Amidst a stunning coastline of rocky headlands and neighbouring the banks of the Hastings River estuary is the vibrant and unspoilt town of Port Macquarie.
Quick facts
The population of Port Macquarie is 41,491 of which 52.7% were females and 47.3% were males. Port Macquarie has a population of 1274 (3.1%) indigenous people and the median is 46.
Port Macquarie is located in the North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN).
This fact sheet provides an overview of the community profile for the NCPHN.
Port Macquarie is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, about 390 km north of Sydney, and 570 km south of Brisbane. Port Macquarie is coastal township at the mouth of the Hastings River, featuring all the beauty of the beach, set alongside gorgeous national parks and offering an array of attractions including great restaurants, cafes and shopping.
Port Macquarie Airport is 4.5km from Port Macquarie’s town centre. QantasLink operates daily direct services from Port Macquarie to Sydney, with connecting flights to a wide range of destinations across Australia and internationally. QantasLink also operate seasonal summer services (October – May) from Port Macquarie to Lord Howe Island.
Virgin Australia operate daily direct services from Port Macquarie to Sydney and Brisbane, with connecting flights to a wide range of destinations across Australia and internationally.
The XPT train service between Sydney and Brisbane stops at Wauchope, 20 mins inland from Port Macquarie, daily. A coach connection is provided for passengers travelling to Port Macquarie from Wauchope Station.
Comfortable air-conditioned coaches provide daily services from Brisbane and Sydney. Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service both service the Greater Port Macquarie area.
The main industries people from Port Macquarie work in are:
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Education and Training
- Construction
- Public Administration and Safety
Port Macquarie Base Hospital is a major referral hospital for the Hastings Macleay Network. With 195 beds, it provides the majority of specialist medical and surgical services for the Network. The hospital includes specialist wards/units for general medicine, surgery, day surgery, planned and emergency theatre service, coronary care, intensive care, obstetrics, paediatrics, 24 hour emergency department, oncology, palliative care, rehabilitation, stroke, acute renal dialysis, high dependency and mental health and an extensive range of outpatient clinics.
Allied health services, including occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work, physiotherapy, dietetics, radiology, pathology, and pharmacy, are an integral part of the organisation and contribute to the high level of patient care
Port Macquarie is supported by NSW ambulance service.
There are 12 general practices facilities in Port Macquarie.
No accommodation available.
Port Macquarie offers four public and five private primary schools as well as one public and three private secondary schools.
- Port Macquarie Public School
- Hastings Public School
- Westport Public School
- North East Public School of Distance Education
- St Agnes’ Primary School
- St Joseph’s Primary School
- St Peter’s Primary School
- Port Macquarie Adventist School
- St Columba Anglican School (K-12)
- Hastings Secondary College
- MacKillop College
- St Joseph’s Regional College
There is also North Coast TAFE, Port Macquarie Campus and Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie Campus.
For young families the Port Macquarie region offers a wide range of options suitable for children from 6 weeks to school aged, for occasional care, long day care, family day care and pre-school.
Supermarkets include Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and SUPA IGA and major retailers such as Target, Kmart and Big W are all located in Port Macquarie. The main shopping streets in Port Macquarie’s city centre are Horton and Clarence Streets. These two hubs are alive with fashion boutiques, popular chain stores, quirky homewares and a number of gift shops where you can pick up a locally-made piece.
Also in the heart of town are Settlement City and Port Central, both open 7 days a week. These shopping centres provide a complete shopping experience, with a range of local and national fashion retailers, banks, supermarkets and food courts.
There are many place of worship located in Port Macquarie, including Anglican, Australian Christian, Baptist, Catholic, Coastside Church, Christian Outreach Centre, Church of Spiritual Enlightenment, Community of Christ, Jehovah’s Witness, Lutheran, Port Macquarie City Church, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist and Uniting.
The Losang Dragpa Kadampa Buddhist Centre is located in Port Macquarie.
The best way to appreciate the beauty of natural landscapes in this region is by getting out and enjoying the diverse range of activities, ranging from regular sports to adrenalin-pumping adventure. Air sports include skydiving and paragliding, and you will be wowed by the sight of beautiful beaches, rivers, lush farming country and forests. Also on offer is horse riding, surfing, boating, cycling, water skiing, kayaking and wake boarding along with golf, tennis, bowls and fishing.
Greater Port Macquarie is becoming known as a key destination for food and wine enthusiasts, and locals take great pride in the quality of their produce, beers and premium wines. Located in the stunning grounds of Cassegrain Winery is Seasons Café–Restaurant featuring a French-inspired menu with a focus on seasonal and regional fresh food produce.
There are a range of galleries and museums in Port Macquarie for your enjoyment or for a bit of fun why not catch a movie at the local cinema.
