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 Magnetic Island is
just a 20 minute ferry ride
off the coast of Townsville in the dry tropics of North Queensland
within the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area. The permanent
population is just over 2000 but it is a popular visitor destination. So it
offers all facilities. Although the population is distributed across four
villages or 'bays' Horsehoe Bay, Arcadia, Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay, it
is a real and vital community with a strong sense of its own identity.
It is very active in music with a flourishing musos' club and as the original
base for Aquapella, the celebrated world music choir.
Passenger ferries run between
the Island and Townsville up to 18 times a day and the car ferry or
'barge' runs 8 times a day. There is a regular bus service on the Island
connecting the ferry terminal with the other 'bays' and there are four
taxis on the Island. Townsville airport is served by Jetstar, Qantas and
Virgin Blue direct to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Gold Coast and Canberra
as well as regional centres. There is a regular shuttle bus operating
between the airport and the Breakwater ferry terminal
 Music
on Magnetic will be held at the Active Recreation Centre in tranquil
Picnic Bay. Picnic has two
excellent beaches where you can swim, snorkel or just walk. You can extend
your walk on the old jetty that runs out to sea or along walking tracks
where you can access headland views across the water. There are a couple
of shops, Italian and Chinese restaurants and a fitness centre as well
as a pub offering nice views and decent bistro meals.
We will live, sing, play and
dance entirely in the Centre. Guests will be accommodated in bunkhouse
cabins on the site with six beds in each. We will eat and have our
breaks together, allowing a community to emerge and a more
personal relationship to develop between our guests and our outstanding
performer-teachers. We include three hot meals a day, catering
to vegetarians and other special dietary needs, morning and afternoon
teas and supper.
Our teaching sessions
will be
held right in the Centre in three locations. The main hall is big enough
to accommodate all of us during our evening
entertainment sessions. As
well as having easy access to the beach the Centre has tennis and beach
volleyball courts as well as all-purpose sporting facilities.
While you are here you can
take advantage of the other attractions the Island has to offer: the
magnificent walks with wide ocean vistas; the restaurants of Nelly and
Horseshoe Bays; the huge variety of beaches from the safe family
playfulness of Alma Bay to the eye-popping crystalline beauty of
Florence Bay; scuba diving at Arcadia; and horse-riding, sea kayaking
and other water sports at Horseshoe. But you should be aware that our
program will be so attractive and absorbing that you might not have time
for anything else.
   
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