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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 liked these journeys to Port Macquarie – it was a fantastic 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 Better Port Macquarie area and uncover some hidden gems.

Since I used to be a baby, so many extra points of interest had opened up in Port Macquarie, up within the hinterland, and across the Camden Haven area.

When you’re undecided what to do in Port Macquerie, then make sure you take a look at the under 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 urged the Tacking Level Lighthouse is superior at dawn, and I’m positive 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 an area fisherman went about catching his lunch.

As I used to be capturing away many individuals had been pulling into the automobile park and heading off by foot. My guess is that they had 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 need 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 the intention to preserve ourselves protected, and them from turning into extinct.

There’s additionally the cuter model of Shrek at Billabong Zoo that Kalyra and Savannah had been glad to the touch.

This park is a world-renowned breeding centre for koalas and presents the possibility to rise up shut and private with a few of Australia’s favorite wildlife.

You may by no means pet too many koalas, simply ask my youngsters who simply need to cuddle them and produce them dwelling. Particularly a child koala who was snuggling with mum up the gum tree.

Feeding the kangaroos and wallabies is at all times 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 picture bomb on this one!

Not solely is there Aussie wildlife on show right here, however we loved testing the Snow Leopards and Purple Pandas, who by the way in which had been extraordinarily energetic taking part in peek-a-boo with me as I attempted to snap a pic. I lastly acquired him within the tree.

While there, seize a chunk to eat on the Billabong Cafe, which comes with each mother or father’s dream – a play space for the youngsters to maintain them entertained while you get pleasure from some down time.

Billabong Koala Park is open every single day besides Christmas Day.

To study all about what’s on provide 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 testing all of the brightly painted rocks.

There’s some cool paintings from locals and guests alike and for those who’re fortunate you would possibly see dolphins taking part in 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 Girl 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 under the mountain on the banks of the river.

5. Go to City Inexperienced & Girl Nelson Wharf

Girl 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 out of doors beer backyard fashion space with a stage for stay music, good choice of beer on faucet, child pleasant and a brand new menu consisting of American fashion 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 had been saved pleased with their cheeseburger and nuggets.

No surprise it is a fashionable spot for the locals to hang around. It will be my native too.

7. Stroll the Hi there 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 Hi there Koalas Public Sculpture Path.

I snapped this cool trying 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 performed a bit of it beforehand and for those who’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 means of the protected Sea Nature reserve and right 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, nearly empty.

9. Take the youngsters to play at Livvi’s Place Playgrounds

Searching 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 at all times attempt to seize our contemporary produce from the farmers market and help the native growers.

We stopped in right here on our method out to our Farm Keep to replenish 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 make sure you discover Savannah!

11. Chill out at Waterman’s Cafe

While in Wauchope we hit up the favored Waterman’s Cafe, which overlooks the park and children playground and has a pleasant seating space exterior 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 beautiful 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 Outdated Bottlebutt in Burrawan State Forest

We’re at all times up for a nature path and a stroll within the forest so the simple 600-metre monitor within the Burrawan State Forest close to Wauchope was on our to do record.

There we laid eyes on the most important Purple Bloodwood tree within the southern hemisphere, a staggering 52-metres excessive and 16-metres extensive at its base.

It’s a formidable trying tree at 200 years previous. Attempt wrapping your arms round this previous fella!

The ‘Outdated Bottle butt’ is one in every of Port Macquarie’s finest saved secrets and techniques and for those who’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 numerous enjoyable getting misplaced among the many lilly-pilly hedge and taking up the problem of discovering our technique to the 2 towers cleverly positioned within the maze in order that you may see them, however reaching them was one other matter.

We crossed over bridges, found hidden gnomes, and performed musical devices.

Group 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 most important hedge maze in New South Wales with 2,000 metres of pathways masking 10,000 sq. metres.

When you’ve solved it, chill with a cheese plate and a glass of wine beneath the pergola at Cellar Door, overlooking the jacaranda bushes and valley under.

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 under 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 buddies – 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 contemporary air of nation residing, the sounds of livestock and the mist lifting to begin a brand new day.

The saltwater pool with gazebo and BBQ space hooked up appears inviting for the hotter months, and the summer time 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 (by way of Lorne and Kendall)

Leaving Ellenborough we drove throughout the spectacular hinterland ranges by way of the cities of Lorne and Kendall earlier than ending up again on the coast in Camden Haven.

Relying on how a lot time you could have, this scenic drive presents the chance to go bushwalking, birding, and mountaineering to waterfalls, with Ellenborough Falls and Rawson Falls being the celebs of the present when flowing.

We had 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 recommend stopping in for morning tea at Miss Nellies Cafe.

17. Drive to the highest of North Brother Mountain

It wasn’t the perfect climate and time of day for pictures after 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. Can be spectacular on a transparent day!

18. Hunt for waterfalls in Boorganna Nature Reserve

Simply exterior Comboyne Village, is Boorganna Nature Reserve. Right here you’ll be able to go for a stroll by means of 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, however it thought-about reasonably difficult.

Pack loads of water and observe there could also be leeche on the path.

19. Go to Pilots Seaside

Once more we weren’t visiting at the perfect time of yr for a day on the seashore, however Pilots Seaside is one to recollect for after 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 light waves.

It had simply stopped raining after we arrived and the colors that got here out had been placing.

20. Verify Out The Dunbogan Boatshed

On the cruise, the locals urged we cease in on the Dunbogan Boatshed for a great 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 under.

Ours ladies acquired a kick out of it however because it had been raining visibility within the water was fairly low.

21. Take the youngsters 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 had been impressed with the scale of this membership and the friendliness of the individuals, and for those who’re there within the daytime the views of Camden River can be an added bonus.

Oh, and so they’ve considered the kids too, with two kiddie play areas within the bistro and foremost 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 finest seashores by way of 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 liked to have taken the doorways and roof off. Subsequent time!

23. Discover Sea Acres Rainforest Centre

For extra out of doors 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 can see the 1.3-kilometre Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk alongside the seaside rainforest.

The customer centre is the place you will discover details about self-guided bush tucker excursions, e-book discovery excursions, or participate in a month-to-month rainforest mediation session.

It additionally has a beautiful present store for selecting up souvenirs and a restaurant.

24. Lighthouse Seaside

So a lot of our readers reached out to us and stated 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 be able to surf when you’ve got your personal board.

25. Decide your personal fruit at Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries

We’re large followers of U-Decide farms, we now have just a few 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 expertise to manage its two acre greenhouses crammed with tomatoes and strawberries.

They management every part from the irrigation system to nutrient utility, so will discover loads of deliciously succulent fruit to select!

The place to remain in Port Macquarie

In Port Macquarie, we stayed on the centrally situated Ki-ea Flats, which had been a simple stroll to City Seaside, the Breakwall and the City Centre.

We had a self-contained 2 bed room condominium and on web site 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.

Last ideas

When you’re a household you’ll love Port Macquarie. If not, you’ll find it irresistible too!

There’s loads to do for all ages whether or not you’re in search of that memorable household vacation you crave, a romantic {couples} getaway otherwise you’re travelling solo.

After street tripping across the nation for 18 months, I can confidently say that Port Macquarie is up there with the perfect beach-side cities in Australia. I couldn’t suggest it extremely sufficient for any sort of traveller.

Be warned, although. Folks have been recognized to go to for a weekend, and stayed for some time!

Excursions in Port Macquarie

Extra North Coast NSW Journey Suggestions

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