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Port Macquarie
Town Green Port Macquarie
Image by Unearthed by Matt
Explore Port Macquarie & Surrounds
Sitting pretty where the Hastings River meets the Pacific Ocean, Port Mac is the kind of town that’s genuinely easy to love. It’s walkable, friendly, and there’s always something on. Whether you’re here for a long weekend or a relaxed week or two, you’ll find yourself wondering why you don’t visit more often.
In this section, we give a brief overview of Port Macquarie township and beaches, Settlement Point & The North Shore, Sancrox & Thrumster, and Telegraph Point, Fernbank Creek and Blackman’s Point. We also list the historical attractions in the area, including the Museum.
Images: Town Square by night, Camp Jordan at Settlement Point, and Salty Crew Kiosk at Town Beach.
Explore Port Macquarie & Surrounds
Sitting pretty where the Hastings River meets the Pacific Ocean, Port Mac is the kind of town that’s genuinely easy to love. It’s walkable, friendly, and there’s always something on. Whether you’re here for a long weekend or a relaxed week or two, you’ll find yourself wondering why you don’t visit more often.
Port Macquarie’s Town Centre
The heart of Port Mac beats loudest around the waterfront and the CBD. Head down Clarence Street and you’ll clock the striking glass facade of the Glasshouse : Port’s cultural hub, home to the Regional Gallery, Visitor Information Centre, a great gift shop, event spaces and a proper theatre. Just across the cafe-lined forecourt is Port Central Shopping Centre. Clarence, Horton, Short, Murray and Hay Streets are full of boutiques, cafes, galleries and everything you need. Parking is free (but timed), with a multi-level carpark off Murray St and free spots on Short St next to the Town Wharf.
Town Green, Lady Nelson Wharf & Town Wharf
This is the beating heart of Port Mac and it’s ridiculously good. A gorgeous waterfront setting on the Hastings River where you’ll find picnics and parties, coffee and cocktails, playgrounds and promenades. Happy fishos try their luck off the Wharf. Kids giggle their way through ice creams on bikes. The sunsets are sublime. The eateries and bars surrounding the Green are top notch. Come hungry, stay for drinks. As your facing the water, head left along the promenade around the corner to Town Wharf, where you’ll find more restaurants, cafes and bars, and Port Jet Cruise Adventures (operators of River, Ocean and Whale Watching cruises).
The Port Macquarie Coastal Walk
Nine glorious kilometres of seaside trail from Westport Park all the way to Tacking Point Lighthouse. You can tackle the whole thing or just do a section : it’s all good. There are cafes dotted along the way for essential pit stops, and the views just keep getting better. The lighthouse end now has a wheelchair-accessible ramp and viewing platform, so nobody misses out on the view.
The Breakwall, Town Beach and Oxley Beach
Walk the iconic breakwall, hit one of the best skate parks on the coast, or settle in at Town Beach for a swim at the patrolled shore with lush parkland all around. Town Beach is a gorgeous golden crescent that’s popular with families, surfers and sun worshippers alike. Follow the Coastal Walk south over the headland to Oxley Beach for something a bit quieter : it’s pup-friendly (on a leash) and great for picnics.
Local tip: Salty Crew Kiosk and Little Shack are both excellent for a post-swim coffee or bite near Town Beach.
Flynns and Shelly Beaches
Flynns Beach is a local favourite : patrolled, family-friendly and genuinely beautiful. Shelly Beach has a calmer lagoon-style area right in front of the car park that’s perfect for little ones, plus shaded BBQ and picnic spots nearby. (Watch out for the giant monitor lizards who enjoy sunbaking just as much as you do.)
Lighthouse Beach & Tacking Point Lighthouse
Take the scenic ten minute drive along Pacific Drive and head to heritage listed Tacking Point Lighthouse for one of the best views up and down the coast. One of the longer stretches of beach in the region, Lighthouse Beach is patrolled at the northern end and has a fab surf club cafe, Coast, nearby. The southern end is famously home to the only place in Australia where you can ride a camel on the beach. Yes, really. Dogs and horses also welcome!
Little Shack Port Macquarie
The Port Mac Food and Bar Scene
This town eats and drinks very well! From waterfront cocktail bars to a cracking café strip, fresh seafood straight off the boat and wine you’d happily drink anywhere in the country, Port Mac’s food and drink scene is genuinely one of its best-kept secrets. Head to the Eat and Drink section of this site for the full local’s guide.
On the Water
With the Hastings River on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, the water options are endless. Jump on a cruise, hire a kayak or SUP, fish off the wharf, or book a boat charter for the serious stuff.
Port Jet Cruises : Ocean rides, whale watching and relaxed river cruises. portjet.com.au. Call 0419 620 765
Port Macquarie Museum : Multi-award winning attraction. Engaging exhibits from convict origins to modern-day stories, great for all ages. 22 Clarence St • (02) 6583 1108 • Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm. portmuseum.org.au
Historic Courthouse (1869) : Free entry. Beautifully restored National Trust building. Designed by colonial architect James Barnet and built in 1869. Clarence & Hay Streets • (02) 6584 1818 • Open weekdays 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-1pm
Don’t miss Wakulda: Weaving Our Stories as One, a free nightly sound and light show projected onto the Historic Courthouse. It brings Port Mac’s history to life in a completely beautiful way. Every night from 6:30pm (7:30pm during daylight savings).
