Best Beach in Port Macquarie

"If you take the ferry across the beautiful Hastings River to the north shore of Port Macquarie, you’ll find a long beach that stretches all the way to Point Plomer in the north, where it can also be accessed by 4WD. North Beach is popular with fishermen and surfers, but it’s not the safest place to swim."

"No holiday in Port Macquarie is complete without a trip to the beach. Grab your bucket and spade and head to Town Beach, conveniently located near the centre of town. When you have had enough of the sand, head to the Town Beach playground or skate park located on the grassed area beside the beach."

"If you’re visiting Port Macquarie, the iconic breakwall is a must-see sight for you. It gives you a scenic view of the sunset and sunrise, the coastal, and the Hasting Rivers. This breakwall features colorful graffiti made by people who visited the place."

"The most popular (and arguably picturesque) beach in Port Macquarie. Situated three kilometres south of the town and nestled between a pair of rocky headlands to the north and south, it has good protection from both westerly and southerly winds and is one of Port Macquarie’s most accessible. The beach is patrolled during holiday season and the surf club kiosk serves great meals."

"Flynn beach Port Macquarie is one of the region’s iconic beaches that ticks all the right boxes!. It’s located just a 30 minutes’ coastal walk from the Macquarie Waters Hotel. The beach is 500 metres long, perfectly nestled in between a pair of rocky headlands, which provides great protection from the wind."

"Located seven kilometres south of Port Macquarie’s town centre. A nine kilometre stretch of south-east facing sand, the beach is patrolled during the warmer months and has a surf club with a kiosk that serves good coffee and snacks. Lighthouse is a favourite with surfers and bodyboarders and is also great for beach fishing and 4WD driving all the way down to Lake Cathie."

"7 km south of the city centre you’ll find the 9 km long Lighthouse Beach Port Macquarie. This beach is definitely another stunner!. It’s the longest beach in town so it’s an ideal beach for long walks, beach fishing, relaxation and intermediate to the high level experienced surfers as the currents are strong and the waves are powerful."

"Lighthouse Beach is one of the many reasons Port Macquarie Town is revered as a haven for surfers and beach lovers. Situated at the south of the town, Lighthouse beach is a long stretch of shimmering shoreline. Besides being a hotspot for surfing and safari activities, this beach holds historical significance."

"Sheltered by Nobby Head, a knuckle-shaped headland, it's also a great beach for a swim, but take care - this beach is not patrolled by lifeguards. One of Nobbys' most distinctive features is the clump of rocks at its center. In fact, the rocky nature of Nobbys and the typically calm waters mean it's not a top spot to surf."

"The local dog-friendly beach, with dogs outnumbering people on any given day. Check out our previous article on Dog Beaches for some helpful facts. Nobbys is recognised by geologists for the unusual conglomeration of rocks that reside in the centre of the beach."

"It’s pretty tough to choose just one beach to visit in Port Macquarie, but if push came to shove, it would probably be Shelly Beach. This natural tidal lagoon 5km (3mi) from town, is surrounded by white sand and rainforest and makes for a perfect place to spend a few hours relaxing and soaking up the sun. Head up to Harry’s Lookout for the best views."

"With white sand, sprawling stretch of rainforests, and a sloping cliff, Shelly Beach is a perfect destination for your itchy feet. This secluded natural tidal lagoon can be reached from the south of Nobby Head. If you are a nature lover and want to explore the surrounding vegetation, head to Harry’s Lookout situated south of the beach."

"On the southern side of Nobby Head you’ll find Shelly beach Port Macquarie. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is a must-visit!. It’s one of the most secluded and peaceful Port Macquarie beaches and its ideal if you need a little break from it all."

"Rolling lawns peppered with towering Norfolk pines slope down to the shoreline, and you'll also find covered picnic tables and barbecue facilities, all with a dreamy view of the striking white sand and blue-green sea. It's also close to Port Macquarie's CBD, where you can stock up on snacks and refreshments. After lunch, you can work off the calories with a refreshing swim or a stroll or bike along the coastal path."

"While excessive rocks make this beach challenging for swimming, it’s a great place to explore rock pools, build sandcastles and go fishing. Located right beside Town Beach, it’s the ideal spot to escape the summer crowds."

