Magnetic Island sits 8 km off the coast of Townsville and is reached by ferry. SeaLink operates frequent ferries from the Townsville terminal at Ross Street, departing roughly every hour throughout the day. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and runs from early morning to late at night. Ferries carry passengers and bicycles; car ferries also operate if you need to bring a vehicle, though a car is not necessary once on the island.
From Townsville you can fly via Cairns, Brisbane, or further afield. The ferry terminal in Townsville is a short taxi or Uber ride from the airport and the city centre.