Waves breaking along the rocky Port Macquarie coastline, seen from above

Explore Port Macquarie

One of the sunniest stretches of the NSW coast — nine beaches, a rainforest, a river, and a town that fits between them.

The map

Pick a pin, plan a morning.

Everything below is real and walkable, swimmable or a short drive. Filter by mood; click a painted rock to see what it is.

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Town Beach

The town's front yard: patrolled surf, a grassy headland for fish and chips, and the famous painted rocks along the breakwall.

~5 min driveBeaches

Dozens of hand-painted rocks in bright colours, the same tradition as the Town Beach breakwall

Painted breakwall rocks

Locals have hand-painted the breakwall boulders for decades. Walk the wall at Town Beach and read the town's stories rock by rock.

~5 min driveBeaches

Flynns Beach

Family favourite with gentle banks, a kiosk, and rock pools at the southern end. Patrolled through the warmer months.

~7 min driveBeaches

Shelly Beach

Sheltered, leafy and calm — the pick for a quiet morning swim. The Coastal Walk passes right behind the sand.

~8 min driveBeaches

Sunrise over the Port Macquarie coastline

Oxley Beach

A short, pretty arc between headlands that most visitors walk straight past. Locals like it that way.

~6 min driveBeaches

Waves washing over rocks on the Port Macquarie shoreline

Nobbys Beach

Rock pools, a dramatic little headland, and a natural sea pool at low tide. Bring sandshoes and poke around.

~7 min driveBeaches

Sandy path leading down to the ocean at sunrise in Port Macquarie

Lighthouse Beach

Nine kilometres of open sand below Tacking Point. Room for everyone, every day of the year — plus camel rides at the north end.

~12 min driveBeaches

A walker on the sand at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie

The Coastal Walk

Nine clifftop kilometres from the breakwall to Tacking Point, stitched together with beaches, lookouts and whale-spotting seats.

starts ~5 min drive awayWalks & nature

Tacking Point Lighthouse

One of Australia's oldest lighthouses (1879), on a headland made for whale watching between May and November.

~12 min driveWalks & nature

Mossy timber boardwalk winding through lush rainforest

Sea Acres Rainforest Centre

A 1.3 km boardwalk through coastal rainforest canopy — brush turkeys, water dragons and birdsong all the way.

~9 min driveWalks & nature

Port Macquarie coastline glimpsed through coastal banksia and palms

Kooloonbung Creek Nature Reserve

Paperbark boardwalks and bush tracks minutes from the middle of town. Listen for the resident flying fox colony.

~4 min driveWalks & nature

A koala dozing in the fork of a eucalypt

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

The world's first koala hospital, run by Koala Conservation Australia. Free to wander, and the daily feeding tour is the highlight.

~5 min driveFamily

Two kangaroos standing in grassland near a tree

Billabong Zoo

Koala breeding centre and wildlife park known for its keeper talks — snow leopards, red pandas and a lot of native locals.

~10 min driveFamily

Hands picking ripe strawberries in a sunny field

Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries

Pick your own strawberries year-round, then test the cafe's scones. Kids leave with red fingers and full punnets.

~15 min driveFamily

A calm river at sunset with birds overhead

Hastings River cruises

Dolphin-spotting, oyster farm tours and sunset runs leave from the wharf near Town Green.

~5 min driveFamily

Aerial view of clear green water winding past riverside homes

Settlement Point ferry

A tiny cable ferry that has crossed the river since the 1800s. Ride it to North Shore's quiet beaches — cars and walkers welcome.

~8 min driveFamily

A surfer riding a small clean wave on a sunny beach

Learn to surf

Gentle banks at Flynns and Town Beach make ideal first waves.

~7 min driveFamily

A seafood platter with fresh oysters, prawns and lemon

Waterfront seafood

Fresh-off-the-trawler fish and chips on the river, or white-tablecloth oysters at sunset.

~5 min driveEat & drink

Brunch on a marble table: coffee, croissant sandwich and an omelette

Cafés & brunch

The town takes coffee seriously — laneway espresso bars, beachfront brunches and bakeries worth queueing for.

~5 min driveEat & drink

A tasting flight of craft beers on a wooden tray outdoors

Breweries & distilleries

A growing local brewing scene with taprooms, food trucks and live music on weekends.

~7 min driveEat & drink

A small boutique shopfront with an ivy-covered facade

Clarence Street boutiques

The main strip for independent fashion, homewares and gifts, with arcades worth ducking into.

~5 min driveShopping

Growers markets

Local produce, flowers and good coffee by the river.

~5 min driveShopping

Rows of vines stretching across a NSW vineyard

Cassegrain Wines

Cellar door, rose gardens and long lunches fifteen minutes inland. The sparkling is the local celebration bottle.

~15 min driveDay trips

Green farmland and rolling hills in the NSW hinterland

Wauchope & the hinterland

Timber-town history, Bago's maze and vineyard, and green valleys that turn gold in the afternoon. Take the slow road back.

~20 min driveDay trips

Crescent Head

A national surfing reserve with one of the longest right-handers on the coast. Worth the drive even if you only watch.

~40 min driveDay trips

A perfect day in Port

You won't need the car much.

6.30 am

First light on the breakwall

Coffee in hand, read the painted rocks while the sun comes up over Town Beach.

9 am

Swim at Shelly

Calm, green and sheltered. Dry off under the trees and watch the goannas patrol.

11.30 am

Koala rounds

Walk the Koala Hospital yards and meet the patients. Donations welcome, entry free.

2 pm

The Coastal Walk south

Beach-hop the clifftop path toward Tacking Point. In season, count the whales.

6 pm

Fish and chips on Town Green

Straight off the trawler, eaten by the river while the pelicans supervise.

Sound like your kind of week?

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