Port Macquarie, NSW
Port Macquarie is one of those places I’ll always associate with holidays — having spent some summer breaks there with my family, a road trip with girlfriends, and even a trip for Schoolies. I’ve been a couple of times with Joshua too, and just this month I met up with my brothers to surprise my dad for his birthday on a beachside weekend.
With the current restrictions and safety concerns around coronavirus and border closures, we’ve been itching to explore our own backyard a bit more while international travel is off the table. With the weekend pencilled in for the birthday celebrations, and both Joshua and myself working remotely, we decided to stretch out the trip into a winter working holiday. We split our week between working from the motel room, and exploring the surrounds of Port Macquarie over a few days.
Port Macquarie is a small town - less than 50,000 residents - on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales (almost in the middle of Sydney and the Gold Coast). It’s known for its beaches, but also for its famous koala population, and is home to the Koala Preservation Society’s Koala Hospital, that cares for injured koalas and rehabilitates them for the wild. After the bushfires in the region in 2019, McKean Studio donated to the Koala Hospital to further the great work that they do - and because I do have such a long history with the area. We were really excited to be able to visit the Koala Hospital on this trip, and see some of the furry friends getting ready to head back out into the trees.
If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Port Macquarie, here are some of the best things we did!
SNACK
Bandwagon — inside a converted cottage, this cafe is easily on-par with offerings from bigger cities in Australia. Good coffee, delicious menu items, friendly staff and a comfortable setting.
Urban Grain Bakery — we picked up pastries from here on our first morning, to avoid having to eat out in a restaurant. The pastries were delicious… so good in fact, we returned a few days later for a second round! The almond croissant, the salted caramel peanut butter cookie… you can’t go wrong!
Burger Rebellion — casual dining with lots of yummy burger options, vegetarian included. If you’re still wanting something easy but are a bit over fish-n-chips, Burger Rebellion is a great choice.
The Little Shack — we took our reusable coffee cups here on our last morning in town. The coffee was great, and we took in the breakwall views before we headed off back to Sydney.
SHOP
Ricardoes Tomatoes — Ask for a bucket at the store, and head into the designated shed to spend some time foraging for the perfect berry. Strawberry picking was so much fun, and browsing the store afterwards was almost overwhelming with the amount of choice. Strawberry jams, tomato relishes, sauces and preserves, you won’t leave empty handed, even if your strawberry picking skills are lack-lustre. We tried to make a concerted effort while in Port Macquarie to support small businesses wherever possible, and buy souvenirs and pieces from local stores that would benefit the community.
SEE
The Koala Hospital — bookings need to be made on the Koala Hospital website ahead of your visit, to ensure an available time slot. We booked one of the first available in the morning, mid-week, to minimise the amount of people around us for better social distancing. Getting to see the koalas cared for, and learn about the preservation efforts by the society was great.
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre — a beautiful 1.3km boardwalk through the rainforest, with markers to learn about the tree canopy and birdlife that is in the area. This rainforest was a rich resource for the Biripai people (the custodians of the land around Port Macquarie) and the walk includes fascinating histories, such as making weapons from the python tree, which is the second hardest wood in the world. A really easy walk, and a cute outdoors cafe at the end where you can enjoy some scones and a cup of coffee under the trees.
Tacking Point Lighthouse — wild and windy at the best of times, but the views from Tacking Point are really beautiful. We spent a while here looking for whales, but were almost blown off the point by the huge gusts of wind! Parking nearby, but it fills up quickly with families visiting the lookout.
STAY
Motel Mid Pacific — the Mid Pacific has been a Port Macquarie staple since the 1960s, and has had a few facelifts in its time (I always remember it being salmon pink and teal!) and seems to have recently changed hands to new owners and a new look. The updates are fresh and fun, making for a very cheerful, easy stay. It’s in a great location, which means walking distance to everywhere in town, and if it’s too far to walk, there are bikes available for hire that can get you where you need to go!
