Local Interests
Our once sleepy holiday town is now a thriving regional city and with a population approaching 90,000, is one of the fastest growing regional areas in Australia.
Determined to be an ideal spot for a penal colony by John Oxley and the then Govenor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, our first European arrivals in 1821 were rather reluctant ones, in the form of convicts sent to the Port Macquarie penal settlement for secondary offences. Port Macquarie was one of the earliest penal settlements in Australia, and was infamous for its hard labour and conditions.
Open to free settlers from 1830, the penal colony remained until 1847, at which point there was an influx of free settlers. From the late 1800's, word was getting around that Port Macquarie was a beautiful place to visit, and from the early-mid 1900's, Port's popularity grew exponentially.
https://www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au/products/port-macquarie-hastings-heritage
St Thomas Church
Hay Street, Port Macquarie
The fifth oldest Anglican Church still in use in Australia. It was convict built and still retains original family pew boxes, built with high sides and raised to protect "free" families from the gaze of convict worshippers.
Ricardoes Tomatoes
Pick your own strawberries
Just a moment off the M1 roundabout, three kilometres north of Port Macquarie, is the perfect pit stop. Ricardoes Farm with free entry is an ideal refreshment stopover along the road or an indulgence for all ages to while away several hours.
Rows of white igloo-style greenhouses march across lush countryside. Inside, red-ripe tomatoes climb on towering Jack and the Beanstalk-type vines and sweet succulent strawberries scale vertical latticed avenues. Everything's under cover in case of rain or cold.
Air-conditioned Cafe Red is BYO, no corkage - and has budget-priced farm fresh brekkie/brunch, nutritious lunches, snacks, tea, barista coffee, cakes and Devonshire Tea with fluffy scones warm from the oven, lavished with pure natural cream and Ricardoes strawberry jam.
James, chutneys, salsas, passata and soups are among Ricardoes' big range of Sydney Royal Easter Show Fine Foods-awarded preserves: treats for home or as gifts. Produce from neighbouring growers; essential supplies for campers.
Pick your own strawberries flourish at shoulder height for adults; lower down, tiny tots easily access berries on the bottom rows. Pay only for what you pick.
Escape highway doldrums: no time-wasting detouring, plenty of grassy spaces for kids to stretch their legs. Sealed roads; big sealed RV car park.
Whale Watching
You will be very comfortable during your trip, with large comfortable seats on the boat, all whilst wearing the most comfortable inflatable, low profile life jackets on the market. They guarantee you the best whale experience in town!
