Bay Hopper Frequently Asked Questions
We’re excited to introduce Bay Hopper, Pilgrim’s amphibious bay-to-bay service, created to make exploring more of Magnetic Island easier, more flexible and more inclusive.
Below, we’ve collected the most frequently asked questions about our bay-to-bay service.
Still have questions?
Contact Clare on 0424 296 406 or email bayhopper@pilgrimsailing.com.au
Contact hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am–5pm
About Bay Hopper
Learn more about Bay Hopper and our service.
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Bay Hopper by Pilgrim Magnetic Island is a scheduled boat service connecting bays on Magnetic Island, Queensland. Book one-way or return Hops, spend time ashore and explore more of the island without complicated planning.
Choose your bays and your times, then swim, snorkel, walk or simply relax before your next Hop.
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Bay Hopper travels between Nelly Bay, Radical Bay and Horseshoe Bay, stopping at Florence Bay on weekdays and Arthur Bay on weekends.
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Bay Hopper runs to a scheduled timetable. Departure times and available services can vary with the tides and weather, so check the timetable for your chosen date before making plans.
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Yes. Bay Hopper travels between bays on Magnetic Island. If you’re coming from Townsville, arrange your ferry separately and allow time to reach your Bay Hopper meeting point.
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Bay Hopper isn’t a guided tour, but your skipper will share stories along the way and is happy to answer your questions. Once ashore, you’re free to explore at your own pace.
Swimming, snorkelling and walking are independent activities and are not supervised by the Bay Hopper crew.
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Can I order food for my day out?
Yes. Antipasto platters and buckets of prawns are available as optional extras when you book online.If you’re visiting a remote bay, plan to bring enough food and drinking water for your time ashore.
Are drinks available?
Yes. Water is available to purchase on board. Our food and drink options will expand over time, so check the optional extras when booking online to see what else is available.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
Yes, you’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks. You can bring a small soft esky, but hard eskies are not permitted on board.There is no storage on board, so your belongings must fit by your feet or on your lap.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Yes, dietary requirements can be accommodated for our picnics. Please include your requirements in the Special Requirements section when booking.
How Bay Hopper Works
Learn more about how to use Bay Hopper.
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Choose your travel date and where you’d like to start.
Choose the bay or bays you’d like to visit.
Decide how long you’d like to spend ashore.
Book every Hop in advance, including your return pickup, to secure your seats.
Meet us at your confirmed pickup point and hop aboard.
Enjoy your time ashore, then be ready at your confirmed meeting point for your next Hop.then swim, snorkel, walk or simply relax before your next Hop.
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A Hop is a journey from one bay to another on a scheduled Bay Hopper service. You can book a one-way journey, a return journey or several Hops between different bays — all in one booking.
For a return or multi-stop day, select each Hop and pickup time when you book. We recommend booking in advance to secure your seats.
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A loop is a scheduled Bay Hopper service that leaves Nelly Bay, visits the bays and returns to Nelly Bay. You can book a Hop on any available part of that loop.
If no guests are booked on any part of the loop, including return pickups, 60 minutes before it leaves Nelly Bay, that service will be cancelled.
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Yes. Book a one-way Hop between your chosen bays. You might like to walk to a bay and Hop back, or Hop in and walk out.
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Choose an outbound Hop and a later pickup that gives you the time ashore you’d like. Available times depend on the timetable and seats, so check the last available pickup when planning your day.
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Yes. Book a series of Hops and spend time at different bays along the way. We recommend reserving every Hop in advance, including your final pickup, to secure your seats.
The Day Hopper pass is coming soon and is not available at launch. For now, book each Hop you need.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
Yes, you’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks. You can bring a small soft esky, but hard eskies are not permitted on board.There is no storage on board, so your belongings must fit by your feet or on your lap.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Yes, dietary requirements can be accommodated for our picnics. Please include your requirements in the Special Requirements section when booking. -
Yes — you can hop in and hike out, or hike in and hop out. Book the Hop you need and let the crew know your plans.
Check that your chosen track is open and suitable for your group, and allow plenty of time to reach your pickup. There is no mobile reception in some bays, so save your booking details and maps offline before setting out.
Bookings & Pickup
Got questions about booking or getting aboard? We've got you covered.
Bookings & fares
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Book your Hops in advance online to secure your seats. Choose your date, pickup and destination bays, and preferred travel times. If you need a return journey, book your return pickup at the same time.
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Yes — we strongly recommend booking your Hops in advance to secure your seats, including your return pickup. Seats are limited, and services can fill up.
On confirmed services, online bookings close 30 minutes before your pickup.
If no guests are booked on any part of a loop, including return pickups, 60 minutes before its departure from Nelly Bay, that service will be cancelled.
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Walk-ons may be available on confirmed services, but only if there is space for your entire journey. We strongly recommend booking in advance to secure your seat, especially for your return pickup.