"True to its name, Rocky Beach is scattered with boulders and sea-worn pebbles. You won't find any lifeguards here, and due to all the rocks and some treacherous rips, it's not a safe spot for a swim. But 400-meter-long Rocky Beach is a perfect place to walk your pooch off-leash, sit and soak up the tranquility, or cast a fishing line."

"Located on the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, Rocky Beach is a great option for evading the holiday season crowds or for planning an adventurous family day out. Kids will love rock-hopping and starfish-spotting in the tidal pools."

"For seclusion, serenity, and a back-to-nature feel, Miners Beach makes a great little escape. Sea Acres National Park, one of the largest remnants of coastal rainforest in New South Wales, spills down to the beach, creating a peaceful backdrop of pandanus and palm forests. It takes a little effort to find this pretty little pocket of powdery sand and rocky sea, but this is what usually keeps visitors to a trickle."

"It’s pretty tough to choose just one beach to visit in Port Macquarie, but if push came to shove, it would probably be Shelly Beach. This natural tidal lagoon 5km (3mi) from town, is surrounded by white sand and rainforest and makes for a perfect place to spend a few hours relaxing and soaking up the sun. Head up to Harry’s Lookout for the best views."

"With white sand, sprawling stretch of rainforests, and a sloping cliff, Shelly Beach is a perfect destination for your itchy feet. This secluded natural tidal lagoon can be reached from the south of Nobby Head. If you are a nature lover and want to explore the surrounding vegetation, head to Harry’s Lookout situated south of the beach."

"On the southern side of Nobby Head you’ll find Shelly beach Port Macquarie. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is a must-visit!. It’s one of the most secluded and peaceful Port Macquarie beaches and its ideal if you need a little break from it all."

"As you explore the streets of Port Macquarie, you’ll probably stumble upon several colourful koalas in the most unlikely of places. This is the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, a public art trail featuring over 75 one-metre (3.3ft) koala sculptures all individually designed by Australian artists. Created to highlight the plight of Australia’s most cuddly critters, you can download the map and combine sightseeing with koala-spotting, or just keep your eyes peeled while you’re out and about."

"Koalas are an integral part of the Australian identity, and the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is an homage to that heritage. Packed with 62 sitting koala sculptures painted in many different ways, this destination would be great for an all-day outing with friends and family. The various sculptures are colored in distinct identities, each expressing a different artistic or cultural ideal."

"A post shared by MJ Kim (@minkim0915) on Oct 5, 2017 at 10:26pm PDT. Another unique thing that separates Port Macquarie from other towns in Australia is its Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail. It is a trail full of 1-meter (3.2 feet) tall fiberglass sculpture of koalas made and painted creatively by local artists."

"A post shared by Hamish Sawyer (@hamishsawyer) on Jun 29, 2019 at 1:53am PDT. If you’re an art enthusiast, you shouldn’t miss the art gallery at The Glasshouse, for its diverse exhibits. The collections that are being displayed here focuses on three areas: the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Art Collection, artworks of local artists, and touring exhibitions in partnership with Australian organizations."

"Check out their website and reserve tickets to one of the many local and/or international shows. Think live theatre, stand-up comedy acts and energetic dance performances. While you are exploring the centre why not try some of the diverse cuisines available."

"A unique Glass studio where you will find beautiful handmade gifts, clothing and artwork. There are Lampwork glass demonstrations and you can also attend workshops. Skye is an award-winning glass artist specialising in jewellery who demonstrates from the studio, allowing you to see her work with ..."

"Are you a creative and into beaded jewelry or any wearable crafts or ornaments?. If so, you have to visit the Arthouse Industries. It is a glass studio that features handcrafted gifts, unique clothing, beaded works, and other artworks, such as ceramics, mixed media, silver, glass, and more."

"Adjacent to the Maritime Museum site and the monthly Artist Market, is Hastings Fine Art Gallery, in prime position overlooking Flagstaff Hill and Oxley Beach. The Fine Art Gallery displays a collection of works from local artists and members of the Hastings Valley Fine Arts Association, and entry is free!. Why not make a day of it – combine your visit to the Gallery with a tour of the Maritime Museum and wander around the monthly Artist Market – a great way to spend a Sunday in Port Macquarie."