Find miles of unspoiled beaches in and around Port Macquarie

The first thing you will notice about Port Macquarie is that the city seems to be set up to cater to tourists. With a great beach virtually in the backyard of the city centre and miles of unspoiled beaches to the north and south of the town, it is obviously an ideal setting for a vacation destination, so you might be surprised to discover that until the 1960s, it was virtually unknown, even to Australian holiday makers.

Originally, Port Macquarie was settled and developed to serve as the administrative centre for agriculture in the region. Convict labour was used to clear the land and provide its basic infrastructure. In those early years, the rich soil of the Hastings Valley and not the magnificent sands of the beaches was what attracted settlers. As the region grew, so did Port Macquarie and gradually, it became the business centre of the entire region. Today, its population of 62,000 makes it the largest city on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales.

Of course, the entire coast of New South Wales is dotted with great beaches, so those alone aren't what make Port Macquarie special. Since Port Macquarie was discovered by tourists, it has developed more family oriented activities than any of its neighbours. This is part of the reason for its growing popularity.

A good example of a great family day out in Port Macquarie is the Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park. With hundreds of indigenous and exotic animal species within its grounds, this wildlife park is much more than just a zoo. For one thing, you are able to get much closer to many of the animals, allowing you to truly interact with nature. For another, the beautiful gardens and picnic areas make it an ideal place to spend the whole day, taking in the shows as they are presented and relaxing in comfort in between.

Timbertown is rated as one of Australia's top heritage sites. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to the 19th century timber era, when most of the work was done by hand and cars and gas and electric powered machinery were unavailable. You will have to go to Timbertown to appreciate it. The authentically reproduced 19th century town is much more interesting than any museum exhibition. You really do travel back in time when you visit Timbertown and the whole family will love it.

If theme attractions are not to your liking or you just feel like getting out and stretching your legs, you won't be disappointed by Port Macquarie, either. Located virtually in the heart of the city, the Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park has easy walking trails and boardwalks that are designed for all ages and fitness levels. Within 5 minutes of setting out on your walk, you will be immersed in another world. This is just one of many such walks that you can find at your Port Macquarie doorstep.

Because of its size and popularity, there is a larger variety of Port Macquarie accommodations than you will find anywhere else on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. In the city centre, you can find everything from backpackers accommodations to luxury spa resorts. If you're looking for something a little different, try a farm stay or hinterland B&B.

Take a few days off, find Port Macquarie accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.