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I grew up holidaying in Port Macquarie and have fond childhood recollections of tenting on the Breakwall Caravan Park and having infinite enjoyable on the seashore.
We beloved these journeys to Port Macquarie – it was an awesome getaway from our dwelling close to Sydney and all members of my household loved visiting time and time once more as a result of there are infinite issues to do in Port Macquarie.
It was so thrilling to revisit Port Macquarie with my very own youngsters and present them locations from my very own childhood, in addition to discover extra of the Larger Port Macquarie area and uncover some hidden gems.
Since I used to be a toddler, so many extra points of interest had opened up in Port Macquarie, up within the hinterland, and across the Camden Haven area.
If you happen to’re undecided what to do in Port Macquerie, then you’ll want to try the beneath unmissable points of interest.
1. Catch dawn at City Seaside
It’s value getting away from bed early for dawn in Port Macquarie.
A number of individuals steered the Tacking Level Lighthouse is superior at dawn, and I’m certain it’s.
However I opted for City Seaside and the breakwall as I may stroll there from our condominium, and it meant getting up only a wee bit later.
The primary dawn shot I took was from the seashore utilizing a lifeguards tower for some foreground curiosity, then from the top of the long-lasting breakwall as a neighborhood fisherman went about catching his lunch.
As I used to be taking pictures away many individuals have been pulling into the automobile park and heading off by foot. My guess is that they have been beginning the favored Coastal Stroll.
2. Go to Billabong Koala Wildlife Park
We arrived on the Billabong Koala Wildlife Park simply in time to see “Shrek” the monster croc get fed.
At 4.6 metres lengthy, he’s an intimidating fella when hungry and that is as shut as I ever wish to get to a croc.
After spending months travelling round North Queensland and the High Finish of Australia, I’m all for vacationers studying in regards to the behaviour of those dinosaurs and the respect we have to present them with a purpose to maintain ourselves protected, and them from changing into extinct.
There’s additionally the cuter model of Shrek at Billabong Zoo that Kalyra and Savannah have been joyful to the touch.
This park is a world-renowned breeding centre for koalas and gives the possibility to stand up shut and private with a few of Australia’s favorite wildlife.
You’ll be able to by no means pet too many koalas, simply ask my youngsters who simply wish to cuddle them and convey them dwelling. Particularly a child koala who was snuggling with mum up the gum tree.
Feeding the kangaroos and wallabies is all the time a spotlight for the women, their moist mouths nibbling away on the meals within the palm of your hand. And some if them had little joeys of their pouches!!
Love the photograph bomb on this one!
Not solely is there Aussie wildlife on show right here, however we loved trying out the Snow Leopards and Purple Pandas, who by the best way have been extraordinarily energetic enjoying peek-a-boo with me as I attempted to snap a pic. I lastly bought him within the tree.
While there, seize a chunk to eat on the Billabong Cafe, which comes with each mum or dad’s dream – a play space for the children to maintain them entertained while you get pleasure from some down time.
Billabong Koala Park is open day-after-day besides Christmas Day.
To study all about what’s on supply go to their web site.
3. Wander alongside the Breakwall
I used to journey my bike and fish off the long-lasting breakwall as a child, and it’s the very first thing that involves thoughts once I consider Port.
This time, it was good to see my very own youngsters having fun with a stroll from City Inexperienced to City Seaside trying out all of the brightly painted rocks.
There’s some cool paintings from locals and guests alike and if you happen to’re fortunate you may see dolphins enjoying within the Hastings River throughout your stroll.
On the City Seaside finish, there’s a boogie board statue claiming Port as the boogie board capital of Australia, plus a skate park and playground.
4. Watch the sundown
We took in sundown throughout our stroll alongside the breakwall earlier than heading to dinner on the town.
Different nice viewing spots are City Inexperienced close to Woman Nelson Wharf, or how about having fun with sundown with a chilly drink at The Seaside Home pub which has uninterrupted views of the Hastings River.
Sunsets right here can set the sky alight as they dip beneath the mountain on the banks of the river.
