Magnetic Island is located 8 km from Townsville, and covers 5184 ha and rises to 497 m at Mount Cook. It is 11 km at its widest point and there is approximately 40 km of coastline. Magnetic Island is a mountainous and thickly wooded island covering 49sqm, has 23 bays and beaches, over 320 days of sunshine a year and 24kms walking tracks.

Just 27 nautical miles from the Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island is the only Freehold Island on the Reef.

The eastern side of the island has four small settlements at Horseshoe Bay, Arcadia, Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay. Some 2533 ha of the central area and western side of the island are now national park. The island was first discovered by Captain Cook who called it Magnetical Island because he believed that the ores (boulders) on the island had affected his compass.