Should I plan to stay on the island or can I come on the day?
You can do either - it's up to you!
Fantasea Cruising Magnetic have a put on an extra ferry service, that departs Townsville at 5:20am on Saturday 16th September. Fantasea have free car parking opposite their terminal in Ross St, Sth Townsville. You can then catch the 6:10 am Bus from the Nelly Bay Ferry terminal which will take you to Picnic Bay by 6:25am.
The last barge departs Nelly Bay at 6:55pm - so plenty of time to trek and then enjoy some post trekking festivities!!
Of course you could always come over Friday night and make a weekend of it. We have great accommodation packages available through Best Of Magnetic and Bungalow Bay
What time is the event briefing?
The Great Island Trek briefing is at 6:45am Saturday morning
The 30km event starts at 7:00am and the 15km event starts at 7:15am
Where does it start and finish?
Both the 15 and 30km trek start in Picnic Bay and finish at Bungalow Bay, Horseshoe Bay - see the course maps for more info
Will there be checkpoints and water stops along the way?
There will be water and checkpoints approximately every 5km along the trek
Is the a bag drop?
We will take your bags from Picnic Bay to Bungalow Bay, Horseshoe Bay for you. All you need carry is what you will need for the trek. There are shower facilities at Horseshoe Bay
What fitness level do I need to have?
The 15km trek has a combination of flat walking, trails, rocky stairs and hills. You will need to be able to tackle stairs, both climbing and descending. A general level of fitness is required and a sense of adventure.
The 30km trek is to be completed within the 10 hour cut off so you will need to be moving at a steady 3 km per hour. We expect most people to complete the trek within 5 hours if running and 8 hours if walking. Therefore you need to be fit enough to be on your feet for 8 hours if you are going to walk it.
Can the kids do the 30km?
No, children are encouraged to do the 15km trek and must be accompanied by an adult at all times
What shoes should I wear?
As the trek has a mixture of trails, roads and beach we suggest using a trail running shoe. Our partners The Athletes Foot have a great range to choose from
If there are no plastic cups how do I carry water?
You will need to have a hydration system with you that can be refilled at the water stations. We suggest carrying at least 500ml of water per hour. So if it will take you two hours to complete 5 km then you will need to have capacity to carry 1 litres of water.
What about electrolytes?
V fuel eletrolytes will be available at water stations
Rubbish?
Leave no trace - take all rubbish with you
Will there be sweepers?
Sweepers will be deployed onto the course with the aim of ensuring there's no one left on the course unaccounted for. If you leave the trail at any time, please leave your pack in the middle of the trail so the sweeper doesn't go past you.
What's the weather that time of year on Magnetic Island?
September usually has a 28°C max day temperature, and an over night low of 17°C , we have 12 hours of daylight with 9 hours of sunshine. The sea temperature is usually 24°C - perfect for a post trek swim!
Are there snakes on the island?
Although rarely seen, there are snakes on the island so all trekkers will need to carry compression bandages - just in case!
How do I get back to the ferry terminal or Picnic Bay?
Please check out the Sunbus timetable
Any other questions? Contact us and we are more than happy to help out
You can do either - it's up to you!
Fantasea Cruising Magnetic have a put on an extra ferry service, that departs Townsville at 5:20am on Saturday 16th September. Fantasea have free car parking opposite their terminal in Ross St, Sth Townsville. You can then catch the 6:10 am Bus from the Nelly Bay Ferry terminal which will take you to Picnic Bay by 6:25am.
The last barge departs Nelly Bay at 6:55pm - so plenty of time to trek and then enjoy some post trekking festivities!!
Of course you could always come over Friday night and make a weekend of it. We have great accommodation packages available through Best Of Magnetic and Bungalow Bay
What time is the event briefing?
The Great Island Trek briefing is at 6:45am Saturday morning
The 30km event starts at 7:00am and the 15km event starts at 7:15am
Where does it start and finish?
Both the 15 and 30km trek start in Picnic Bay and finish at Bungalow Bay, Horseshoe Bay - see the course maps for more info
Will there be checkpoints and water stops along the way?
There will be water and checkpoints approximately every 5km along the trek
Is the a bag drop?
We will take your bags from Picnic Bay to Bungalow Bay, Horseshoe Bay for you. All you need carry is what you will need for the trek. There are shower facilities at Horseshoe Bay
What fitness level do I need to have?
The 15km trek has a combination of flat walking, trails, rocky stairs and hills. You will need to be able to tackle stairs, both climbing and descending. A general level of fitness is required and a sense of adventure.
The 30km trek is to be completed within the 10 hour cut off so you will need to be moving at a steady 3 km per hour. We expect most people to complete the trek within 5 hours if running and 8 hours if walking. Therefore you need to be fit enough to be on your feet for 8 hours if you are going to walk it.
Can the kids do the 30km?
No, children are encouraged to do the 15km trek and must be accompanied by an adult at all times
What shoes should I wear?
As the trek has a mixture of trails, roads and beach we suggest using a trail running shoe. Our partners The Athletes Foot have a great range to choose from
If there are no plastic cups how do I carry water?
You will need to have a hydration system with you that can be refilled at the water stations. We suggest carrying at least 500ml of water per hour. So if it will take you two hours to complete 5 km then you will need to have capacity to carry 1 litres of water.
What about electrolytes?
V fuel eletrolytes will be available at water stations
Rubbish?
Leave no trace - take all rubbish with you
Will there be sweepers?
Sweepers will be deployed onto the course with the aim of ensuring there's no one left on the course unaccounted for. If you leave the trail at any time, please leave your pack in the middle of the trail so the sweeper doesn't go past you.
What's the weather that time of year on Magnetic Island?
September usually has a 28°C max day temperature, and an over night low of 17°C , we have 12 hours of daylight with 9 hours of sunshine. The sea temperature is usually 24°C - perfect for a post trek swim!
Are there snakes on the island?
Although rarely seen, there are snakes on the island so all trekkers will need to carry compression bandages - just in case!
How do I get back to the ferry terminal or Picnic Bay?
Please check out the Sunbus timetable
Any other questions? Contact us and we are more than happy to help out
