Things To Do

Best Beaches & Swimming Spots in Port Macquarie

Town Beach by @localfamous

Port Macquarie is not short of water. You've got ocean beaches stretching for kilometres in every direction, a beautiful river winding through the middle of town, hidden freshwater swimming holes up in the hills, and waterways down south in the Camden Haven that feel like someone's best-kept secret. Picking a favourite is genuinely hard. But we'll give it a go…

Best Beaches for Families

These are our ‘best beaches with kids’ picks! Most are regularly patrolled, with great facilities (think playgrounds, BBQs , cafes etc). You’re welcome!

  • Town Beach (pictured) ticks every single box. Patrolled year-round, right in town, great facilities, a skate park and playground at the Breakwall end, and Salty Crew Kiosk (pictured) nearby for acai bowls and snacks. Walk the colourful Breakwall nearby while you're there.

  • Flynns Beach (pictured below) is the family beach that Port Mac locals instinctively head to. Patrolled, central, and with a beachside kiosk and cafes right across the road including local faves Roam Café and Cocoa Cartel. The vibe is relaxed and the waves are generally kind.

  • Lighthouse Beach is a long, beautiful stretch with the northern end often patrolled and an exceptional café (‘Coast’) at the Surf Club. The southern end isn’t suitable for swimming as it can be rough with rips, but you can take your dog off lead. You’ll also find camel rides along the sand with Port Macquarie Camel Safaris, which is one of those experiences that everyone should do at least once.

  • Shelly Beach has a delightful natural lagoon sitting directly in front of the car park, and is the thing families come here for. It's perfect for smaller kids to float, splash and snorkel when the tide is higher. Note: it’s unpatrolled and we wouldn’t recommend heading into the swell. The shaded picnic and BBQ area is lovely and you can join the Sea Acres Coastal Walk section from here. Side note: the large monitor lizards that cruise around will very confidently expect part of your picnic. Please don’t feed them!

  • Lake Cathie (pronounced 'cat-eye') is about 15 minutes south and absolutely worth knowing about. It’s a vast saltwater lake and when it’s open to the ocean (intermittently), it's calm, warm, and wonderful for paddling, swimming and floating. There's a playground, BBQs, picnic tables, walking track, a skate park and cafes nearby. The popular Lake Cathie Tavern a short drive from here, next to the local shopping centre.

  • Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills is loved by groms and their families, with many locals learning to surf at this pretty golden stretch. The waves here are consistently good, attracting National-level surf comps.

  • Pilot Beach at Dunbogan in the Camden Haven is what calm, protected and uncrowded looks like. Tucked between two breakwalls, the water is naturally sheltered and the surrounds are beautiful. A local favourite that stays under the radar (mostly).

Beach scene with striped blue and white umbrellas, people swimming and relaxing near rocks, ocean waves, clear blue sky, and potted plants on a wooden deck.
Beach scene with striped blue and white umbrellas, people swimming and relaxing near rocks, ocean waves, clear blue sky, and potted plants on a wooden deck.

Salty Crew, Town Beach

A white lifeguard tower on a sandy beach during sunset, with the sun visible behind the tower casting long shadows on the grass and sand.

Town Beach

A coastal scene featuring a sandy beach with people swimming and relaxing, ocean waves, and a hillside covered with residential houses and trees, dotted with colorful kites flying in a blue sky.

Flynns Beach

Water Park Fun

Through the warmer months, book a session at Stoney Park’s huge inflatable water park (pic below). This is our kids’ number one pick and it’s just a 15 minute drive up the highway from Port Mac. There’s a small section for the little ones as well.

If you’ve got little ones and you’re after water play in town, head to Livvi’s Playground at Westport Park. There are also public chlorinated pools in Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Kendall.

Large outdoor water park with inflatable floating obstacle courses on a river, with grassy area and trees in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
A person wakeboarding on a body of water, mid-air, with water splashing around them and wearing a yellow life jacket.
A person wakeboarding on a body of water, mid-air, with water splashing around them and wearing a yellow life jacket.

Town Beach

Best Beaches for Surfing

Port Mac has waves for every level, from first-timers who just want to stand up, to serious surfers chasing power and consistency.

  • Town Beach is the one right in front of the CBD and it works in most swells, particularly with a north-west to south-west wind. It's patrolled year-round by Australian Lifeguards, which makes it the most reliably safe option in town. It's also super convenient if you want to grab a coffee, check the surf, and be back in the water within ten minutes.

  • Flynns Beach is the locals' all-rounder. Great for all abilities, it's patrolled during summer and school holidays, and it's where you'll find Port Macquarie Surf School if you or the kids want a lesson. They hire boards too, so you've got no excuses.

  • Lighthouse Beach rewards those who make the effort. The north end is often patrolled and generally more mellow. The southern end can get a bit sketchy.

  • Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills is the one that gets serious surfers excited. It hosts the Australian Surfing Championships for good reason. The waves here are powerful and consistent when it's on, and the surf club has a genuinely lovely café overlooking the break for when you need to refuel. About 15 minutes south of Port Mac, it's well worth the drive.

For experienced surfers, North Shelly is consistently good in a SE swell, Lake Cathie Beach can produce excellent surf when conditions align, and Grants Headland down in the Camden Haven is a reliable option when smaller swells are running.

New to surfing? Book a lesson with Port Macquarie Surf School at Flynns Beach, or the crew at Soul Surfing. They know these breaks better than anyone and they'll have you on your feet faster than you'd think.

Adventure Lovers’ Beaches

For deserted, wild and off the beaten track beauty, our picks are Grants Head Beach (15 minutes south of Port), and Queens Head Beach over on the North Shore. For this one, you’ll need to take the car ferry over from Settlement Point. It’s a whole experience. Bring the camera. If you want to take your car onto the beach, head to pmhc.nsw.gov.au to get beach driving permits and access the beach driving maps.

Coastal & Hinterland River Fun

The region is home to two substantial river systems, The Hastings River and the Camden Haven River. Along the coast, the water is brackish and bull sharks are present. This doesn’t stop keen splashers and paddlers (particularly at Settlement Point), but keep a close eye out. Down in the Camden Haven, there are netted tidal pools at North Haven and Dunbogan.

You can hire kayaks and SUPs at Settlement Point, and also tinnies and BBQ boats at Jordans Boat Shed, or Dunbogan Boat Shed down south. You can also hire jet skis with Port Jet Cruise Adventures (no licence required), or try Oz-foiling Port Macquarie for adventurous fun. Port Jet Cruise Adventures also offer daily river cruises..

If salt and sand isn’t your thing, head for the hills! You’ll find freshwater swimming holes at Swans Crossing, Wild Bull Recreation Area (pictured), and Rawson Falls (pictured - and which, you guessed it, is at the base of the waterfall). Enjoy a pretty country drive and allow around an hour to get there.

A man and woman sitting by a waterfall in a lush green forest, viewed from the water.
A tree growing at an angle with wooden steps attached to its trunk, leading up through its branches near a calm, clear creek surrounded by lush green trees.

Port Macquarie Beach Guide- Quick Reference Table