5. Go to City Inexperienced & Woman Nelson Wharf
Woman Nelson Wharf is called after one of many three ships that arrived at this level in 1821 to determine the penal settlement of Port Macquarie.
This wharf is a well-liked fishing spot by day, as is the City Inexperienced space, however we loved the twilight scene simply after sundown because the lights got here on.
There’s a playground at City Inexperienced and loads of grass space to run round or have a picnic at one of many picnic areas.
6. Eat at The Seaside Home
The earlier than talked about Seaside Home is my kinda pub. Prime place on the waterfront, an outside beer backyard model space with a stage for stay music, good collection of beer on faucet, child pleasant and a brand new menu consisting of American model grub.
After chatting with supervisor Brent and Canadian chef George, I opted for the Philly Cheese Steak – that basic sandwich from Philadelphia within the US.
And what a feast it was. Tasty and BIG, and I washed it down with a Blonde Ale made regionally by the parents at Black Duck Brewery.
Caz loved her Blackened Silver Dory Salad, which for seafood lovers we’d extremely suggest. The youngsters have been saved pleased with their cheeseburger and nuggets.
No surprise it is a widespread spot for the locals to hang around. It will be my native too.
7. Stroll the Howdy Koalas Sculpture Path
That is cool. Dotted across the Port Macquarie panorama are 50 one-metre tall hand-painted koala sculptures made from fibreglass.
From the mountains to the ocean, they create the Howdy Koalas Public Sculpture Path.
I snapped this cool wanting dude in City Inexperienced.
8. Stroll the Port Macquarie Coastal Stroll
We didn’t have time to do the 9km Coastal Stroll on this journey, however we’ve completed a piece of it beforehand and if you happen to’re on the town with sufficient time, I extremely suggest it as a factor to do in Port Macquarie.
Begin from City Seaside and head south to Tacking Level Lighthouse.
You’ll come throughout household pleasant Flynns Seaside and small inlets bordered by rocky headlands that lead you to the flatter and wider sands of Shelly Seaside, then by the protected Sea Nature reserve and all the way down to the wild and tough pounding waves of Lighthouse Seaside.
The stroll is spectacular and peaceable and in comparison with say, the Bondi to Coogee coastal stroll, virtually empty.
9. Take the children to play at Livvi’s Place Playgrounds
On the lookout for a playground your youthful youngsters can burn off some vitality for half an hour?
Livvi’s Place is a water playground at Westport Park with a carousel, water play, tree home, nature play and swings, proper on the Hastings River.
10. Try the Wauchope Farmers Market
Each fourth Saturday of every month is the native Wauchope Farmers Market.
Wherever we stay or locations we go to we all the time try to seize our recent produce from the farmers market and help the native growers.
We stopped in right here on our manner out to our Farm Keep to refill on provides for dinner and breakfast by grabbing some eggs, fruit and veg, and wherever there’s a punnet of strawberries on give you’ll you’ll want to discover Savannah!
11. Loosen up at Waterman’s Cafe
While in Wauchope we hit up the favored Waterman’s Cafe, which overlooks the park and youngsters playground and has a pleasant seating space outdoors within the solar.
The youngsters entertained themselves on the park while I downed a chai latte, probably the greatest I’ve ever had! Win – win.
12. Stroll the Wauchope Riverwalk
There’s a stunning boardwalk alongside the riverfront in Wauchope, only a five-minute drive out of city.
We took benefit of this peaceable setting to stretch our legs and stroll off our lunch and coffees from Watermans.
13. Go to Previous Bottlebutt in Burrawan State Forest
We’re all the time up for a nature path and a stroll within the forest so the straightforward 600-metre observe within the Burrawan State Forest close to Wauchope was on our to do record.
There we laid eyes on the biggest Purple Bloodwood tree within the southern hemisphere, a staggering 52-metres excessive and 16-metres huge at its base.
It’s a formidable wanting tree at 200 years outdated. Strive wrapping your arms round this outdated fella!
