21 February 2025
14 mins Read
Port Macquarie accommodation has put the country town on the map as a magnet for road-trippers making a beeline for Brisbane or Sydney. Whether you’re looking for a romantic retreat, a holiday home with space for the whole crew, or a hotel with river views, this coastal town has much to offer. Initially conceived as Australia’s third largest penal settlement, the town is now known for its chain of beautiful beaches, stunning hinterland, waterfalls and views as well as wineries and restaurants. Here are a few of the top spots to stay that will lure you away from the hum of the highway.
The accommodation in Port Macquarie has evolved to include brands that have upped the ante, offering a multitude of reasons to pull away from the hum of the highway.
Raise a glass on the balcony as you soak up incredible water views. (Image: Supplied)
Rydges Port Macquarie has been reimagined into the sunny new coastal retreat of our dreams. All 103 of the guestrooms, as well as 16 self-contained apartments, have been updated to include eucalyptus hues found in the Australian bush. Linger over cocktails at Zebu Bar & Restaurant. Cool off in the pool. Hop on a paddleboard. Climb into a kayak. Or use the hotel as a launching pad for day trips that promise adventure and leisure. Guests staying at the Rydges Port Macquarie can walk right out of their airy room and onto the waterfront in a matter of minutes.
The stylish hotel is in a prime location in the heart of the CBD, and in terms of accommodation in Port Macquarie, it has a lot to offer, including – but not limited to – King and Twin rooms to Superior and Deluxe King and Twi and Deluxe Family Interconnecting rooms. While the colour palette in the interior of the hotel is quite restrained, the view from the heated pool and spa overlooking the Hastings River pops in technicolour blue.
Address: Hay St, Port Macquarie
Laze on the shaded sun loungers next to the Hastings River. (Image: Supplied)
Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges is so close to the Hastings River you may as well be on a lilo. The revamped hotel reads like an ode to the river with an open-plan foyer, infinity pool and large windows designed to enable guests to appreciate the water from different angles. Sails has personality plus while remaining pared back, and the airy coastal-themed rooms make this Port Macquarie accommodation feel like a breeze.
Curl up on a chair on the balcony and read a book, or head for the heated spa, which looks out onto the water. Enjoy breakfast at the Boathouse Bar & Restaurant, then hire a paddleboard and head upriver. Looking for somewhere on the NSW Coast to have a destination wedding? The renovated hotel has a Hamptons-style wedding chapel and private pavilion. Go full bridezilla and arrive by superyacht.
Address: 20 Park St, Port Macquarie
Book a room with river views at The Mid Pacific. (Image: Supplied)
The boutique Mid Pacific Port Macquarie has nailed what you need during a holiday on the Hastings River. And it’s worth making the pilgrimage to Port Macquarie just to stay in the Pacific Suite at the mid-range motel, which also overlooks the Town Green.
The motel is also a short walk to the beaches and shops and a top spot to hole up in while binging on the complimentary Foxtel and wi-fi. The rooms are bright and airy and there is a heated outdoor pool and spas with water views. The boutique Port Macquarie accommodation is well maintained. Once you get your early-morning surf in, you will be ready for the day exploring Port Macquarie, one of NSW’s Top Aussie Towns.
Simplicity is key at the ibis Styles Port Macquarie. The beachfront hotel accommodation has just 49 contemporary rooms perched on the headland at Port Macquarie. Choose from a range of rooms, terraces and suites suitable for girls’ getaways, family groups or a romantic weekend away.
Unwind in the guest lounge, which has 180-degree views and a soundtrack of crashing waves, before doing a few lazy laps in the outdoor swimming pool or visiting the nearby beaches. The bedrooms are light and bright and talk to the landscape in muted nautical hues. The breakfast lounge also adheres to a minimalist palette that avowed escapists will appreciate.
Address: 1 Stewart St, Port Macquarie.
The water is never far away in Port Macquarie. And that’s the way we like it. Whether you’re motoring up the highway to Byron Bay or zooming back to Sydney, the Mercure Centro Hotel provides an incentive for a pit stop. The rooms are basic and comfortable but the position near to many of Port Macquarie’s picturesque surf beaches makes Mercure Centro Hotel Port Macquarie a magnet for business and leisure travellers.
Each of the 72 rooms has a balcony and free movies and casting options and there’s a day spa and heated pool too. There are restaurants on your doorstep such as the onsite Birdrock Bar & Grill. And the Glasshouse Regional Performing Arts Centre is a hop, skip and a jump away. Take a bow Port Mac.
