Number 3. Koala Village Sanctuary

My next favourite was a brilliant 2 hour tour in a spot that some backpackers on the East Coast choose to bypass due to budget or time restrictions is Magnetic Island.

Magnetic Island is located a ferry-ride off of Townsville which is a couple hours below Cairns.

The island houses 2 hostels on either side and a shop or two by the ferry terminal.

I've heard mixed reviews about the island, with some people claiming it is boring. I presume they are referring to nightlife-wise due to the lack of bars.

But if you are planning to stop here, try to organise it so that it falls on a full moon. One of the hostels called Base hosts a full moon party every month and when I was there it was crazy and the island was hopping!

Moreover, Base hostel is absolutely stunning, and in a perfect setting... I don't think I could get bored here..

Anyway back to the direction of this post which is.. The koala sanctuary! 

The other hostel on the island is a YHA hostel called Koala Village.

It is equally as beautiful as Base, but very different because instead of sunning yourself by the pool with incredible views, you really feel like you are living in the aussie bush in small teepee huts, with possums and kangaroos hopping around the place.

We stayed in both hostels for two nights each and while in the Koala Village we decided to avail of the sanctuary tour which costs $19 (very cheap in relation to other wildlife tours on the East Coast.)

Our tour guide was a young girl who knew her stuff and was very comfortable with the animals. She brought us around each of the enclosures and talked us through the lifestyle and habitats of the animals and then proceeded to take them out. We each had a chance to hold the animals and take pictures.

In many of the zoos in Australia you have to pay big bucks to hold crocodiles and snakes etc.. but here in this small, intimate sanctuary, we were able to hold all the creatures we wanted!

It was great! We had brilliant fun snapping pictures of each other...

All in all, Magnetic Island is a must-see in my opinion.. especially with this koala sanctuary tour offering a pretty unique Australian experience for next to nothing!