Taking your holiday vacation in Port Macquarie may seem like a no-brainer, once you realize how many amazing things there are to do there. Of course, with so many things to see and do, you may have a difficult time deciding what to add to your itinerary. After all, you only have so much time for your holiday and you cannot possibly do everything Port Macquarie is known for. Thankfully, there are a few must-do activities in Port Macquarie to add to your list when you are on holiday. Once you add them, you can fill in any downtime with a few of the other options that are available to you.
Top 9 things to do in Port Macquarie
1. Go for a Camel Ride
You cannot go for a camel ride in too many places in the world, but Port Macquarie is one of the places on the list. You can find the camel rides over at Lighthouse Beach. Each camel ride is approximately thirty minutes in length. During your ride, you will see views of the water and the surrounding area.
2. Go Whale Watching
Whales can be found near Port Macquarie from the month of May through November. It is during those months that the whales migrate to this area. The humpback whales will breach out of the water and they are the ones you will see the most during your visit. While you can see the whales from land, you may want to consider taking a whale watching cruise. The cruise will allow you to see them up close.
3. Take a Cruise on the Hastings River
Cruising along the Hastings River is one of the best must-do activities in Port Macquarie. During the day, you can see dolphins and turtles out in the water and a kangaroo or two on the shoreline. At night, those animals are still around, but your focus will turn to the setting sun in the sky.
4. Take a Stroll Along the Rainforest Boardwalk
The Rainforest Boardwalk is located within the Sea Acres National Park. The boardwalk is just over a kilometer long. You will see quite a bit of native fauna and flora during your walk. However, the highlight of your trip will be learning about the aboriginal people who lived on this land. This is also a great free activity to do with kids
5. Take a Selfie with the Tacking Point Lighthouse
The Tacking Point Lighthouse is one of the older lighthouses in the country. You are not allowed to see the inside of this lighthouse, but it makes the perfect backdrop for a selfie. As you are walking around the lighthouse, pay close attention to the foundation of the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. You should also spend a little extra time looking out towards the water, for both the chance to see marine life and the extraordinary views.
6. Tackle the Port Macquarie Coastal Walking Trail
The Port Macquarie Coastal Walking Trail is slightly over nine kilometers in length. The entire trail goes from Westport Park to the Tacking Point Lighthouse. It is completely understandable if you do not want to do this entire walk at once. This is why it is possible to do it in sections. As you are walking along, keep an eye out for the public art on the Breakwall Walking Path, as well as the kids’ playgrounds.
7. Do a Little Swimming or Surfing on One of the Beaches
There are multiple beaches in and around Port Macquarie and you will want to spend a little time swimming or surfing at one of them or more. It can be difficult to choose which beach you want to spend your time at, so feel free to do a little beach-hopping to find your all-time favorite. A couple of the locals’ favorites include Town Beach, Flynn Beach. Shelly Beach, and Lake Cathie Beach.
8. Spend Time with the Koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is another one of the must-do activities in the town. This hospital was the very first one in the world to care for injured and sick koalas. Tours are available at this hospital, so you can learn how they treat and care for these cuddly creatures. After your tour, you can wander around the rehabilitation yard to see the koalas up close.
9. Visit the Billabong Zoo
If you are ready to see many of the animals that live in Australia, you can head over to Billabong Zoo to see them all at once. This zoo was once home to only koalas, but now there are more than eighty different species. The Billabong Zoo encourages interaction with the animals. Therefore, you should be prepared to pet and feed some of the animals and snuggle with others.
These are the nine must-do activities when holidaying in Port Macquarie. Every one of these things must be on your list or you will miss out on the best this town has to offer.