Magnetic Island Ferries
Magnetic Island Ferries
4.5
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
6:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Saturday
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Magnetic Island Ferries delivers you and your vehicle to and from Magnetic Island in comfort. Explore at your own pace with regular daily departures from Townsville and Magnetic Island. Visit beautiful Magnetic Island with one of Australia's leading marine tourism operator. Magnetic Island is an adventure seekers dream, whilst also being as laid back as it gets, boasting some of the most secluded beaches in Australia. Located just 8kms from Townsville, our ferry barge can get you and/or your vehicle to Magnetic Island in just 40 minutes! Perfect for a day trip or an extended stay. Taking your car certainly means you will be able to see more and make the most of your time to do as much, or as little, as you want. With over 40kms of road, including some challenging 4×4 tracks, you will spend endless hours exploring this tropical playground.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
443 reviews
Excellent
319
Very good
87
Average
19
Poor
6
Terrible
12
Tanya L
Bundaberg, Australia261 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
The only reason we aren't giving a 1 is due to the actual ferry crew on board. We turned up the the magnetic Island end an hour early and they fit us on for which we are very grateful.
The rest of our experience with this company was disgusting. Just because you have the monopoly on car transport doesn't give your terminal staff the right to inexcusably rude! The rudeness started when I called to enquire about a car transport and accommodation deal on the island I saw advertised. The lady on the other end of the phone was short and abrupt. By the end of the phone call she was almost normal but for the majority of the call the service was disgusting. I triple checked with her that they would book the accommodation as a part of the deal I was booking with and that I didn't need to do anything more, she told me they sort it. When arriving at the Townsville terminal I was greeted with the same rude attitude and disgusting service. Then we arrived at our accommodation only to find they had no idea of our booking! We were lucky the accommodation staff were so lovely and sorted us out with no fuss. At no point during our booking were we told that if you book the 5am ferry on a Monday or Friday that the tickets are half price. That would have influenced our trip greatly, when asking what was the earliest time we could book we were told 7am, no mention of the earlier time or the fact that its $100 cheaper! The price to get the car across is very unreasonable and another reason we will use another ferry service to get ourselves across to the island next time.
We will be hiring a car on Magnetic Island for our next visit purely to avoid this disgusting business.
The rest of our experience with this company was disgusting. Just because you have the monopoly on car transport doesn't give your terminal staff the right to inexcusably rude! The rudeness started when I called to enquire about a car transport and accommodation deal on the island I saw advertised. The lady on the other end of the phone was short and abrupt. By the end of the phone call she was almost normal but for the majority of the call the service was disgusting. I triple checked with her that they would book the accommodation as a part of the deal I was booking with and that I didn't need to do anything more, she told me they sort it. When arriving at the Townsville terminal I was greeted with the same rude attitude and disgusting service. Then we arrived at our accommodation only to find they had no idea of our booking! We were lucky the accommodation staff were so lovely and sorted us out with no fuss. At no point during our booking were we told that if you book the 5am ferry on a Monday or Friday that the tickets are half price. That would have influenced our trip greatly, when asking what was the earliest time we could book we were told 7am, no mention of the earlier time or the fact that its $100 cheaper! The price to get the car across is very unreasonable and another reason we will use another ferry service to get ourselves across to the island next time.
We will be hiring a car on Magnetic Island for our next visit purely to avoid this disgusting business.
Written 9 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Tanya,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and advise us of your negative experience.
We are extremely embarrassed about the poor service your received and will be taking action to ensure this does not happen again.
This is an isolated incident, with the behaviour of the staff member out of character and certainly not a culture we promote nor tolerate here at Magnetic Island Ferries.
I have contacted you privately to attain further information required to investigate the matter.
In regard to the pricing; The price schedule Magnetic Island Ferries needs to apply is in response to significant operational costs in the current period. This includes external fees and permits which continue to increase.
As a monopoly barge operator, Magnetic Island Ferries has always been sensitive to some of our customers budget, which is why we have introduced our early service discounted rate (Seymour Sale), and will continue to provide more cost effective options into the future. My apologies you were not made aware of this option in advance, further training will be applied to our staff in this regard.
