The pressure of coastal development has, in recent years, begun to make a significant impact on this World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Island. At present $100s of millons in development are planned for the Island and the impact of these has led to considerable opposition from residents who fear the effects of the development wave on the World Heritage values of Magnetic's vulnerable lowlands which are not protected by the national park and which contain unique ecological characteristics of the Northern Dry Tropics Bioregion
The name of the island came about because of the apparent "magnetic" effect it had on the ship's compass of Captain Cook as he passed the island when sailing up the east coast of Australia in 1770.
External link
- The Magnetic Times (http://www.magnetictimes.com/index.php)