Radical Bay is a secluded, fringing-reef bay on Magnetic Island's northern coastline, nestled within the Magnetic Island National Park. Accessible only by a picturesque walking trail from Horseshoe Bay, this quiet, undeveloped bay offers sheltered snorkelling over healthy coral gardens and rocky headlands. Its protected waters lie within a Marine National Park (Green) Zone, meaning no fishing is allowed and marine life thrives. The bay's isolation rewards snorkellers with pristine conditions, clear visibility, and the chance to explore vibrant coral bommies teeming with reef fish, all while enjoying the tranquil, uncrowded atmosphere of this hidden gem.
Magnetic Island - Radical Bay
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.3 mSwell Period 3.3 sWind Speed 15 knPrecipitation 0.6 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Stingers (marine jellyfish)
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in tropical Queensland waters. Wear a stinger suit for protection.
Low risk: No lifeguard patrol
The bay is a remote location with no lifeguard patrol. Swimmers should exercise caution and never swim alone.
Low risk: Bushwalking track access
The walking trail to Radical Bay is a bush track through national park terrain, which can be slippery and uneven after rain.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Radical Bay is located on the northern side of Magnetic Island, accessible via a walking track from Horseshoe Bay. From the Horseshoe Bay car park, follow the Radical Bay walking trail (approx. 1.5 km) through the Magnetic Island National Park. The bay is not directly accessible by road — it requires a scenic bushwalk.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Horseshoe Bay public car park (end of Horseshoe Bay Road). From there, the walking trail to Radical Bay begins at the southern end of the beach near the rocks. No vehicle access to the bay itself.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports