Picnic Bay is the port of entry for Magnetic Island. The sole jetty extends 200 m out into the bay and receives the regular ferry from Townsville. The beach is backed by a foreshore reserve and road, and then the main island settlement of Picnic Bay.The beach (MT9) is 1 km long and faces south-east. It is protected to the east by prominent, 90 m high Hawkings Point, that extends 1 km seaward of the beach. Waves are usually calm to low. At high tide the beach is only 20 m wide. As the tide falls, it widens to about 50 m and the extensive sand and reef flats are exposed. The flats extend several hundred metres off the eastern end of the beach, narrowing to 100 m off the western Nobby Head end.The Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1927, is located at the base of Nobby Head at the western end. The club maintains a stinger enclosure and a watch tower, both located up against Nobby Head. There is also a boat ramp crossing the beach next to the jetty. read more

Beach Length: 0.7km