Port Macquarie

A seaside town on the NSW North Coast with a koala hospital, rainforest walks and a lighthouse coastline — a must-stop on the Sydney–Brisbane road trip.

Port Macquarie lies on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, at the mouth of the Hastings River, about 390 km from Sydney and 570 km from Brisbane, and is one of the most popular overnight stops on a Pacific Highway road trip. Founded in 1821 as a penal settlement for serious offenders, the town still has colonial relics such as St Thomas' Church. The climate is mild: summer (Dec–Feb) is great for swimming and surfing, humpback whales migrate along the coast from Jun to Nov, and spring and autumn are best for walking. There are three main things to do. First, the town and coast — Town Beach, the painted breakwall and the roughly 9 km coastal walk linking Flynns Beach, Shelly Beach and the Sea Acres rainforest boardwalk to Tacking Point Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach (where you can ride a camel). Second, wildlife and nature — the Koala Hospital, Billabong Wildlife Park and the Kooloonbung Creek mangroves. Third, day trips — North Brother Mountain lookout, Camden Head and Crowdy Bay National Park to the south, Ellenborough Falls about 70 km inland to the west, plus wineries and strawberry farms on the outskirts of town. Getting there: Port Macquarie Airport has flights to and from Sydney and Brisbane, or it's about a 4.5-hour drive from Sydney; local buses are infrequent, so hiring a car is strongly recommended. Most visitors spend 2–3 days. Swim between the lifeguard flags and protect yourself from the sun.

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