Australia:off-the-beaten-track travel galleries Virgin Media
We celebrate Australia Day by looking at five less-known destinations Down Under that are easily accessible and well worth a visit...
Just off the Queensland coast near the city of Townsville, and easily reachable by speedy ferry services.
With a slow pace of life, small population and modest tourist crowds, tropical Magnetic Island is prefect for no-nonsense beach-based relaxation. It has numerous superb beaches to suit all tastes; some have jet-ski trips and a handy array of restaurants and hotels attached, others are civilisation-free and accessed only via long hiking trails. Horseshoe Bay is the main beach and a fine spot for admiring the sunset and riding a horse along the sand.
So-named because Captain Cook found his compass went haywire when he first sailed by, the island was once an important military outpost. During World War Two, troops maintained a hilltop watch here in case the Japanese attacked Australian vessels. Nowadays, the ruined forts are interesting to wander around. On the walk up there, look out for some of the island's large population of Koalas lounging in the trees.
Another critter to spot on Magnetic Island is the Bush-stone Curlew, which makes the most creepy of noises; if you hear a wailing screechy noise at night that sounds like a baby in distress, it's just one of these birds talking to its mates.
(Queensland images courtesy Tourism Queensland)
