North-east coastal walk
Embark on a journey inspiring island landscapes and stunning isolated bays on the only walking tracks to access the coastal areas within the national park.
- Journey type
- Walk
- Distance
- circuit The same start and finish point, but the traveller doesn’t return along the same path
- Time suggested
- 2hr
- Grade
- Grade 4 walking track
Accessible by
- Walk-in
Journey facilities
- Lookout (constructed)
- Walking
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Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![View from the lookout over Arthur Bay with striking hoop pine granite boulder headlands.]()
View from the lookout over Arthur Bay with striking hoop pine granite boulder headlands.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Florence Bay beach.]()
Florence Bay beach.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Walk along an old bitumen track linking the destinations.]()
Walk along an old bitumen track linking the destinations.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Florence Bay is one of the few shady bays within the National Park.]()
Florence Bay is one of the few shady bays within the National Park.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Photo of Arthur Bay beach, with blue skies and blue water, a boat anchored and large boulders just on the shore.]()
Arthur Bay beach.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Photo of coral fringing the reef at Arthur Bay.]()
The fringing reef at Arthur Bay boasts a diversity of coral and marine life.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Photo of bright yellow Native Rattlepod bush growing in the sand dunes.]()
Bright yellow Native Rattlepod Crotalaria mitchellii grow in the sand dunes.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Photo of a large group of Blue Tiger butterflies on the blossoms of the Limeberry tree.]()
Blue Tiger butterflies Tirumala hamata can be seen on mass when flowers of the Limeberry tree Micromelum minutum are blooming.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Photo of Jungle Flower plants with bright green leaves and bright purple flowers.]()
Jungle Flower Hypoestes floribunda plants grow around Florence Bay.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Rocky shaded steps of the walking track through the coastal forest to the Searchlight Tower.]()
Walking track through the coastal forest to the Searchlight Tower.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Photo from the lookout atop the WWII Searchlight Tower, with the lookout rails in the foreground and trees framing the beautiful ocean and coastline outlook.]()
View from the lookout atop the WWII Searchlight Tower.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
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![Deteriorated wooden beams and remnants of concrete brick walls, making up the WWII Searchlight Tower structure.]()
WWII Searchlight Tower structure.
Photo credit: © Queensland Government
Yida – Route 2
Walk through open acacia and eucalypt woodlands on the rocky hills, scree slopes of huge, weathered, granite boulders home to shady vine forests. The flat, sandy areas are a refuge for endangered beach scrub. The headlands are dominated by low coastal forests and towering hoop pines.
There is a selection of secluded beaches to cool off in the tropical water, rest in the shade or explore the granite coastline. Arthur Bay and Florence Bay are ideal for snorkelling where the fringing reef is accessible straight from the beach. Swim with sea turtles and a diversity of fish living amongst the corals and seaweed here. Remember to swim safely.
The lookout over Arthur Bay is a popular spot to take landscape photos capturing this striking granite headland and sandy bay. The Searchlight Tower is another historic WWII site where one of the island’s searchlights was positioned. Perched upon a huge boulder, the old concrete tower is now a lookout with views across Cleveland Bay.
Halfway along Route 2 there is an option to join Route 1 to connect to the Forts Walk.
Getting there and getting around
The north-east coastal walks can be accessed from the Forts Junction.
Access these destinations from the Forts Junction on foot via Route 2:
- Arthur Bay 1km one way (Grade 2)
- Arthur Bay Lookout 1.2km one way (Grade 3)
- Searchlight Tower 2km one way (Grade 3)
- Florence Bay 3km one way (Grade 3)
Access these destinations from Horseshoe Bay on foot via Route 2:
- Florence Bay 3km one way (Grade 4)
- Searchlight Tower 3.7km one way (Grade 4)
- Arthur Bay Lookout 3.5km one way (Grade 4)
- Arthur Bay 3.8km one way (Grade 4)
Be aware! You need to be reasonably fit to walk the steep walking track from Horseshoe Bay.
Wheelchair access
There is no wheelchair-accessible facilities on this walk.
Before you visit
Opening hours
The north-east coastal walks are open 24 hours a day.
Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.
Visiting safely
For more safety information see Visiting Magnetic Island safely and Walk with care.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.