Address: 103 William St, Port Macquarie
A lot of Port Macquarie’s best accommodation options are dotted along the oceanfront or by the river where it winds its way out to sea. As the demand for leisure travel increases, these homey stays – which range from high-end to budget-friendly – allow for better connectedness to the community.
Retreat into the tranquil Tallowwood House surrounded by rainforest.
There are white breezeblocks that recall the 1950s and 60s. Glass louvres that let the light in. And interiors and exteriors that reveal a reverence for both natural textures and mid-century design at Tallowwood House in Port Macquarie. There are two thoughtfully curated suites at the well-appointed adults-only bed and breakfast retreat: one is dog-friendly – the Driftwood – and the other – the Tallowwood – is not. Both suites have private entryways.
Relax into a settled calm on your road-trip between Byron Bay and Sydney or vice versa when you pull into this brand-new house located just a short walk from Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie. The house is surrounded by rainforest and the beautiful thing about the built form is that it seems to blend in with nature. The arrangement of furniture and soft subdued lighting also lands an air of tranquillity. Charge your EV while you recharge in the king-size floating bed made from tallowwood by a local artisan in the suite of the same name. Or bask in the luxury of the concrete bath in the Driftwood Suite.
Address: 34 Reading St, Port Macquarie
Get cosy in a charming country cottage at Braelee Stays. (Image: Heart and the Sea Photography)
Fans of flea-market chic will appreciate these country cottages filled with vintage furniture and quirky objects such as velvet easy chairs and old suitcases, bits of driftwood and potted plants. Braelee Stays includes Braelee Bower and Braelee Studio, small but perfectly formed options for accommodation near Port Macquarie that are hidden in the hinterland.
While Braelee Bower is open plan, with an outdoor bath and firepit, the pet-friendly Braelee Studio has a hammock and spa and indoor and outdoor fire. Depending on the weather, you can either shut out the outside world or invite it in. The rustic cabins have stunning Manning Valley views are are just a half-hour drive from Port Macquarie. Gather for s’mores and stargazing at night.
Address: 1483 Rollands Plains Road, Rollands Plains
Keen anglers will be the first to cast a line in at dawn from the front lawn of Ana Mandara Luxury Retreat, the conveniently located Port Macquarie accommodation on a bend of the Hastings River. Three of the luxurious four rooms feature private balconies and views over the river so you can step outside your private guestroom and shout ‘G’day’ to passing kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders gliding past.
The Hastings River haven has a resident chef who creates three-course gourmet breakfasts each day. Want to organise most romantic proposal ever? Book a Helicopter Coastal Experience, which includes a scenic flight over the coastline as well as lunch at Cassegrain Wines and a one-night stay at Ana Mandara. The retreat is adults only.
Address: 152 Settlement Point Road, Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie has 17 beaches. And you will overlook quite a few of them when you book a stay at Blue Vista luxury beachfront apartment. Spend your time exploring the rock pools, walking along the coastal path, enjoying a bracing dunk in the sea and watching the waves roll to shore from the three-bedroom apartment, which is swathed in glass in a low-rise complex directly opposite Town Beach.
Inside, the apartment is all soothing whites and turquoise tones with colourful artworks and the ocean, as ever in the periphery. Bring your laptop and work in idyllic seclusion. Or sit in a corner of the balcony which is bathed in light and more light, which heightens the saturation of both sea and sky. The entire rental unit sleeps six guests and includes a barista-style coffee machine and Weber BBQ.
Address: 4 Stewart St, Port Macquarie
Relish the treehouse vibes at this lush, five-hectare retreat. (Image: Supplied)
Guests staying at this NSW Tourism Gold award-winning eco-friendly retreat sandwiched between the Camden Haven River and the sea will wake up to a chorus of birdsong during a stay in one of the treehouses on the five-hectare property. There’s free wi-fi. But most guests at Diamond Waters Treehouse Retreat want to switch off and relax in the luxury hand-crafted treehouses, which have well-appointed kitchens and expansive balconies that look out over the wetlands.
Tread lightly by exploring the waterways in a canoe hired from Dunbogan Boatshed or wandering over the wetlands on purpose-built new accessible wetland walkways. The Treehouses have been designed with full accessibility along hard-surface pathways that will accommodate guests with mobility issues. A bright and airy pavilion has been added to the property to facilitate gatherings that range from yoga and wellbeing retreats to family gatherings and weddings.
Address: 128 Diamond Head Road, Dunbogan
Sleep under the stars in a luxe glamping dome. (Image: Quilman Cruz)
These luxury glamping domes are not just a place for sleeping, but for discovering the beauty of Port Macquarie. Perfect for everything from a romantic weekend to a girls’ getaway, the dinky Nature Domes are dotted around the hinterland and are a magnet for climate-conscious travellers.
