The Best Things For Kids To Do In Port Macquarie

Whether you’re visiting sick koalas in hospital, filling a bucket with fresh fruit at Ricardo’s Tomatoes, or riding a horse along an empty beach, Port Macquarie has a range of activities designed to keep little and big kids happy.

Here’s our pick of some of the best things for kids to do in Port Macquarie.

Go horse riding in the Hastings

If you have kids aged 10 and up, you can hone your family horse-riding skills under the expert eye of Hastings River Horse Riding equestrians, who will lead you on a slow and steady ride along Grant’s Beach. While riding along the beach to the sound of crashing waves is a glorious adventure, it will also give you a love for the rugged, windswept beaches around Port Macquarie.

Experience Wakulda

Wakulda, Weaving our Stories as One, is an immersive, sound and light show projected onto the façade of the Port Macquarie Historic Courthouse. The moving 10-minute projection will engage young children and help start a conversation about the Birpai people, the traditional owners of the land who are part of Port Macquarie’s rich history. Compulsory viewing.

Whale watching

Head to Tacking Point Lighthouse during whale watching season (from May to November) and you’ll likely be rewarded with a memorable performance from the great marine mammals as they make their way along the so-called Humpback Highway. You can also join Port Jet on a whale-watching tour to see the majestic creatures up close.

Visit the Koala Hospital

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is a world first. Established in 1973, the hospital is managed by Koala Conservation Australia whose work includes scientific research, training, koala care, rescues, home care and tree planting. Introduce your children to the plight of wild koalas at the hospital where you can visit rehabilitation yards and the intensive care unit. Billabong Zoo is also dedicated to koala conservation.

Follow the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail

Children love seeing how many of the 79 one-metre-high hand-painted fibreglass koalas they can find along the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail in Port Macquarie. Originally designed to remind visitors of the koala care and conservation work being done in the region, the permanent attraction also leads visitors to discover interesting places in and around Port Macquarie.

Bago Maze & Winery

Bago Maze & Winery is located near to Bago Bluff National Park overlooking rolling vineyards and one of the world’s largest hedge mazes. Tell the kids to ‘go and get lost’ and explore the stunning architecturally designed Lilli Pilly maze – which curls its way some 2000m around the property – while you sample some of the outstanding wines produced at the family-run vineyard.

Bago Winery Lily Pilly Maze — Tell the kids to explore the stunning architecturally designed Lilli Pilly maze.

Visit Old Bottlebutt

Families should factor in a visit to the Burrawan State Forest to see Old Bottlebutt, the largest red bloodwood tree in the southern hemisphere. The majestic old dame, which has a girth of 16 metres, has stood for more than two centuries and can be reached via a 600-metre-long track that is accessible for little legs. Don’t forget to point out the forest floor, carpeted in brilliant green mosses, to inspire the next gen of nature lovers.

Old Bottlebutt tree — Old Bottlebutt is the largest red bloodwood tree in the southern hemisphere.

Ricardoes Tomatoes

Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries is a picture-perfect pick-your-own-fruit farm where you can fill a bucket or punnet with hydroponically-grown produce while strolling around the vertical gardens in the greenhouses, which are controlled by state-of-the-art computerised technology. In addition to being able to see, touch and taste the fruit, visitors can enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea of scones slathered with fresh strawberry jam.

Port Macquarie Astronomical Observatory

Teach your children about space and the cosmos by visiting the Port Macquarie Astronomical Observatory on an open night. In addition to the entertaining presentations, visitors can enjoy a tour of the night sky and look through a telescope at the moon, Jupiter and Saturn. Don’t forget to download an astronomy app ahead of your astrological adventure.

Port Macquarie Observatory — Visitors can enjoy a tour of the night sky.

Check out the break wall

Stroll along the southern end of the Port Macquarie breakwall to read the hotch-potch of messages, tributes and memories painted onto the rocks. What began as an art competition in 1995 is now a permanent outdoor gallery that anyone can be part of. The painted section of the break-wall starts at Town Green and hugs the Hastings River toward Town Beach.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

The best things for kids to do in Port Macquarie