Port Macquarie, NSW: Endless Adventures North Coast, NSW
Things to do around Port Macquarie, NSW are endless. Don’t be fooled by its laid-back atmosphere – it’s actually a water sports mecca with 18 stunning beaches for swimming, surfing, or cruising along the sparkling coastline and it’s one of the most popular towns on the North Coast. The town’s popularity doesn’t stop at its shores: Port Macquarie has mouth-watering seafood, fresh paddock-to-plate produce, and top eateries, boutique breweries and incredible wildlife experiences. So whether you’re whale watching, getting up close to the local zoo animals, or hiking the lush rainforest tracks, nature is at your fingertips. Don’t miss the 9 km coastal walk or the heritage walking tracks too.
Getting to Port Macquarie, NSW
Getting to Port Macquarie is easy and scenic. It’s about a 4-hr drive north from Sydney, 5.5 hrs south from Brisbane, or around 12 hrs from Melbourne. You can also fly direct to Port Macquarie Airport from Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne, with the airport just 10 min from the town centre. Prefer public transport? Regular train and coach services to Port Macquarie make it simple to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Things to do Around Port Macquarie: Wellness & Pampering
- Port Macquarie Day Spa: Offering a range of luxurious treatments, from deep tissue massages to revitalizing facials. 43 Hastings River Dr, Port Macquarie.
- Brows by Willow: For perfectly shaped and defined brows – brow waxing, shaping, and microblading, 4/35 Clarence St, Port Macquarie.
- Royal Lily Thai Massage: authentic Thai massage. 1/81 Gordon St, Port Macquarie
- Enrich Skin Clinic: from anti-aging treatments to deep-cleansing facials and acne
- Aqua Vitae Spa 16/10-12 McInherney Cl, Port Macquarie.
- Beauty on Jacana: skincare facials, waxing and nail care. 14 Jacana Dr, Port Macquarie
- Blush Skin and Body Clinic: skin rejuvenation, body sculpting, and relaxing massages. 103 William St Shop 1, Port Macquarie
- Lovella Beauty Lounge: You’ll have relaxing facials to a beautiful manicure and pedicure. 2/5A Clifton Dr, Port Macquarie
Explore & Discover Around Port Macquarie
- See Native Wildlife at Billabong Zoo Koala & Wildlife Park
- Tour Port’s Koala Hospital
- Walk the Breakwall
- Enjoy the Rainforest Walk and Look Out at Sea Acres National Park
- Go camel riding at sunset
- Pick fresh strawberries at Ricardoes Tomato & Strawberry Farm
- Whale watch.
- Horse ride
- Join Port Kayak for an adventure
- Get lost in the maze at Bago Vineyards
- Conquer the North Brother Trail and take in the views
- Explore Dooragan Park and its panoramic views of Australia’s east coast
- Visit wineries – Cassegrain, Douglas Vale, Bago, and Timbertown Winery
- Take a dip at any of the 18 beaches
- Picnic at Town Beach and catch a sunrise.
- Take a river cruise
- Watch locals skating
- Skydive
- Paraglide
- Ride a Jet fighter
- Walk to Tacking Point Lighthouse: Built in 1879 and one of Australia’s oldest and built after over 20 shipwrecks in the area. The lighthouse was manned until 1920, and the original keeper’s cottage foundations remain today. The lighthouse still operates with an electric beacon and the site offers stunning views of Lighthouse Beach to the south and Little Bay to the north. It’s also the final stop on the Port Macquarie Coastal Walking Trail.
Indoor Activities and Chill Spots around Port Macquarie, NSW
- Have a sunset drink at The Beach House
- Listen to live music at Panthers
- Get your Ten Pin bowling on
- Down a ginger beer (brewed on site) at Long Point Vineyard and Art Gallery
- Get the insider local knowledge at Macquarie Museum
- Watch a flick
- Love the theatre or sports games at AIA – Glasshouse Entertainment Centre
Things to do around Port Macquarie: Good Eats
- The Beach House
- Milkbar, Town Beach – Brewing Botero coffee and cooking delicious fresh food close to beach. 40 William Street
- Café 66 – 66 Clarence St, Port Macquarie
- Pipeworks Café
- The Point Café Restaurant – a diverse menu, friendly service and a cosy atmosphere. Call (02) 6584 2020. at 168 Settlement Point Rd, Port Macquarie NSW
- Beantree Café and Bar – Highly rated. A minute from Hastings River and very casual. 1/124 Horton St, Port Macquarie
- Band Wagon Cafe 76 William St, Port Macquarie NSW
- Social Grounds Café – Breakfast/Lunch Mon to Fri & breakfast on weekends with great coffee at 1/151 Gordon St, Port Macquarie
- Little Shack
- Bittersweet
- Casualties Espresso Coffee Shop – 23 Clarence St, Port Macquarie
- Chop ‘n Chill
- Salty Crew Kiosk
- LV’s on Clarence, 74 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie
- Bills Fishouse and Bar
- Twotriplefour in Cassegrain Vineyard
- Little Fish Café Restaurant Vineyard
- Whalebone Wharf Seafood Restaurant
- The Rainforest Café
- Pancake Place, Clarence St, Port Macquarie
- Sandbox – 35 Tuppenny Rd
- Noshtalgia Cafe, 27/25 Hay St, Port Macquarie
- The Corner Restaurant
- MakiMoto
- The Burger Rebellion
- Pizza Obsession
- Peak Coffee
Foodies; Gourmet Flavours, Providores and Great Produce
- The Stunned Mullet:On Town Beach with a spectacular vista north to Point Plomer. Established in 2005 and now an iconic culinary landmark with exceptional dining and world class wine list. It’s held a Good Food Guide Chefs Hat since 2013, as well receiving Gourmet Traveller Wine List of the Year’s highest rating of 3 Glasses each year since 2018
- Sails at Port Macquarie, Rydges: waterfront dining on Port Marina with premium and locally crafted beers, ciders and ales, extensive wine list and cocktails to enjoy by the pool or bar.
- Real Food Markets
- TheForeshore Markets
- Gourmand Ingredients – Shop 3-4/23 -41 Short St
- Friendly Grocer Waniora Supermarket
- Near River Produce (45min drive)
- Growers Market
- Organic Belly – 2-15 Short St
- Organic MattR at 40/42 Horton Street Shop F1-F2 Port Central Shopping Centre (level 1)
- The Big Oyster Seafood and Café – 315 Hastings River Dr, Fernbank Creek
- Luigi Bros Deli – Shop 9/23-41 Short St
- Ken Littles Fruit and Veg
- Wild Culture Organics – 3/125 Gordon St, Port Macquarie NSW
- Black Market Bagels
Things to do around Port Macquarie: Retail Escapes
- Meg & Me
- What the Frock Designs
- Utopian Bazaar
- Pretty Rad Store
- The Botanic Merchant
- Blue Cow Gelato at 1/72 Clarence St, Port Macquarie NSW
- Collombatti Naturals
- Hastings Valley Art Gallery
- For Flynn’s Book Cafe perched above the beautiful Flynns Beach at 1/4 Flynn St
- Arthouse Industries
- Lighthouse Gallery
- Alice in Paperland
Need Roadtrip Inspiration?
Check out our fabulous scenic Roadtrips at Travellarks Getaways.
Looking for accommodation in this region?
If you think Port Macquarie sounds like an amazing holiday destination, check out our Stays with a WOW accommodation.
