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Originally founded as a penal colony in 1821, Port Macquarie is now a haven for travellers looking for sun, surf and some of the most amazing wildlife encounters in northern New South Wales. Whether you’re wanting to relax in the sunshine, explore the stunning hinterlands, or absorb the town’s rich history, you’ll be drawn in by the port’s old-time charm and the friendliness of the locals.
One of the port’s undeniable attractions is its native fauna. When explorer John Oxley first visited in 1818, he wrote, “the port abounds with fish, the sharks [are] larger and more numerous than I have ever before observed. The forest hills and rising grounds abound with large kangaroos and the marshes afford shelter and support to innumerable wildfowl.” If you’re thinking that sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. Modern-day Port Macquarie is renowned for its wildlife, like the animals who live at Billabong Zoo Koala and Wildlife Park, or the adorable koalas housed at the Koala Hospital. You can also see native species in their natural habitats at the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, or the Koolunbung Creek Nature Park and Walking Trails, which boasts over 165 varieties of birds, reptiles and mammals.
If you’re expecting the beautiful beaches northern New South Wales is famed for, you’re in luck. The Port Macquarie region has an incredible seventeen beaches to choose from, including family-friendly Flynns Beach and the rock-strewn majesty of Nobbys Beach; importantly, it’s also the easiest way to access Lord Howe Island, a stunning World Heritage Site that is home to dozens of animal and plant species found nowhere else in the world.
Head west, away from the coast, and you’ll enter the northern New South Wales hinterland – a collection of tiny towns and villages with their own unique cultures and attractions. If you’re looking for the perfect rural experience, or just to get some photos of the picturesque countryside, a day trip inland is definitely worth it.
Give your family an amazing experience by vacationing at Port Macquarie. Book now with Club Wyndham.
