Port Macquarie Accommodation

Port Macquarie has the wild natural beauty that is typical of Australia, but with all the conveniences of a mid-size coastal city. You'll find convenient options for every traveller, whether you’re a family that needs plenty of activities to keep the kids happy or you’re just looking to relax but still be comfortable.

Port Macquarie is known for its wide beaches with pristine facilities, whale watching opportunities, and adventure sports. The town is also very proud of the fact that it has the largest population of koalas on the east coast.

Port Macquarie has a wide choice of accommodation available, with beautiful beach houses and spacious holiday homes where you can spread out, relax, and enjoy your vacation. If you're travelling with pets, you'll even find plenty of pet friendly accommodation options to choose from. Wherever you book your Port Macquarie accommodation, you won't be far from amazing beaches, unique wildlife encounters, and enjoying outstanding annual events.

What to eat in Port Macquarie: local and organic cuisine

Port Macquarie is a foodie’s paradise, with fresh organic produce, wine and coffee that’s locally sourced. After you’ve spent a day swimming on Town Beach, sip some local wine at the Botanic Wine Garden nearby. Also close by is Drury Lane Eatery, a farm-to-table breakfast and dinner place that encourages family style meals.

If you’re up for a trip out of town, there are numerous wineries, organic farms where you can shop and dine on the spot. Rockin’ Oysters is a string of oyster farms near Camden Haven. Call ahead for a tour and sample some of Australia’s most famous oysters right on the spot.

A half hour drive from town is Bago Maze and Winery, where you can let the kids wander in a hedge labyrinth while you sample some wine. Little Fish Cafe and Restaurant is a 10-minute drive from downtown Port Macquarie. It’s a lush garden setting overlooking the Innes Lake Estates Vineyards where you can dine on simple, fresh, French-inspired cuisine.

What to Do on Your Port Macquarie Holiday

Whether you rent a spacious beach house or cosy bungalow, Port Macquarie accommodation is perfect for a New South Wales getaway. For safe family swimming, it's hard to beat Flynns Beach, which has patrolled swimming, shaded picnic areas, and is an easy walk from town. For surfing, Town Beach has reliable waves and a lot of surf schools, so it caters to all ability levels. For a more challenging option, try Lighthouse Beach, south of town.

Port Macquarie is also a wildlife haven. Thousands of humpback whales migrate along the coast between May and November. The rarer southern right whale also passes through. Take a whale-watching boat trip from the harbour to see whales breaching the water right in front of you! Port Macquarie also has the largest population of koalas on Australia's east coast. Visit the renowned Koala Hospital and the koala breeding centre at Billabong Zoo.

Activities with children

Port Macquarie has enough activities to keep any kid happy: sea shelling and swimming on one of its 17 beaches, a koala hospital, a koala sculpture trail, horseback riding, a rainforest walk, the Timbertown heritage park, dolphin and whale watching, and sea boat cruises.

Koalas are at the heart of Port Macquarie’s culture. The Koala Hospital is a not for profit research and rehabilitation centre for koalas that is open to the public every day of the year. Go see the koalas up close every afternoon around feeding time with a guided tour. There’s also the world famous Koala Sculpture Trail, a scavenger hunt style trail around Port Macquarie of koala statues, painted by local artists and residents. It’s a sight your child will never forget.

Day trips from Port Macquarie

If you want to escape the city for a day, a Port Macquarie holiday rental will also give you a great base to explore some more remote nature spots and quaint villages.

An hour and a half south of Port Macquarie is Camden Haven, a small port village at the mouth of Camden River. The drive down to Camden Haven has dramatic coastal views and plenty of stops for fresh seafood meals. And then there’s the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lord Howe’s Island, accessible by flight from Port Macquarie. A tiny island with only a few hundred inhabitants, Lord Howe’s Island is a pristine paradise of coastal reefs, volcanic remnants, lush forest and sparkling blue water.

Events to Check Out While Visiting Port Macquarie

For active holidaymakers, Port Macquarie hosts the Mountain Bike Festival of Australia every June, the Aussie Endurance Mountain Bike Championships in October, and the prestigious IRONMAN Australia in May. Kids can also have a go at the adjacent IRONKIDS Port Macquarie event, for children aged five to 13. Another great family event is the Hello Koalas Festival in June. This is the world's first festival dedicated to our iconic, endangered furry friends.

Food lovers certainly won't be disappointed, either. Don't miss Tasting on Hastings, an annual culinary and cultural showcase of the region's farmers, artisan producers, brewers, winemakers, and chefs that takes place in October. And carnivores can't miss the popular annual Meat and Greet outdoor barbecue event under the stars, held every July at Cassegrain Winery. During summer, watch the pros at one of many annual surf competitions, or spend a fun day out at Festival of the Sun music festival.

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