We sincerely hope you will travel with us again, and wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
Warm and Kind regards,
Christina Kalleske
Written 5 January 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
aussienomadAustralia
australia163 contributions
Oct 2020
As we are QLD seniors we were able to get a discount. When I made the phone call regarding this, the lady I spoke to was very helpful and explained what we had to do. The booking was easy, and on arrival at the terminal we were processed quickly and boarding was pretty close to time. The trip over was very pleasant, even though we were still under some covid 19 restriction. The return trip was great, as we were directed to a shaded area. Looking forward to another trip in the future.
Written 5 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your wonderful review and taking your time to share your feedback with Magnetic Island Ferries. Our priority is customer service and we are ecstatic that we reached your expectations! We look forward to having you travel with us again!
Kind regards,
Margot.
Written 6 November 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Geoff Q
1 contribution
Aug 2021
Worst service ever. Booked car ferry and then had to cancel due covid. Was told by sales staff money would be be back into my account in a couple of days. 5 days later rang to advise no refund and was advised it would be done that day. rang back 3 days later to chase up refund. Each time I rang alll you here is whinging staff complaining about how busy they are, and that they haven't got time. Yet this company charges 10% refund fee so they made $21.60 out of me but didn't provide a service of any kind.
Written 13 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Geoff for providing this feedback.
Sorry to hear you have received a negative experience with us. I understand your reasons for the comments and hope we haven't lost you as a customer.
The behaviour and attitude is most unusual and out of character for our team. It seems this is an isolated incident due to a series of unfortunate events.
We are currently experiencing much higher than usual cancelations due to COVID. All refunds should be processed in a timely manner. We will review this procedure and adjust as necessary.
Should you need to supply further information, pleas email us at hello@magneticislandferries.com.au
We hope you can travel with us at a later date.
Warm Regards,
Written 15 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janelle G
Brisbane, Australia5 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We use this service twice a year on average and have never had an issue. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, vessels are clean, there is a food kiosk onboard - able to enjoy a wine on the trip! The services run true to schedule, I would suggest booking in advance, via phone or on-line, as at times large delivery trucks use the ferry. Overall a well run business.
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your amazing review! We are thrilled you had a great experience and enjoyed your time on beautiful Magnetic Island. It means a lot to us and the entire team. We look forward to having you travel with us again!
Kind regards,
Margot.
Written 2 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sheelah
Burnley18 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
From ringing and booking the ferry for 2 cars to the smooth service received when we arrived, and being directed on to the ferry by the helpful staff we could not fault it. The return journey was exactly the same. Great customer service and a smooth enjoyable journey!
Written 7 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your amazing review! We strive to provide the best possible experience and want our customers holiday experience to start with us! We are not just a service; we strive to be part of the experience too. We appreciate that you enjoyed our service to Magnetic Island!
Kind regards,
Margot.
Written 7 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WorldTravla7
Cairns, Australia8,648 contributions
Apr 2021 • Friends
First up, there are 2 ferries that leave from Townsville to Maggie Island on different sides of the harbour, so don’t get them mixed up like I did! I booked transfers just for me (no car) with Magnetic Island Ferries and turned up to the Sealink passenger terminal on the other side instead. Luckily I was able to call and get put on the later ferry with Magnetic Island Ferries which is best known as a car ferry. Once I got to the terminal everything went smoothly. Parking is available across the road for $5 a night. And the ride is smooth and comfortable, though it takes longer than Sealink (other ferry) as it transports vehicles (Sealink is passenger only). Cost for single return transfer was $30.
Written 24 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, sometimes it's nice when the journey is a little longer. Sorry to hear you got the terminals mixed up.
We trust you also enjoyed exploring Magnetic Island - see you next time!
Written 26 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ScottBaileyTSV
Brisbane, Australia1 contribution
Oct 2020 • Family
From hassle free loading of 2 vehicles, too and from Magnetic Island; Booking was super intuitive on the Magnetic Island Ferries web-page; also the ability to alight from the car while traveling was a great experience. My eldest boy even played his guitar to the passengers during the voyage. Would use this service again. Well Done!