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre and Boardwalk : A 1.3km boardwalk through ancient rainforest with guided tours by Aboriginal Rangers. 159 Pacific Drive • (02) 6582 3355 • Open daily 9am-4:30pm. See here for info.
St Thomas' Anglican Church (1824-1828) : One of Australia’s oldest churches, built by convicts. Features a rare 1857 barrel organ. History tours Tues & Thurs 9:30am-11:30am • $5pp
Douglas Vale Historic Homestead & Vineyard : A volunteer-run working vineyard with a museum. Free wine tastings and tours. 235 Oxley Highway • (02) 6584 3792 • Open Wed, Sat & Sun 10am-3pm • douglasvale.com.au
Innes Ruins – A National Trust classified historic site on the NSW north coast, it's an important remnant of early settlement days with rich stories of convict labour and 1800s culture, explorable via a guided tour with NSW National Parks.
Roto House – A charming 19th-century home restored by National Parks & Wildlife, offering a glimpse into the lives of early European free settlers, plus a fab on-site café ('Home at Roto') and expansive lawns to chill on. Situated right next to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
Tacking Point Lighthouse – A heritage-listed working lighthouse built in 1879 with incredible coastal views, a whale-watching favourite, and now easily accessible thanks to a brand-new all-abilities pathway and ramp. See here for more info.
Mid North Coast Maritime Museum - Originally built as Pilot Cottages in 1896, they now house a wonderful collection of maritime material including superbly built scale models of a variety of vessels, charts, maps, paintings and an extensive collection of historical maritime photos. Open 7 days 10am4pm, 6 William Street, Phone 02 6583 1866.
The Glasshouse- during construction of this modern cultural facility, the footings of 1823 Convict Overseers cottages were discovered and have been preserved for all to see on the lower ground floor of the Glasshouse as well as the display of many objects found during the excavation of the site. These give a very real insight into the beginnings of this colonial town nearly 200 years ago.
History and Heritage
Port Mac has a genuinely fascinating past. The Birpai people have called this country home for over 40,000 years, living in harmony with the land and sea. European settlement arrived in the early 1800s, and Port Mac became one of Australia’s earliest penal colonies.
The town was built by those convicts and overseen by military officers of the 48th Regiment. Port Macquarie was opened up to free settlers from 1830 and remained a convict town until 1847.
Evidence of our convict past can be viewed at various locations including the convict built St Thomas' Church, the well of the Female Factory in Munster Street, the well of the 1840 gaol located within the Ibis Hotel and at the Port Macquarie Museum. The historic cemetery at the southern end of Horton Street is home to the remains of many of our early settlers including convicts, military officers and free settlers.
Port Macquarie Museum
Images: Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries (Blackmans Point), Cassegrain Wines (Fernbank Creek), Billabong Zoo (Sancrox)
Port Macquarie Surrounds
Settlement Point and the North Shore
Head west from the CBD along Park Street, past the Marina, and you’ll reach Settlement Point in about five minutes. It’s one of those spots that locals love for all the reasons visitors haven’t discovered yet. The Hastings River is wide and calm here, there are picnic spots on the bank, and the whole vibe is thoroughly relaxed. You can swim, you can fish, you can hire a kayak or SUP, or you can just sit by the water and do absolutely nothing. Highly recommended.
Hire Gear and Get on the Water
Settlement Point Boatshed and Jordan’s Boating Centre are in Settlement Point, making it ridiculously easy to get on the river. Whether you want to paddle quietly upstream, explore the estuaries, or just muck around on a stand-up paddleboard for an hour, they’ve got you sorted.
Take the Ferry Across to the North Shore
This is where it gets good. A vehicular ferry runs from Settlement Point across the Hastings River to the North Shore, and once you’re over there, you’re in a genuinely different world. Long, open beaches with 4WD access, national park wilderness and the kind of uncrowded, untouched scenery that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something secret. Because you sort of have.
North Beach stretches out in both directions and is accessible by 4WD. The ferry operates daily and takes cars, so you can load up and head straight onto the sand. BYO Supplies - there are no shops or services until you get to Crescent Head!
Beach driving permit: You’ll need a permit for beach driving. Get the details and permit at pmhc.nsw.gov.au and search ‘beach driving.’
Queens Head Beach, Limeburners Creek National Park
Our pick for the North Shore is Queens Head Beach, sitting inside Limeburners Creek National Park. It’s raw, wild and genuinely spectacular. The headland and rock formations are extraordinary and the sense of space is something you simply can’t get closer to town. Zero crowds, endless horizons and the kind of coast that looks like a screensaver but is absolutely real.
Point Plomer and Crescent Head
If you’ve got a reliable 4WD and a sense of adventure, keep heading north along the sandy track from Queens Head. Point Plomer is a stunning camping and picnic spot inside Limeburners Creek National Park, and Crescent Head is a legendary surf town with one of the best longboard waves in Australia. It’s a bumpy ride to get there but absolutely worth it if conditions are right.