But you won’t be roughing it at these elegant structures which are energy efficient and empathetic with the setting near a squiggle of Toms Creek. Attention to detail gives the domes a luxe feel. Take your foot off the pedal and pull off the highway to find the domes which feature Dutch hot tubs, campfire pits and kitchenettes.
Address: 2001 Toms Creek Road, Toms Creek
One of the best ways to get to know the Mid North Coast NSW town of Port Macquarie is to live like a local for a week. This multi-award-winning 4.5-star boutique apartment hotel lets you do just that, providing a comfortable base in the heart of the city that has been curated with comfort and convenience in mind.
The apartments at Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel are within walking distance of some of Port Macquarie’s best restaurants and cafes. There’s also a roof deck with a hot tub and a newly renovated pool, making this one of the best places to stay in Port Macquarie with a family.
Address: 11 Clarence St, Port Macquarie
The deck at Bellbird Hill Bed & Breakfast offers idyllic views. (Image: Supplied)
This boutique bed and breakfast is filled with hand-crafted furniture and quirky objects and, like its owners, has personality in spades. The single-level sandstone dwelling feels very homey, albeit in your wildest patchwork quilt and shabby chic Escape to the Country fantasies.
The three rooms all have ensuites and air conditioning and French doors that lead out onto the balcony. Bellbird Hill Bed & Breakfast offers easy access to the hinterland and surrounding national parks and has views over the Manning River. There’s a large lounge with a combustion heater for a weekend getaway in winter.
Address: 298 Karaak Flat Road, Karaak Flat
One of the perks of staying at Flynn’s Beach Resort in Port Macquarie is the easy access to Flynn’s Beach. Families return again and again to the deluxe two-bedroom apartments, which tick all the boxes on parents’ and kids’ wish lists. Families who want to self-cater will want to book this Port Macquarie accommodation for its well-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities.
In addition to the comfortable lounge room and private balcony, Flynn’s Beach Resort features family-friendly facilities such as two heated pools, BBQ cabanas and a tennis court. Look out for the resident koalas who live in the grove of gum trees near the resort and work through the list of how to keep the kids happy in Port Macquarie.
Address: 68 Pacific Drive, Port Macquarie
The heated outdoor pool instantly puts you in a relaxed mood.
This Trademark Collection by Wyndham Resort is steps away from the sugar-white sands of Flynns Beach. It’s also close to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, one of the most popular places to visit in Port Macquarie. Despite being so near to the beach, the Port Macquarie resort has a heated outdoor pool and hot tub as well as a children’s retreat and pool.
The Port Macquarie resort has a restaurant onsite, Henry’s Restaurant & Bar, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also call room service and dine on your balcony overlooking the pool. What makes a beach holiday at Club Wyndham Flynns Beach such a success is that staying put is so appealing.
Address: 14-20 Flynn St, Port Macquarie
There’s an increasing demand for pet-friendly accommodation around Australia as parents of fur babies don’t want to leave Fido behind when they’re headed off on holiday. Luckily, Port Macquarie accommodation includes some of the most paw-fect pet-friendly stays.
NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall has a resort-style pool perfect for a relaxing dip.
Great restaurants and cafes, culture, adventure, natural beauty and surf beaches. This Port Macquarie accommodation checks a lot of boxes. While the NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park is positioned to encourage visitors to get out and explore, it’s also very enticing to just stay put. Pick up a dozen oysters to enjoy with a bottle of local Cassegrain wine on the balcony of your cabin where you can keep watch for dolphins.
Pitch your tent or pull up your caravan to one of the pet-friendly sites a short stroll away from the resort-style pool, which includes a wading pool designed for toddlers. Give yourself over whole-heartedly to the rhythms of daily life here which revolves around the sun, sea, sailing and surfing or taking the dog for a walk around the breakwall and along the path to Oxley and Rocky Beaches.
Address: 1 Munster St, Port Macquarie
Keeping the kids happy while on holiday has a beneficial trickle-down effect on parents. And the huge inflatable obstacle course on the manmade lagoon at Stoney Park enables both parents and children to have a blast. For many, the pleasure will simply be about just camping out with your family.
Families can also relax and unwind with a kayak around the lake. Play a round of Stoney Aqua Golf. Enjoy Astronomy Nights and a two-hour guided sky show. All the accommodation at the family-friendly G’day Park is pet-friendly including the Lakeview Lodge cabin, which sleeps up to seven people, the fully self-contained villas and studio cabins. There are also powered sites and campground sites.
Address: 16 Hacks Ferry Road, Telegraph Point.
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