Although I lived and worked in Port Macquarie for 2 months, I would say an ideal amount of time to stay there on your East Coast travels is about 3 days. If you really feel like diving into the town, then absolutely stay longer! But, here is my three day itinerary for Port Macquarie:
Day 1
Start out with the must-do of Port Macquarie – the coastal walk! This is a 10km hike one way and takes about 5 hours. Be sure to pack snacks or a picnic for lunch because you WILL get hungry and there are a million perfect picnic spots for you to enjoy along the way. [free]
NOTE: It is better to go from Town Beach to Tacking Point Lighthouse and bus back to town. You can choose to do the opposite, but just trust me on this one 🙂
Once you’ve bussed back into town, grab some dinner at Little Shack before heading into Kooloonbung Creek Reserve for sunset. Simply head to the back of the Port Macquarie Cemetery until you see openings that lead down into the reserve. Head to your left along the boardwalk and eventually when you look up, there will be hundreds of flying foxes taking off above you. [free]
Day 2
Wake up early and get over to the Koala Hospital by 8am to see koalas when they are most active. Take your time and learn about the endangerment and conservation of koalas in Australia as well. [free]
Once you have taken all the koala photos you can stand, stroll over to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre to wander through a protected Australian rainforest. [10 AUD]
Grab a quick bite to eat for lunch and head out to Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries to get hands on picking your own basket of strawberries. [5-20 AUD]
Depending on how long you’re picking strawberries, take a detour over to the Billabong Zoo afterward if it’s still open. The zoo closes at 5pm everyday. [40 AUD] If it’s closed, that’s okay! Head back into town for a nice, beachside dinner at Beach House.
Day 3
Grab a hearty brekkie at Lily’s Cafe, pack some snacks and head out into the hinterland for the day. Start out with a stop at Bago Maze & Vineyard if you’re feeling like some mid-morning wine tastings. [20-30 AUD]
Just make sure your driver doesn’t have too much to drink because then you’re off to Rawson Falls! The hike down to the base of the falls is only about 10-15 minutes. Once you’re satisfied with that waterfall, drive another 30 minutes out to Ellenborough Falls. The hikes to the lookout and to the base are well sign-posted and quick. [free]
Enjoy the 1.5 hour drive back to town through fields of cows and eucalyptus forests. Once you get back, grab some dinner at Cafe 66 and get ready for the next bit of your journey!
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