Written 6 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review! We strive to provide the best possible experience and want our customers holiday experience to start with us! We are not just a service; we strive to be part of the experience too. I love that your son made that experience even better!
Kind regards,
Margot.
Written 6 November 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GlobeTrotting793512
1 contribution
July 2020
We travelled on the car ferry in order to have our own car to explore the island. We found the ferry service to be efficient and on time, the staff were friendly and overall the trip across and back presented no problems at all. Having our car made our holiday very easy and enjoyable.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We strive to provide the best possible experience and want our customers holiday experience to start with us! We are not just a service; we strive to be part of the experience too. With free wifi on board and at the terminal, air-conditioned kiosk on board, outside viewing deck and free cold water to fill up your bottle are just a few great things we offer. We appreciate that you enjoyed our service to Magnetic Island!
Kind regards,
Margot.
Written 1 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julian T
Southport, Australia95 contributions
Feb 2020
To be clear, I only marked the ferry as average because of the price. The loading and unloading were drama free and the staff were efficient, albeit a little aloof.
I just don’t see the value in charging more than $100 each way to take a vehicle over to the island. There is no competition, so people are forced to use the only vehicle ferry available. It seems a bit over the top to me. And I thought it would be appropriate to have a locals discount, but they tell me that only applies to people who live on the island.
Again, nothing wrong with the service, but I think I wouldn’t be Robinson Crusoe in complaining about the cost. I will use this service again, but only because I have to and only on rare occasions.
I just don’t see the value in charging more than $100 each way to take a vehicle over to the island. There is no competition, so people are forced to use the only vehicle ferry available. It seems a bit over the top to me. And I thought it would be appropriate to have a locals discount, but they tell me that only applies to people who live on the island.
Again, nothing wrong with the service, but I think I wouldn’t be Robinson Crusoe in complaining about the cost. I will use this service again, but only because I have to and only on rare occasions.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review!
We pride ourselves on safety, quality and service and aim to be the best start to our guests holiday to Magnetic Island. We are glad that you enjoyed your trip and we look forward to having you travel with us again soon!
We pride ourselves in providing a high standard of safety and quality to our guests, to deliver this standard we have our prices at the Australian average.
We are glad that you enjoyed your trip and we look forward to having you travel with us again soon!
Kind regards,
Casey
Written 8 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Exploration800325
Brisbane, Australia14 contributions
Nov 2021
The operation of the barge to Magnetic Island is excellent. Staff are friendly and efficient, loading is non-fuss. The barge is slower than the regular ferry but is a lovely leisurely experience. There is an air-conditioned space with tables where one can order coffee, drinks and food. There's also seating outside for those who prefer fresh air. The ferry has a large carpark which is lockable and patrolled by security at nights - this has a small charge of $5. You can take your vehicle on to the barge but I've never done this.W
Written 5 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you kindly for your review.
We are glad your enjoyed your journey with us and hoe to have your travel with us again soon.
Warm Regards.
Written 26 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Can anyone tell me the price to get your car over. It looks like I have to create and account on their website before I can get this information.
Written 29 August 2021
Hi Miss Mena, Thank you for the question.
Price varies depending on when you travel and what you are travelling in. Generally a standard vehicle online costs $216.00 return, and includes up to 5 persons in the vehicle.
You might want to take advantage of our half price Seymour Sale, details available on the website, or phone 47969300 to find out more.
You can choose the 'Book as Guest' option to make a booking through the website, to avoid making an account.
I hope that helps. We look forward to having you travel on board.
Warm regards,
Christina
Written 31 August 2021
I would like to take my car over to Magnetic island and return - is there a discount coupon I could utilise? I need to take a car as I travel with a disability.
Written 14 November 2020
I am a Pensioner and when I went over I explored these options, but, it is just 1 price, the size of the Vehicle, I hope this helps! BTW., at time of writing there are NO Covid-19 restrictions in this area, other than having to scan the Queensland Safe App. as you enter most businesses.
Written 23 July 2021
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