Holiday rentals and lettings in Port Macquarie

On the edge of New South Wales tropical climatic zone, and boasting squeaky-clean beaches with soft, golden sand, Port Macquarie is a hugely popular beach destination. It is also loved for its wildlife encounters, lush hinterland and interesting history going back to the first settlers. Coming for the beach? Find a holiday rental on the coast running south of the town, particularly around Flynn’s beach, a great destination for all the family. Don’t miss the lettings along the canals of Port Macquarie just west of the centre for something a little different!

There is a good mix of flats and houses to choose from in Port Macquarie, with ultra-modern and high-spec being the common theme. Space is the name of the game, with large kitchens and lounges, and lovely gardens for the kids to run around. A self-catering holiday rental in Port Macquarie makes a wonderful base to discover the town!

Port Macquarie is a small beach town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Pacific Ocean coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River. The town is linked to Sydney (300 kilometres away) by air and rail and is a popular weekend destination for urbanites. They come for the plethora of beaches that cater for all fancies, as well as the fantastic climate – meteorologists at the CSIRO agree that Port Macquarie has the best climate in Australia, with mild winters, comfortable summers, and plenty of sunshine all year round.

Port Macquarie is recognizable for its iconic break wall along the Town Green which has been featured on many postcards over the years. It is a wide stretch of colourful graffiti rocks containing messages and tributes from visitors and locals, in which they share impressions of this wonderful part of the world. From the break wall you can walk the popular nine-kilometre coastal walk that runs south from the Town Green to Lighthouse Beach on the southern edge of the town

With 17 pristine beaches to choose from, Port Macquarie is a superb choice for those looking for a holiday on the beach. Families are drawn en masse to the patrolled shores and calm estuary waters of Lake Cathie to enjoy the inflatable slides and trampolines. Surfers head to Town, Lighthouse and Rainbow Beach for fine, reliable breaks. For those looking to get away from it all Oxley and Shelly Beach, backed by rain forests are wonderfully secluded. Holidaying with your canines? Nobbys Beach, with its long, uninterrupted stretches of sand, is the number one dog-friendly spot in the area.

Port Macquarie is celebrated for its population of cuddly koalas, and you can meet these cute characters both at local animal sanctuaries and in the region's national parks. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is home to hundreds of koalas that you can get up close to and even help feed. At the award-winning Billabong Zoo Koala & Wildlife Park, you can come face-to-face with numerous native species, such as snow leopards, red pandas and meerkats. For the most intimate experience, you can even book a personal animal encounter.

Port Macquarie began life as a convict settlement, and there are several tours that recount the stories behind the town’s convict-era sites, including a historic cemetery, the burial site of thousands of convicts and pioneers. Choose a night-time tour full of gruesome and grisly stories!

Port Macquarie’s lighthouse is perhaps the town’s most photographed landmark. Learn all about the historical keepers' lonely life, then take a walk around the lighthouse for far-reaching vistas of the wild and rocky shore. During the migration season make sure to look out for whales swimming by!

From May to November, huge numbers of whales migrate along the coast past Port Macquarie. Aboard a whale watching and dolphin spotting cruise (some even have underwater viewing windows!) and get up close to one of nature’s arresting sights – huge Humpback whales launching out of the water.

Snuggled in a picture-perfect valley surrounded by imposing eucalyptus trees and rolling hills, at Bago Maze the whole family can wander, run and get lost in the hidden bends, sunken pathways and beautifully-crafted gardens of this hugely entertaining labyrinth.

With over 2,000 exhibits on display, take a journey through Port Macquarie’s history from its beginnings as a British penal settlement to the wildly popular tourist destination of today. Spanning several rooms and galleries, the museum makes a wonderful change of pace from Port Macquarie’s myriad outdoor adventures.