Maria River Distillery
Book in for a tour and tasting at MRD’s verdant farm on Maria River Road, accessible from the North Shore. Divine Limoncellos, Ginellos and Mandarincellos pair beautifully with their house-made antipasto. Visit mariariverdistillery.com.au
Fernbank Creek, Blackmans Point and Telegraph Point
From the Port Mac CBD, head north along Hastings River Drive and within 10 minutes you’re in some of the most rewarding day-trip territory in the region. Wineries, award-winning farms, horse riding and one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest inflatable water parks are all strung along this short stretch of highway. It’s a very good 10 minutes.
Cassegrain Wines, Fernbank Creek
Turn left onto Winery Drive and follow it to Cassegrain Wines, one of the most complete day-out destinations in the region. This is a proper estate with 40 years of winemaking behind it, situated 15 minutes from the CBD and genuinely beautiful any time of year. You can taste award-winning wines at the Cellar Door (open 7 days, 10am to 5pm), book lunch at Taste restaurant overlooking the vines (Wednesday to Sunday, bookings essential), picnic under towering trees with your dog, or book the kids in for a horse riding session through the grounds with Port Macquarie Horse Riding Centre.
Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries, Blackmans Point
Turn right instead of left at the roundabout on Hastings River Drive and head up to Blackmans Point for one of the region’s most genuinely fun and family-friendly experiences. Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries has been Port Mac’s most awarded tourist attraction for years, and once you’ve been you completely understand why. The pick-your-own strawberry experience runs year-round, with berries growing on vertical frames so everyone from toddlers to grandparents can reach them easily. The farm shop is packed with their award-winning preserves, fresh produce and locally made gifts. If you get hungry, Cafe Red (open 9am to 3pm, 7 days) does farm-fresh breakfasts, lunches and the world-famous scones with fresh whipped cream and strawberry jam.
Stoney Aqua Park and Aqua Golf, Telegraph Point
A few minutes further north up the highway is Telegraph Point and Stoney Park, which is exactly the kind of place you’re glad someone told you about before the summer holidays. Stoney Aqua Park is one of the world’s largest inflatable aqua parks, set on a purpose-built, professionally supervised lake surrounded by the eucalypts. Slides, giant swings, climbing walls, trampolines and a whole lot of splashing. Sun lounges, a BBQ area, change rooms, SUPs and kayaks for hire, a kiosk, and you can even book a cabin and camp on site if you want to make a whole weekend of it. The newest addition is Stoney Aqua Golf, where you tee off undercover and hit out over the lake. Equipment provided, and yes, it is as fun as it sounds. Open from Spring through to Easter on weekends and school holidays. Book ahead online. Good to know: The Aqua Park is seasonal and closed in winter. Check stoneypark.com.au for current opening dates and book before you go.
Sancrox and Thrumster
Head west from Port Mac up the Oxley Highway for ten minutes and you’ll hit the big roundabout near the M1 interchange. Most people drive straight through. Smart people stop. The Sancrox and Thrumster area has a cluster of family-friendly attractions that deserve a full day of your time, and if you’re visiting with kids, this patch of the region is basically unmissable.
Sovereign Place Town Centre
On your left just before the highway roundabout is Sovereign Place, a handy town centre with shopping, dining and everyday services. Good for stocking up, grabbing a coffee, or a quick lunch before diving into the attractions.
Billabong Zoo
Pull into Billabong Drive and prepare for a proper full-day attraction. Billabong Zoo was recently awarded Business NSW’s Best Visitor Experience in NSW, which tells you everything you need to know. It’s home to over 200 animals across 10 acres of shaded, easy-to-walk grounds, from koalas and red pandas to meerkats and one genuinely enormous crocodile named Shrek. New residents include the otters, who are already very popular and very cute.
Guulabaa -Place of Koala
Just across the highway roundabout from Billabong Zoo, Guulabaa is the temporary home of Port Macquarie’s world-famous Koala Hospital while the Lord Street site undergoes a major redevelopment (due to reopen Aug-2026). But Guulabaa is genuinely worth visiting in its own right. Built in partnership with the Forestry Corporation of NSW and Bunya Land Council, it sits within Cowarra State Forest and blends stunning architectural timber structures with tall stands of eucalypts.
Inside you’ll find the world’s first Wild Koala Conservation Breeding Visitor Centre, where you can meet resident koalas and watch them being cared for. There’s a Gift Shop and Gallery, and the Bunya Cafe run by the Bunyah Land Council offers food, coffee and a connection to beautiful Biripi Country. Grab a selfie with the Big Koala out front.
Wildnets Adventure Park at Guulabaa
Also on site at Guulabaa is Wildnets Adventure Park, and if you have kids with you, budget a good chunk of the day for this. Giant nets are suspended between the tall eucalypts high above the forest floor, creating a treetop playground like nothing else around. Ball pits, giant inflatables, ziplines, rope ladders and over 100 challenges on the new ropes course experience (sold separately). Fifty percent of profits go to Koala Conservation Australia. Book ahead.wildnets.com.au
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