Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, NSW, Australia - Scenic Hikes on Waymarking.com

'Light House Beach Fans' (aka LHBFans) have 10 caches in the Coastal Walk series, each one showing another beautiful section.

If relying on public transport for the return trip check out the geocache GC39ERW for further details on times the buses run.

Picture location 1: S 31° 28.488' E 152° 56.022'

#1 - 1.4 km walk of Lighthouse Beach area, which goes south a further 9km than the Tacking Point Lighthouse. If going swimming in the Lighthouse Beach surf check that it is patrolled. From the beach you can walk up to the lighthouse and if lucky see some whales breaching.

#2 - 1.2 km bush and beach walking, but be aware, that if you have minors in your group, that part of the walk on Miners Beach goes through a 'designated nudist beach'. This section of the Coastal Walk section "passes through Sea Acres National Park which is a place of natural beauty protecting rare coastal subtropical and littoral rainforest only 4 km south of Port Macquarie town centre. The rainforest meets the coast in one of the largest remaining coastal rainforest reserves in New South Wales. Sea Acres was the first coastal landscape to attract heritage listings for the preservation of an outstanding coastal rainforest remnant and distinctive geological features.

"At Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, you can find a book and gift shop and a pleasant café. You can explore the tranquil, subtropical rainforest on the elevated and wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, walking by yourself or with a volunteer Rainforest Guide."

#3 - ~800 m beach walk. There are other caches to be found, and also waymarks at this juncture. South of Nobby Head, Shelly Beach is not suitable for surfing, and great caution required for swimming. Rather, there are numerous 'gutters' which enable rock and surf fishermen to get a good catch. Before proceeding on to #4 check out the memorial obelisk on the headland. Steep and rough track, but worth it.

#4 - ~400 m beach walk. Nobbys Beach is a popular off-leash dog walking beach, so be prepared to be 'inspected' by the pooches. With a lot of exposed rocks and 'gutters', this is not great for swimming.

#5 - ~ 500 m of beach walk on Flynns Beach, which is patrolled on weekends and in holiday times, with the Port Macquarie Life Saving Club based there. This is a popular place for swimming, and as such not suitable for fishing.
Then a steep set of steps up and over Flynns Point, for a further 300m to Rocky Beach. Toilets and picnic tables are here.

#6 - ~1 km of track walking overlooking Oxley and Town Beaches; starting at Windmill Hill, where there is a sculpture depicting the millstone and driveshaft of the wind-driven four mill.
Surveyor John Oxley discovered the beach here after exploring a route through the Great Dividing Range and following the Hasting River down to the coast in 1818 (obviously no roads in those days - and no maps). Flagstaff Hill was the site of the signalling station (and pilots cottage) so that ships could be assisted through the dangerous and shifting bar of the Hastings River. (The breakwalls you see today reduce the risk, but care still need to be taken if heading out to sea in a small craft.)
Town Beach, beside a popular caravan park, is patrolled, and with picnic facilities is very popular.

#7 ~1 km of concrete paths. It starts at the red navigation beacon on the southern breakwall for the Hastings River. Almost all of the large boulders comprising the upper part of the breakwall have been painted to some degree. Many commemorate the passing of a loved one, and others are for memories gained while on holidays here. Take your time check out the variety and styles of presentations. How many different koalas statues can you identify?
At the 'Town Green' you will find access to shops (all types), and many memorials, as the wharf was the entry point for everyone in the early days of the settlement.
There is a Maritime Museum almost opposite the 'Pancake Place' which worth a look.

#8 - ~1km from the Town Green through to Westport club, with a detour up to the Kooloonbung Creek bridge. Along the way you will find embedded in the concrete path 12 plaques for early leaders in the community - nothing like the Hollywood stars. How many do you know something of?

#9 - ~1 km through to Settlement City, past holidayers and exercising locals. Another place in Port Macquarie (Settlement Point) commemorates the fact that the Hastings has an exceptionally high number of centenarians, as the region has a high number of retirees finding the lifestyle suitable. This area had been under threat of building development, but now a great picnic parkland. You may even have a circus, or other entertainment to check out on the way.

There are more shops to supply a range of dietary needs here. I hope you not only found nine Multi caches (plus sundry others and waymarks), but also enjoyed the Coastal Walk.