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Tag: Port Macquarie

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Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum

Early Settlement Room Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum

Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum

Preserving Port Macquarie’s maritime history, the Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum occupies two old Pilot Cottages dating from the 1890s. Originally used to house the pilot and the boatmen who assisted him but now repurposed into a museum.

Getting There

Located in Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast at 6 William Street, it has beautiful views over the surrounding coast. This would have been vital to the pilot, so that he could see ships arriving before guiding them into the harbour. Parking is available on-street and is free.

The Museum

Spread across the two cottages are nine themed rooms, along with an outdoor display and an additional room with a shell display.

The first exhibits you see are an anchor collection a sea mine and two of the Hello Koala sculptures. Appropriately one of the koalas is decorated as Lachlan Macquarie, for whom the town is named.

The interior exhibits follow the history of Port Macquarie from the arrival of the first colonial settlers and convicts 1821 through to The Second World War.

One room details the loss of the Wollongbar to a Japanese submarine off Port Macquarie and the efforts of local fishermen to save the crew. Thirty-two crew members died, however 6 were saved.

Voyages along the eastern Australian coast proved dangerous with many ships wrecked. Using photos and wall displays all known losses are listed along with some artifacts.

An interesting museum to visit and it’s great to see this sort of history preserved where it provides a link to the past.

Koala statue
Lachlan Macquarie
Koala statue
Koala Noir
Sea mine
Sea Mine
Anchor display Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Anchor display
Early Settlement Room Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Early Settlement Room
Model ship display Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Model ship display
Pennants from Royal Australian Navy ships
Pennants from Royal Australian Navy ships
Lighthouse lens from Tacking Point Lighthouse Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Lighthouse lens from Tacking Point Lighthouse
Diving Helmet
Diving Helmet

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk

Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk

Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk

Taking you through the rainforest canopy, the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk is a 1.3km loop that starts and ends at the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre. Unfortunately, when we visited (December 2022), maintenance on the boardwalk cut the loop because of storm damage. This was not too much of a problem because we retraced our steps and walked the second half from the Rainforest Centre. So, we got twice the walk for the same price.

How to Get There

Located only ten-minutes’ drive from the centre of Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast, Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk is easy to get to. Well sign posted and with a large carpark, it’s easy to find and access. If you need a drink or something to eat, there is a café at the Visitor Centre with indoor and outdoor seating.

The staff are very helpful explaining the walk as well as what we should see along the way.

The Boardwalk

Rated a Grade 1 track, the boardwalk is flat and wheelchair accessible for its entire length. With numerous stops and information boards, it’s an easy and educational walk. At around 7m off the ground, we could see into the canopy while still seeing the understory.

Keeping you out of the mud and fallen leaves is a bonus if you don’t have hiking boots, while you still get to experience the rainforest. The information boards also provide a guide to the different trees and their role in the forest.

What Did We Think?

This was a quick and very easy walk. A great way to fill in an hour. At the end we visited the café to relax and grab a snack while admiring the rainforest. It would be great for families with kids because it means you’re not walking them through the undergrowth. For people with mobility issues, it is excellent as it’s flat and accessible.

Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk
The boardwalk
Palm trees Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk
Palm trees
Strangler Fig climbing a tree
Strangler Fig climbing a tree
Palm trees
Palm trees

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

Established in 1973 and dedicated to the to rescue, rehabilitation and release of wild koalas, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital also helps visitor learn about this unique Australian animal.

Located in the NSW mid-north town of Port Macquarie, the hospital is a favourite destination for tourists. On arrival, we were pleased to see that a mobile coffee van was set up near the carpark. After a long drive to get here, this was a great way to start our visit. After a relaxing coffee on some chairs under shady trees, we started our visit.

Entry is free, but donations are welcome, which are used to keep the hospital running. The first exhibit is actually another of Port Macquarie’s attractions, one of the Hello Koala statues. Scattered around town at different businesses there are around 80 of these colourful statues.

The Koalas

Near the statue an information board with photos of koalas under care details the threats they face. The main one is habitat loss – something that is totally preventable, but something our state Government seems reluctant to address. Koalas at the hospital suffer from a range of injuries, from road accidents, dog attacks and bush fires.

The koala enclosures hold animals undergoing rehabilitation. Each enclosure has a description of the koala, the injury they sustained and how they are progressing. As koalas sleep a lot (due to the low food value of the leaves they eat – not the intoxicating effects of the gum leaves – that’s an urban myth) they were hard to see, cuddled up into little furry balls in the trees. We managed to spot them all, but most were too far away or obscured to take photos of.

The last place to visit is a small museum. This details koala evolution and their place in the Australian environment. Several stuffed exhibits allow visitors to see what they look like up close.

The Future

Funding has been secured for a first of its kind wild breeding program. The aim is to breed and release 30 joeys each year, offsetting the current population decline. Also involved in the project are Taronga Zoo, the Australian Museum Research Institute and the University of Sydney.

What Did We Think?

If you are visiting Port Macquarie, this is a must-see destination. Not only do you see koalas, but you also learn about their endangered status and what is being done to save them.

Koala Statue Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Koala Statue
Information Board
Information Board
Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Educational area
Sleeping koala
Sleeping koala
Information board Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Information board
Koala display in the museum Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Koala display in the museum
Koala display in the museum
Koala display in the museum
Koala skeleton Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
Skeleton of a koala compared to other animals

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.