Our tours are all about immersive and inclusive adventures for everyone. Spend a day on board with your local hosts, Steph & Adam and the Aquascene team. We have called this beautiful Island our home for over 38 years! Come and experience "Maggie" through our eyes. We will show you places you won't find on your own. You may never want to go home!
The Discovery Tour Our Discovery Tour is a 5 hour tour that will connect you with all the beautiful iconic things we love about "Maggie" Island. Snorkel, explore and learn with a Master Reef Guide about the Great Barrier Reef and all the connections to the underwater world. You will interact with some friendly marine life, be "wowed" by our bird friends and enjoy a morning tea on one of the beautiful beaches we visit. Enjoy the stories and history along the way. Enjoy the day as you wish, adventure and relaxation as you wish. This tour normally focuses on visiting the best snorkel locations on the southern side of the island however we always plan our itinerary on the day to the conditions and our guests.
This tour is suitable for all ages and abilities. Accessibility / Sensory needs - Please contact us, we will do our best to make your adventure possible if we can. Dietary needs: gluten free / vegetarian can be catered for (please advise us when booking) IF YOU HAVE ANY FOOD/NUT ALLERGIESwe ask that you please bring your own snacks. (You are most welcome to eat the fruit platter provided and choose tea/coffee if you wish.)
Tour Includes:
All equipment for snorkelling
Portable Floating Pontoon for less confident swimmers
Flotation Aids
Water safety/reef guides
Morning Tea / Tea / Coffee
Snorkel lesson
Stand Up Paddleboards
Viewing Panel Boogie Boards
Master Reef Guide talks about the Great Barrier Reef and all connections with the eco-system
Magnetic Island Stories & History
Stinger UV suits / Wetsuits
Wildlife interactions
EMC* Reef Tax (environmental management charge) for the marine park- You are helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef THANKYOU
The Explorer Tour Our Explorer Circumnavigation Tour is a 6 hour tour, (we travel all the way around the island), includes all the great things we have on the Discovery tour but just stretched out a little longer so that we can and show you a few more of the secluded bays on the Northern side of the island.
This tour is suitable for all ages and abilities. Accessibility / Sensory needs- Please contact us, we will do our best to make your adventure possible if we can. Dietary needs: gluten free / vegetarian can be catered for (please advise us when booking) IF YOU HAVE ANY FOOD/NUT ALLERGIESwe ask that you please bring your own snacks. (You are most welcome to eat the fruit platter provided and choose tea/coffee if you wish.)
Tour Includes:
All equipment for snorkelling
Portable Floating Pontoon for less confident swimmers
Flotation Aids
Water safety/reef guides
Morning Tea-Light lunch / Tea / Coffee
Snorkel lesson
Stand Up Paddleboards
Viewing Panel Boogie Boards
Master Reef Guide talks about the Great Barrier Reef and all connections with the eco-system
Magnetic Island Stories & History
Stinger UV suits / Wetsuits
Wildlife interactions
EMC* Reef Tax (environmental management charge) for the marine park- You are helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef THANKYOU
This is a NON-SWIMMING tour BYO Drinks / Snacks Our Sunset & Shipwreck tour is a 2 hour scenic tour focusing on the coastal area between Nelly Bay and Cockle Bay on Magnetic Island. Our destination is the S.S."City of Adelaide" shipwreck where her story will be shared as you enjoy the sunset. She is a grand old lady of the sea with an enchanting story. You will stay on our boat for the entire cruise.
This tour is suitable for all ages and abilities. (more suited to older children than toddlers) Accessibility / Sensory needs - Please contact us, we will do our best to make your adventure possible if we can.
Tour Includes:
Complimentary drink on arrival
Magnetic Island Stories & History
Birdlife
Photo opportunities at sunset
Local artwork
Visual historical pictures
Music to serenade you at sunset
EMC* Reef Tax (environmental management charge) for the marine park- You are helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef THANKYOU
Our tours are suited to all ages and abilities. Some swimming ability is recommended. Accessibility / Sensory needs - Please contact us, we will do our best to make your adventure possible if we can.
