Magnetic Island: Sailing Cruise with Beach Lunch & Wildlife

4.98

(174 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the sound — ropes creaking against the mast as we left Nelly Bay, and that salty breeze that makes your skin feel both sticky and alive. Our guide, Andy, handed me a cold drink before I’d even found my sea legs. He asked if we had a favorite bay in mind (I didn’t — I barely knew the names), so he explained how they pick the best spot depending on the wind. There’s something oddly comforting about trusting someone who knows these waters inside out.

We ended up anchoring at Radical Bay. You can only get there by boat or if you’re up for a sweaty hike, which I wasn’t. The granite boulders look like they’ve been stacked by giants — sun-bleached and rough under your hands when you clamber over them. Some people swam straight off the yacht; I just sat on the inflatable mat with my feet dangling in water so clear you could see little batfish darting around. At one point, someone shouted “turtle!” and everyone scrambled to spot it. Missed it, of course.

Lunch was this big platter of local prawns and antipasto, plus baguette that tasted better than it had any right to after a swim. Australian organic wine — I tried not to spill any while balancing on the beanbag (not entirely successful). Andy told us stories about past guests and pointed out a sea-eagle circling overhead. It felt less like a tour and more like being invited onto someone’s boat for the afternoon.

The sail back was quieter — maybe everyone was sun-drowsy or just full from lunch. Someone took a turn at steering (not me; I was happy watching the coastline drift by). There’s still sand in my bag from Radical Bay, which makes me smile every time I find it stuck to something random.