The ‘Previous Bottle butt’ is certainly one of Port Macquarie’s greatest saved secrets and techniques and if you happen to’re within the space come say hello.
14. Tackle the Bago Maze and Vineyard
The Bago Maze in Port Macquarie is superior! The proprietor of Bogo Vineyards, probably the greatest wineries in Port Macquarie, is a genius for combining a maze with a vineyard.
Splitting up into pairs, we had a whole lot of enjoyable getting misplaced among the many lilly-pilly hedge and taking up the problem of discovering our strategy to the 2 towers cleverly positioned within the maze in order that you possibly can see them, however reaching them was one other matter.
We crossed over bridges, found hidden gnomes, and performed musical devices.
Crew Caz and Savannah got here out winners, and I need to say Kalyra saved us within the hunt as my navigation expertise had us strolling round in circles haha.
Bago Maze is the biggest hedge maze in New South Wales with 2,000 metres of pathways overlaying 10,000 sq. metres.
When you’ve solved it, relax with a cheese plate and a glass of wine below the pergola at Cellar Door, overlooking the jacaranda bushes and valley beneath.
15. Keep at Ewetopia Farm Keep
As a lot as we love residing on the North coast, escaping to the nation and spending a while on a working farm is one thing all of us get pleasure from as a household.
We met Ian and Jill, the house owners of Ewetopia Farm in Ellenborough earlier within the day on the Wauchope Farmers Market, they’re the area’s high cheese makers and promote milk, yoghurt, labne, and are famend for his or her halloumi.
We checked in simply in time for sundown and sat on our expansive deck perched on the hill overlooking the farm entrance and valley beneath with our new neighbours shut by, sheep and jersey cows.
Simply previous to our go to seven little lambs entered the world which our children simply adored (lambs are born yearly throughout spring) and so they got here up for pats and adopted them across the farm like lengthy misplaced associates – is there something cuter than this?!
We cooked a pleasant meal in our self-contained 3 bed room cottage and loved waking as much as the crisp recent air of nation residing, the sounds of cattle and the mist lifting to begin a brand new day.
The saltwater pool with gazebo and BBQ space connected appears to be like inviting for the hotter months, and the summer season is when additionally they milk their flock of dairy sheep that produce feta and halloumi.
The 130-acre farmstay is lower than an hours drive west of Port Macquarie and you are able to do as a lot, or as little, as you please.
And don’t ya simply love the identify, Ewetopia?
16. Drive to Camden Haven (through Lorne and Kendall)
Leaving Ellenborough we drove throughout the spectacular hinterland ranges through the cities of Lorne and Kendall earlier than ending up again on the coast in Camden Haven.
Relying on how a lot time you’ve gotten, this scenic drive gives the chance to go bushwalking, birding, and climbing to waterfalls, with Ellenborough Falls and Rawson Falls being the celebrities of the present when flowing.
We have been pushed for time however loved the drive to the highest of the hinterland ranges of Comboyne earlier than descending to the village of Kendall, and right here we advise stopping in for morning tea at Miss Nellies Cafe.
17. Drive to the highest of North Brother Mountain
It wasn’t the very best climate and time of day for pictures once we stopped right here, however the drive as much as Laurieton Lookout on North Brother Mountain supplied gorgeous views over Queens Lake and the seaside cities of Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan.
Simply some of the scenic views we’ve seen in NSW. Could be spectacular on a transparent day!
18. Hunt for waterfalls in Boorganna Nature Reserve
Simply outdoors Comboyne Village, is Boorganna Nature Reserve. Right here you’ll be able to go for a stroll by the rainforest and are available out at a scenic waterfall, Rawson Falls.
It’s a brief 5km hike that ought to take round 1.5-2.5 hours, but it surely thought-about reasonably difficult.
Pack loads of water and notice there could also be leeche on the path.
19. Go to Pilots Seaside
Once more we weren’t visiting at the very best time of yr for a day on the seashore, however Pilots Seaside is one to recollect for once we return once more within the hotter months.
