We love Magnetic Island... and koalas!

What an incredible day! I'm so beyond in love with Magnetic Island that it's easily my favourite place so far and I wish we lived here! The lack of work might be a downside though. We gave ourselves a lie in and after some eggs on toast we got geared up in our hiking clothes ready to take on one of the islands walking trails. It took us a good hour and a half to walk to the area where the track started and then a little longer to actually find it but soon we were leaving the houses behind us and heading deep into the wilderness. Our aim was to make it to Horseshoe Bay on the other side of the island, a walk of 8km each way but we planned to get the bus back if it was too late. The trail had many inclines and declines so it was challenging over the rocky terrain but we were blessed with the most beautiful scenery. Views of rolling hills and deep valleys full of tropical and forest trees with parrots squawking while flying over the canyon. It honestly was breathtaking and surreal that we are here doing this on our own and it's this feeling we have been craving so much. After an hour or so Nick spotted our first koala! High in the trees and munching away he was adorably cute. Their fluffy ears are the sweetest. It was from then on we were on a roll with spotting them and by the end of the day we'd spotted a grand total of 9. It's such an amazing feeling that you are seeing these beautiful animals in the wild, not in a zoo, safari park or national park but completely in their natural habitat. We visited a few lookout points on the route as well which gave you great views of the ocean and bays below and hills behind you. We arrived at a trail that is about a 1km round trip but with quite a bit of climbing that takes you around the ruins of a WW2 military base that was set up on the island as a lookout for the Japanese. It was an amazing example of skill and determination to build this up such a huge hill carving the path as they climbed. They also had stands for guns the length of 2-3 men lead down, how they got these up this hill I do not know! They also had two lookout buildings at the top of the steepest points that at the time were perfectly camouflaged with foliage and fake rocks to protect them from enemy view. The trail was so interesting and informative but also provided some of the best views and a extra close encounter with a koala which was within reaching distance when I climbed up onto a rock to see him. It was late afternoon when were there and the sun was beginning to set, being on the East Coast at the moment means we having seen any sunsets so we waited and watched the sun disappear from the top of one of the lookouts. By the time we climbed down and made it to the road it was dark and annoyingly we'd missed the bus by 5 minutes and the next one wasn't for another hour and 15 minutes. We decided rather than sitting being attacked by mosquitos we'd walk it and catch it further along if needed. Armed with phone torches, white shirts and Nick's reflectors on his backpack that are conveniently arrow shaped pointing to the right we set off up the highway. It was a windy country road that had a steep 1km ascent and the a 1km steep descent. We managed it with ease and felt like we were flying along compared to earlier on the hill walking track. We arrived at the bay we were at earlier where we started the off road track and soon we were at the harbour. After a quick stop in the shop we walked the last 15 minutes and it was then that we saw the bus go past. This last section was a bit spooky because the biggest bat we've ever seen decided to jump out of the tree above us and fly away but the sound of his wings beating was so loud it really made us jump. Further along what we assume to be a koala broke off a thick branch in a tree and that smacked to the ground just a metre from us. Finally though we made it back safely and had beans on toast to celebrate. We didn't make it to Horseshoe Bay but we were out for 9 hours, walked around 11km, saw 8 koalas, countless lizards, a spider the size of my hand and had the most incredible day ever. Magnetic Island you are sensational.Read more