A seaside treasure in New South Wales, Australia’s mid-north coast, Port Macquarie is a place where unending chances for adventure and leisure combine with the area’s natural beauty. It’s understandable why Port Macquarie has grown to be a popular travel destination for tourists looking for a combination of outdoor exploration, cultural experiences, and a taste of the laid-back Aussie lifestyle, with its scenic scenery, gorgeous beaches, and an abundance of activities. Port Macquarie provides a wide choice of activities that are sure to captivate visitors, from historical buildings and vibrant local culture to immaculate beaches and colorful wildlife. Together, we will explore the top 8 destinations and activities available in this idyllic coastal town.
Town Beach
1. Town Beach is a family-friendly destination with open grassy areas, picnic facilities, and a kiosk serving delicious food and coffee. It features a modern playground, outdoor gym equipment, and a skate park. The picturesque Town Beach break wall, adorned with colorful graffiti rocks, is a popular site. Board riders favor the beach due to its protection from south winds and multiple bars. When conditions align, the beach can handle large southeast swells, and there’s a popular spot called Flagstaff inside the breakwater, known for breaking over a sandbar during larger south swells.
Photo credit: Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Town beach aerial by Matt Gilligan
Tacking Point Light House
2. Tacking Point Lighthouse is a prime whale-watching spot during migration. A stunning coastal walk begins at Town Green foreshore and ends at Tacking Point Lighthouse, offering exquisite views of Port Macquarie’s beaches, shrubbery, and native wildlife along its 9.1-kilometer length. Lighthouse Beach in the hinterland boasts a beautiful seven-kilometer stretch of sand and is popular among surfers for its protection from summer north-easterly winds. Visitors can enjoy camel safaris, beach fishing, and Four-Wheel Drive adventures. The Surf Life Saving Club on Lighthouse Beach provides surf sports and a kiosk for refreshments.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
3. The Koala Hospital, located within the historic Roto House grounds, is the world’s first hospital dedicated solely to koala care and conservation. Visitors can get up close to koalas, learn about their stories and rehabilitation, and benefit from knowledgeable guides who explain the hospital’s work and koala conservation. The hospital also features informative displays about its history and koala preservation efforts. Visitors can support the hospital by purchasing koala-themed souvenirs and contribute to its non-profit work in caring for injured koalas. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, volunteer programs are available. The location offers opportunities for capturing scenic photos of koalas and the coastal surroundings, all within the beautiful Macquarie Nature Reserve.
Port Macquarie Coastal Walk
4. This scenic coastal walk in Port Macquarie begins at Town Green foreshore and takes you along a beautiful route encompassing Town Beach, Rocky Beach lookout, Nobby’s Beach, Harry’s lookout with views of Shelly Beach, and concluding at Sea Acres. Along the way, you’ll encounter historical sites and breathtaking seaside scenery. During May to November, you might even spot migrating whales and are encouraged to note your sightings. The south end of the walk offers a unique forest-to-sea transition. The walk culminates at Tacking Point lighthouse, but it’s customizable for shorter sections or family-friendly walks. You’ll also find opportunities for barbecues and swimming, including a beachside café at Flynn’s Beach.
Sea Acres National Park
5. Sea Acres National Park offers a unique combination of beach and rainforest, where the sound of crashing waves harmonizes with birdsong. This park preserves one of the largest remaining coastal rainforests on the Australian east coast, with the rainforest extending all the way to the beach. The best way to explore this lush environment is by taking a leisurely stroll along the elevated boardwalk, either at your own pace or with a knowledgeable rainforest guide. Additionally, there are opportunities for Aboriginal Discovery activities, allowing you to delve into the Aboriginal history of the area and sample some bush tucker. If you wish to extend your stay in this peaceful rainforest setting, you can relax with a hot beverage or a refreshing drink at the Rainforest Café.
Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberry Farm
6. Ricardoes is a must-visit destination for travelers of all ages. The facility features rows of greenhouse structures where you can explore rows of flourishing tomato plants and sweet strawberries, all protected from the elements. “Cafe Red,” an air-conditioned café with a BYO policy and highchairs available, offers budget-friendly farm-fresh breakfasts, brunches, lunches, snacks, tea, coffee, cakes, and delicious Devonshire Teas with warm farmhouse scones, cream, and homemade strawberry jam. Visitors can enjoy complimentary tastings of their award-winning sweet and savory preserves. The on-site shop is stocked with daily harvested farm produce and essential supplies for RVers and campers. Additionally, you have the unique opportunity to pick your own strawberries from shoulder-height frames, making it an ideal stopover or a delightful place to spend a few hours.
Flynns Beach
7. It has good protection from westerly and southerly winds and suits learn-to-surfers most of the year. The Surf Club has a kiosk that serves meals. There is plenty of accommodation available within a short walk of Flynns Beach. Things that can do is swim and sunbathe, surfing, picnicking, coastal walk, watersports and wildlife viewing.
Move8 Walk-a-Hunt
8. The Move8 Walk-a-Hunt is introduced by the inaugural AFT International Sports Fitness Festival. It begins at Panthers Port Macquarie and takes visitors in-person or in virtual reality along main streets in town where they will arrive at eight checkpoints in a 7-KM route. It’s a fun adventure while discovering Port Macquarie’s town to beach areas. The “Walk-a-Hunt” concept brings together recreational walking and a treasure hunt. Participants will be invited to explore a designated area, following clues or instructions in a riddle via a video to locate specific items, sign boards or businesses, solve the puzzles along the way and complete the challenges. Participants sign up and can complete it at their own pace. For more info, visit www.sportsfitnessfestival.com.
Getting to Port Macquarie:
- A coastal town located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, at the mouth of the Hastings River, approximately 390 km north of Sydney and 530 km south of Brisbane in Australia.
- Rome2Rio is a website that suggests four ways to get to Port Macquarie from Sydney. Travel by flight, train, bus or car – click here.
- Transport NSW also provides a comprehensive travel guide – click here.
- Plan your trip and learn more about Port Macquarie by visiting their official destination website: portmacquarieinfo.com.au.
Text compiled by Mohammad Hafizuddin Bin Mohammad Rosdi.
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Port Macquarie’s top 8 destinations and activities for visitors is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Quote Source: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/2023/10/25/top-8-port-macquarie/
