JULY OUTING ~ HORSESHOE BAY ~ SUNDAY 19^th JULY.

Our outing this coming Sunday, 19^th JULY, will be to Magnetic Island’s Horseshoe Bay where we will see whether butterflies are again over-wintering in the ‘butterfly forest’ just a few hundred metres back from the beach front, and perhaps visit the Horseshoe Bay Lagoon – or what’s left of it (??).

Departing from Townsville:  We will take the 8:45 am ferry, which should get us to the Nelly Bay terminal at around 9:05-9:10am, in time to catch the 9:18am bus for the 15/20-minute drive to the Heath St bus-stop, only about 100m from the track through the ‘butterfly forest’ – see map below.

Two things for ferry travellers to note: 1) Sealink advise arriving at least 15-20 minutes prior to departure, to allow time to park the car and purchase a ticket from the sales counter, and 2) depending on conditions, the Horseshoe Bay bus could leave very soon after arrival of the ferry, leaving insufficient time to visit toilets or buy snacks at the Nelly Bay terminal. People who miss the 9:18am bus will wait an hour for the next one!

What to bring:  Good shoes for walking on an uneven dirt track, morning tea, lunch (if not purchased at Horseshoe Bay), *WATER*, gear for birdwatching and photography, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent. The track through the ‘butterfly forest’ can be boggy, but that shouldn’t be a problem given the dry weather we’ve had for quite a while now.

Returning to Townsville: People can choose their own departure time depending on how long they wish to explore sites at Horseshoe Bay.  Options are:

Transport:  People will provide their own transport to and from the ferry terminal, but please email us if you need a lift.