Dietary needs: gluten free / vegetarian can be catered for (please advise us when booking) IF YOU HAVE ANY FOOD/NUT ALLERGIESwe ask that you please bring your own snacks. (You are most welcome to eat the fruit platter provided and choose tea/coffee if you wish.)
DAY TOURS We supply everything for activities on our day tours tour. You just need to bring items for going to the beach including your
towel, bathers, sunscreen, hat, camera
Jacket (in the cooler months May - Sept)
water bottle
We supply all snacks and refreshments on tour but please feel free to bring any extra snacks or drinks you wish.
SUNSET TOURS
Bring your own drinks / snacks
Wear comfortable casual clothing
Jacket (in the cooler months May - Sept)
Don't forget your camera
What about the weather?
We will always be keeping an eye on the weather conditions. We want you to enjoy your experience with us. If we feel that the weather is not suitable for a tour we will contact you to advise of a cancellation or offer an alternative date. Please check your emails / mobile for messages from us. (Please be sure to give us a contactable email and mobile)
Please contact us anytime if you would like an update on the weather.
If the weather is not suitable and we cancel the tour, an alternative day will be offered if possible or a full refund given.
Some useful weather links are below: (the weather man doesn't always get it right but it is a handy guide)
We want you to feel confident when booking with us.
Provided enough notice is given, we are generally quite flexible and happy to re-book your tour for another day, subject to availability. Please note that if you cancel last minute on the day and we are unable to resell your seats - then unfortunately we are unable to offer you a refund.
The following fees may apply if there is a no show or minimal notice given to us. School holidays are a busy time for us and we like to be able to accommodate everyone, so please try and let us know if you think there may be a change in your situation, we don't like charging cancellation fees. We are human here at Aquascene and we do understand that situations can happen that may mean you have to change or cancel your tour with us. Please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your situation if it is possible. A "no show" or less than 24 hours notice will be charged full fare. Within 2 days of departure a 20% admin fee may be deducted from your payment.
All bookings require a valid credit card to confirm your booking.
Where does the tour depart from?
Our tours depart from Magnetic Island Marina in Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island Tours depart from the outside deck/boardwalk area in front of Peppers Resort in Nelly Bay, a short 1 minute stroll to the left of the Nelly Bay Ferry terminal. Please meet at our Aquascene sign and one of our awesome crew will meet you and walk you to our boat for boarding. Please make sure you catch the correct ferry from Townsville to allow plenty of time to connect with our departure time.
Google reviews Also....follow the links to our Instagram and Facebook pages, you will find lots of pictures of what we do on our tours. Instagram Facebook
What does "PENDING" mean on my booking?
Pending tour : means we are waiting on either guest numbers or an updated weather forecast before we can confirm your tour with us. If your tour with us is PENDING, this means the tour is NOT confirmed as going.
Once we receive your booking we will contact you as soon as possible to confirm your booking. If you need to check on the confirmation, please call us.
What ferry do I catch if I am in Townsville?
If you are going on our Discovery Tour or Explorer Tour:
If you are going on our Sunset & Shipwreck Tour: For our Sunset tour or a private charter, please check the timetables of the ferries to make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to meet us for your tour departure time.
Is the ferry ticket included in my tour price?
Our tour does not include the return ferry ticket to Magnetic Island. You will have to purchase a return ferry ticket to Magnetic Island to connect with our tour unless you are on a package from Sealink.
If i am in townsville how do i get to the sealink ferry terminal?
Be sure to connect with your ferry by catching a taxi or uber to the Sealink ferry terminal. Your accommodation reception should be able to assist you with this. If you have your own transport, vehicle transport is available at the Sealink ferry terminal for a small fee ($8.50) per 24 hours
Do we have prescription snorkel masks for hire?
Unfortunately no we don't have prescription snorkel masks for hire. We suggest getting yourself some disposable contact lenses for the day if you think that will assist you to see the beautiful underwater world of the fringing reef.
do we offer scuba diving onboard aquascene?
No we don't offer scuba diving on our tours. We offer snorkelling and snorkelling lessons with our qualified snorkel instructor.