After years of sailing on our schedule, it’s challenging to be stuck for weeks with no progress on fixing Go. Yes, we have been stuck in worse places so we’re trying to make the best of our down time. Here’s how we’ve been having fun and staying busy in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, known in Aussie lingo as “Port”.
About Port Macquarie
A town in the Mid-North Coast region of New South Wales, Port is located almost 400km north of Sydney. Located at the mouth of the Port Hastings River, its known for beaches, koalas, and convicts, not necessarily in that order.
The town has a population of around 50,000, many of whom are retirees. We also see a lot of young families mingling with the retirees at cafes and on the waterfront paths. This town is busy on weekends and holidays, when families and vacationers fill the caravan parks and hotels. What are they coming for?
Port Macquarie Beaches and Coastal Walk
Known as the as the bodyboarding capital of Australia, Port is also a surf town. The town has several beaches, and each has its own distinctive qualities. Some beaches are crowded with surfers, and others are calmer and more suited to wading with children.
For hikers, there’s a well marked 9km coastal walk, which travels from downtown to the lighthouse. The terrain varies from boardwalk to beach with climbs between the beaches and stunning views along the way. Wintertime is whale season on the Australia coast, so we’re on the lookout for whales come June.
If you’re visiting on a nice day, I recommend the Coastal Walk. A popular option is to take the bus to the lighthouse and walk back. Food options are thin on the beach, we’ve seen an ice cream truck and there’s a cafe at Flynn’s, so pack snacks or veer inland.
Koalas
Another of Port’s claims to fame is koala conservation. It is home to the first hospital in Australia for koalas, and it’s been open for over 50 years. At the koala hospital, they treat injured and sick koalas with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. The mission has expanded to a wild koala breeding facility. These are among the cutest animals and they are on the brink of extinction so the Port Macquarie koala conservation project is worth celebrating.
Koala Trail
The Hello Koalas sculpture trail features 91 one-meter high fiberglass sculptures, all painted by different local artists. Many are themed to their location and are very fun to find.
The koalas at the Glasshouse museum and theatre are very colorful and theatrical.
Sculptures range from surfers to prisoners, tied to where they’re placed around town.
The Hello Koalas trail attracts lots of children who like to pose with them. They’re everywhere: at restaurants, shops, tourist attractions, and the airport.
More Port Macquarie Wildlife
At dusk, the sky comes alive in downtown Port Macquarie. This is when the flying foxes, aka fruit bats, come out to play. If you want to see these cute creatures, the best place to go is Kooloonbung Creek Nature Reserve, where thousands of them nest in the trees by day. The colony is huge, and spreads out into the nearby cemetary. By day, they mostly hang in the trees, occasionally flying between them.
At sunset, the flying foxes take to the air to feed. They rise in the air in such numbers that you can hear the squawking outside Finnian’s across the street and all the way down to the waterfront. We had never seen anything like it and it’s definitely a unique experience to this town.
Dining and Drinking
A flooded stove and damaged barbecue limited our cooking options on the boat, so we’ve eaten out a bit. It’s not Sydney, but it has a variety of cafes and restaurants. Here are some of our favorites.
finnian’s
We were very happy to find a proper Irish pub in Port, just in time for St. Paddys. We’ve been back a few times for the great live music, good pub food, and well poured Guinness draft.
Finnian’s Tavern, 97 Gordon Street, website
BIG BOiZ Cafe
We love Big Boiz’ hearty breakfasts (we usually split one) and delicious flat whites. The people who run the place are really friendly and it’s close to the marina.
Big Boyz, Marina Shopping Centre, website
CHOp n’ chill
An easy walk or bike ride from the marina, Chop N Chill is a nice casual place for a bite or beverage. Happy hour is pretty good with some cheap schooner deals, and the menu is quick and tasty Asian fare. Plus the outdoor patio offers good people watching on a nice day.
Chop N’ Chill, Town Green, website
Have you ever been to Port Macquarie? If so, please share your tips in the comments. If not, now you know what to see and do.
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