It sits on the mouth of the Camden Haven River and is named probably the most protected and most secure seashore within the area, particularly good for households with the mild waves.
It had simply stopped raining once we arrived and the colors that got here out have been putting.
20. Examine Out The Dunbogan Boatshed
On the cruise, the locals steered we cease in on the Dunbogan Boatshed for a very good cup of espresso.
It’s a peaceable setting on the river and right here your youngsters can feed the pleasant bream fish who hang around down beneath.
Ours women bought a kick out of it however because it had been raining visibility within the water was fairly low.
21. Take the children to Laurieton United Providers Membership
We timed our go to proper to make the most of Sunday roast evening on the Laurieton United Providers Membership, who’s not up for that?!
We have been impressed with the scale of this membership and the friendliness of the individuals, and if you happen to’re there within the daytime the views of Camden River could be an added bonus.
Oh, and so they’ve considered the youngsters too, with two kiddie play areas within the bistro and essential leisure space. Profitable once more!
22. Drive The Ocean & Pacific Drive
Heading again to Port Macquarie from Camden Haven, take the Ocean Drive and Pacific Drive route alongside the coast and take a look at the area’s greatest seashores through Bonnie Hills and Lake Cathie.
For our weekend getaway in Port Mazquarie, we had enjoyable cruising round in a brand new Jeep provided by the fellows at Miedecke Motors.
I’ve by no means pushed a Jeep earlier than and would have beloved to have taken the doorways and roof off. Subsequent time!
23. Discover Sea Acres Rainforest Centre
For extra outside adventures, head to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, a customer centre nestled within the Sea Acres Nationwide Park.
Right here you’ll start your adventures into the 76-hectare rainforest, and the place you will see the 1.3-kilometre Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk alongside the seaside rainforest.
The customer centre is the place you’ll find details about self-guided bush tucker excursions, ebook discovery excursions, or participate in a month-to-month rainforest mediation session.
It additionally has a stunning present store for choosing up souvenirs and a restaurant.
24. Lighthouse Seaside
So lots of our readers reached out to us and mentioned we needed to go to Lighthouse Seaside.
It’s a well-known whale watching (from June to November) and dolphin recognizing hub, plus you’ll be able to take camel rides alongside the sands.
There are additionally waves right here, which you’ll surf in case you have your personal board.
25. Choose your personal fruit at Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries
We’re big followers of U-Choose farms, we have now a number of of them round our dwelling in Raleigh. They’re a enjoyable exercise for teenagers and a good way to show them about the place their meals comes from.
Ricardoes is a ten minute drive north of Port Macquarie and makes use of computerised know-how to manage its two acre greenhouses full of tomatoes and strawberries.
They management every little thing from the irrigation system to nutrient utility, so will discover loads of deliciously succulent fruit to choose!
The place to remain in Port Macquarie
In Port Macquarie, we stayed on the centrally situated Ki-ea Flats, which have been a straightforward stroll to City Seaside, the Breakwall and the City Centre.
We had a self-contained 2 bed room condominium and on website was a heated pool and spa, BBQ space, theatre room and complimentary parking. And the rooftop BBQ space has this superior view over Port:
In Camden Haven, we stayed on the Pelican H2O Flats in a 2-bed condominium proper on the waterfront of Camden Haven river with manicured gardens and an abundance of wildlife.
Good for households or a romantic escape.
Ultimate ideas
If you happen to’re a household you’ll love Port Macquarie. If not, you’ll adore it too!
There’s loads to do for all ages whether or not you’re on the lookout for that memorable household vacation you crave, a romantic {couples} getaway otherwise you’re travelling solo.
After highway tripping across the nation for 18 months, I can confidently say that Port Macquarie is up there with the very best beach-side cities in Australia. I couldn’t suggest it extremely sufficient for any sort of traveller.
Be warned, although. Individuals have been identified to go to for a weekend, and stayed for some time!
Excursions in Port Macquarie
Extra North Coast NSW Journey Ideas
Planning on visiting different elements of the North Coast of New South Wales? Listed here are another useful sources:
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