Port Macquarie accommodation from NZ$143

Sailing by what would one day become affectionately known as simply “Port”, the good captain took a look at the coast and said “Nah, let’s keep going”. We can only guess he would have regretted his decision if he saw its current state—a state of awesomeness.

You’re likely to visit for a beach holiday, but don’t forget about the national forest and hiking trails that are also waiting for you. Let Wotif help you find the best Port Macquarie hotel deals—making use of them is up to you.

Planning Your Holiday

If you fly into the area, you’ll kick off your trip at Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ) and be ready to explore in no time. You’re firmly between Sydney and Brisbane on the NSW coast, but you don’t have to travel to a big-name city to dive into some fun. Stay at hotels near Port Macquarie airport and you’ll be just minutes away from kayaking at Flynn’s Beach and meandering through the rainforest at Sea Acres National Park.

But wait, there’s more! The Greater Port Macquarie area includes the stunning Kattang Nature Reserve, with its 40-metre vertical cliffs and the purple vineyards of Hastings River. Want to know how to eat and play your way through the region with the best of them? Read our Wotif Port Macquarie travel guide, and you’ll be ready for your holiday in no time!

Eating Your Way Through Port Macquarie

You know what they say: The best way to experience any new city is to really sink your teeth in. So take thee to the shores of the Hastings River and get to work.

From the moment you rub the sleep from your eyes at one of the best hotels in Port Macquarie to the minute you decide to turn in for the night, your day will be filled with seared scallops, flathead lobster and pasta. Let a pastry melt in your mouth at a fine French eatery near the river or slurp chilli on the deck of a waterfront seafood joint—we really don’t think you can go wrong.

Travelling with Family

So you’re travelling with your favourite mates? Bring the family to the Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park! When you book some one-on-one time with a koala, you can enter their feeding habitat with one fellow marsupial enthusiast and hang out with your new furry pal for 15 minutes. The park also has red panda encounters, dingo presentations and more.

Before you go back to your accommodation in Port Macquarie to flip through adorable photos and start planning your own backyard animal habitat, make another stop at the Koala Hospital. Daily tours weave through open-air enclosures and teach you all about the creatures.

Indulging Your Inner Adventurer

The surf is just about always up in Port Macquarie, so if hanging 10 gives your adrenaline a solid spike, you’re in luck. But there is more to adventure in this coastal city than impressing the sheilas and blokes on shore with your killer wave shredding. The city is also a hot spot for parasailing, hang-gliding and coastal skydiving. Book affordable Port Macquarie packages from Wotif, and your pocketbook can withstand a deep sea fishing expedition, after all!

Partying Down

Trade in your swim fins for a pair of keen dancing shoes when the sun goes down. You’re on holiday; if there was ever a time to unabashedly break into the electric slide in a roomful of strangers, it’s now. Pubs and nightclubs are conveniently clustered along the northern shore, near some of the best Port Macquarie hotels.

Having Fun All Year

Port Macquarie keeps the party going all year round. In the summer, music festivals and grape-stomping competitions bring the community together, and autumn summons the ever-impressive IRONMAN competition to town. Not down to run 42km after a bike and swim? Just cheer on the competitors instead.

Come winter, watch the Motocross Championships or the Seaside Classic golf tournament. Spring arrives just in time for the Beer and Cider Festival to roll into town, so drink up, ye hearty!

Pro Tip: when you’re sorting out where to stay in Bonny Hills or booking a charming Port Macquarie hotel, reserve your room in advance if there is an event in town.

Wotif has all the details on the best places to stay in Port Macquarie. What’s the hold-up? A slice of this beachside paradise can be yours, so book your Port Macquarie accommodation now!