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No. You can pay by cash or card for a walk-on. Rocky has Starlink on board, so the crew can help you book and pay even though there is no mobile reception in some bays.
Walk-ons are only available on confirmed services, subject to space for your entire journey. We strongly recommend booking in advance, including your return pickup, to secure your seats.
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Book your outbound and return Hops in advance, ideally at the same time, to secure your seats. Check the return pickup bay and time carefully, and allow enough time to get back to the meeting point.
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One-way fares range from $35 to $50 per adult and $25 to $35 per child, depending on your journey. Return fares are twice the one-way fare.
Children’s fares apply to ages 1–14. Guests aged 15 and over travel at the adult fare, and infants under one travel free.
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A Day Hopper pass lets you travel on scheduled Bay Hopper services in one day. It’s an option if you’d like to visit more than one bay. The price is $99 per adult or $65 per child.
Book your intended Hops in advance, including your final pickup, so your seats are held. Additional journeys and changes are subject to availability.
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Yes. If you cancel at least 24 hours before your first Hop, you’ll receive a full refund.
For cancellations at least 24 hours before departure, use the Manage Booking Portal. For missed pickups, separate conditions apply; see the Bay Hopper Terms and Conditions.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before departure, no refund is available, subject to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. You can’t cancel online within this period, so please contact Clare on 0424 296 406 or email bayhopper@pilgrimsailing.com.au.
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Yes. You can change a Hop online through the Manage Booking Portal up to 60 minutes before the loop containing that Hop leaves Nelly Bay. This applies to each Hop in a return or multi-stop booking.
Changes are subject to availability. If your new journey costs more, the fare difference applies; if it costs less, we’ll refund the difference.
There is no mobile reception in some bays, so make changes before going ashore or speak with the crew about your plans.
Pickup and the day of travel
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Your booking will confirm your pickup point. The meeting points are:
Nelly Bay: Peppers Blue on Blue Resort deck, outside the Boardwalk Restaurant. Guests are escorted to the vessel. View Nelly Bay on Google Maps.
Horseshoe Bay: The boat ramp. View Horseshoe Bay on Google Maps.
Florence Bay: The middle of the beach, on weekdays. View Florence Bay on Google Maps.
Arthur Bay: The northern end of the beach, on weekends. View Arthur Bay on Google Maps.
Radical Bay: The eastern end of the beach. View Radical Bay on Google Maps.
There is no mobile reception in some bays. Check your meeting point before you travel and save the details offline.
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Bring drinking water, sun protection, suitable clothing and footwear, and your booking details. If you’re planning a swim or snorkel, bring your swimwear, towel and any equipment you need.
Some bays have limited facilities, so bring enough food and water for your time ashore. There is no storage on board, so only bring what will fit by your feet or on your lap.
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You may feel a little sea spray while travelling, so you might like to protect anything you’d prefer to keep dry.
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There is no mobile reception in some bays. Save your booking details, pickup time, meeting point and maps offline before heading out. Don’t rely on being able to call or message us while you’re ashore.
Before leaving the boat, confirm your pickup arrangements and ask the crew what to do if you need help.
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Facilities vary, and some of the more remote bays have limited or no facilities. Bring enough food and drinking water for your time ashore, and use the facilities before you leave if needed.
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We recommend making your plans before going ashore and not relying on changing them online later: there is no mobile reception in some bays.
If you want to change your pickup, you can:
Change your Hop through the Manage Booking Portal up to 60 minutes before its loop leaves Nelly Bay, if you have reception; or
Meet the skipper at your designated pickup point and time to arrange a change directly.
Changes are subject to availability. If you plan to walk out instead, let the crew know your plans before going ashore.
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Please be at your confirmed meeting point and ready by the check-in time in your booking. If you’re delayed or miss your pickup, contact us as soon as you can.
If you miss a pickup, we’ll cancel that pickup and, where a seat is available book you on the next available Hop out of the bay. You’ll be charged the fare for that Hop. If you miss it too, we’ll repeat this for the next available Hop, with its fare charged, up to the final service of the day.
A later pickup is not guaranteed if there is no available seat or operating conditions prevent the service. If you miss the final service and a special trip is required to collect you, a charge of up to $500 applies to cover fuel and staff costs. Don’t change your pickup point without confirming it with us. See the Bay Hopper Terms and Conditions.
There is no mobile reception in some bays. Confirm your pickup arrangements and what to do if you need help with the crew before going ashore.
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Your safety comes first. If we’re concerned that weather or sea conditions may prevent us from completing the day’s services, we’ll cancel the whole day before services begin. We won’t start the day if we don’t expect to complete the scheduled pickups.
If we cancel your booking, you can choose a full refund, credit or reschedule, subject to availability for the rescheduled service. We’ll contact you using the details provided with your booking.
