Port Macquarie is almost exactly half way between Sydney and Brisbane. It lies on the mouth of the Hastings River, that provides calm waterways for fishing and boating, as an alternative to the beautiful, but exposed coastal beaches.
It is a sea-side resort town and its location has made it a popular destination for both residents of Sydney and Newcastle, as well as those from the northern State of Queensland. Before the tourism industry became established, the first penal colony settlers planted sugar cane as they cleared the timber from the land. Like much of the remote parts of Australia, the great depression of 1840 hit hard and it wasn't until the turn of the century and the arrival of the railway in 1910, that things started to pick up.
Today, with 40,000 residents, the region offers a wide variety of things to do and see including surfing, boasting, fishing, wineries and water sports.
For more information visit this Tourism Website.