Ideas for Your Day, Swimming & Snorkelling
Planning your day with us is easy! Find all the essential information to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience with Bay Hopper.
Ideas for your day
The examples below use the standard timetable. Services vary with the tides, so check availability for your date. We recommend booking every Hop in advance, including your return, to secure your seats.
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You could enjoy a quick beach visit at Florence Bay on a weekday:
10:30 am: Depart Nelly Bay.
10:55 am: Arrive at Florence Bay for a swim, snorkel or time on the beach.
12:35 pm: Depart Florence Bay.
1:00 pm: Arrive back at Nelly Bay.
That gives you approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes ashore, with a total outing of 2½ hours.
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On a weekday, you could spend the morning at Florence Bay and then continue to Radical Bay:
8:00 am: Depart Nelly Bay.
8:25 am–10:55 am: Enjoy Florence Bay.
10:55 am: Hop to Radical Bay, arriving at 11:10 am.
12:20 pm: Leave Radical Bay and return to Nelly Bay at 1:00 pm.
Prefer a longer stay at Radical Bay? On the standard timetable, you could choose the 2:50 pm pickup, returning to Nelly Bay at 3:30 pm instead. Reserve all three Hops when you book.
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Yes. Hop from Nelly Bay to Horseshoe Bay, enjoy lunch, a swim or a wander along the beachfront, then return on a later service.
For example, the 10:30 am departure arrives at Horseshoe Bay at 11:30 am. You could book the 2:30 pm return, arriving back at Nelly Bay at 3:30 pm. That gives you three hours at Horseshoe Bay.
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Yes. You can begin your day at Horseshoe Bay and visit a beach along the route.
For example, on a weekday, leave Horseshoe Bay at 9:15 am, arrive at Florence Bay at 9:50 am, then take the 10:55 amHop back towards Horseshoe Bay, arriving at 11:30 am. That gives you just over an hour at the beach.
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Yes, Bay Hopper can be a way to explore Magnetic Island during a shorter visit. If you’re travelling from Townsville, you’ll need to book your ferry tickets separately. We recommend booking both your ferry and Bay Hopper Hops in advance.
Choose an itinerary that leaves plenty of time for your ferry or ship connection, and check your departure and return times carefully before booking.
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Our Bay Hopper Guide to Magnetic Island will help you plan your day. It includes information about each bay, things to do, walking tracks, facilities and practical tips for your time ashore.
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Save the guide and your pickup details offline before you travel: there is no mobile reception in some bays.
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Your time ashore is yours to enjoy. Depending on the bay and conditions, you might swim, snorkel, walk, have a picnic or simply relax on the beach.
Activities ashore are independent and are not supervised by the Bay Hopper crew.
Swimming & snorkelling
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Yes, you can plan time ashore for a swim or snorkel. Check conditions and local warnings before entering the water, and never snorkel alone.
Marine stingers can be present year-round, with a higher risk during stinger season, generally November to May. A stinger suit can reduce the risk but does not eliminate it. You can hire a stinger suit as an optional extra when booking online.
Please help protect the reef: do not stand on or touch coral.
Swimming and snorkelling are independent activities and are not supervised by the Bay Hopper crew.
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Yes, you’re welcome to bring your own snorkelling gear. There is no storage on board, so your gear and belongings must fit by your feet or on your lap.
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Snorkelling equipment is not available to hire from Bay Hopper, but you can bring your own. You can hire equipment from other providers on Magnetic Island:
Nelly Bay: Aquascene, Island Living and MI Rentals.
Arcadia / Geoffrey Bay: Pleasure Divers.
Please check availability and hire arrangements directly with the provider before your trip.
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Marine stingers may be present year-round, with a higher risk during stinger season, generally November to May. A stinger suit can reduce the risk but doesn’t eliminate it. Check current conditions and warnings before swimming.
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Yes. Stinger suits are available to hire as an optional extra when you book online.
Accessibility, Children, Pets & Safety
A few things to know about bringing the little ones, accessibility and keeping everyone safe on board.
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Bay Hopper is designed to help more people explore Magnetic Island with confidence. It includes a wheelchair bay and tie-down points. Please contact us before booking to discuss your needs and the boarding arrangements at your chosen bays.
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Yes. There is no minimum age. Children’s fares apply to ages 1–14, and infants under one travel free. Guests aged 15 and over travel at the adult fare.
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Children’s life jackets are provided on board. Please include your child’s age in the Special Requirements section when booking.
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Please contact us before booking to discuss your mobility needs and the boarding arrangements at your chosen bays.
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No, prams cannot be taken on Bay Hopper.
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Dogs are not permitted on Bay Hopper because they are not permitted in the National Park.
Assistance animals are excepted; companion dogs are not. Due to space, only one assistance animal can travel on board at a time, and travel is weather permitting. Please contact us before booking to discuss your arrangements.