The Port Macquarie Coastal Walk is one of the best coastal runs in New South Wales if you want beaches, stairs, ocean views, headlands, rainforest, and a lighthouse finish.
The official Port Macquarie Coastal Walk is 9 km one way and runs through the Port Macquarie coast toward Tacking Point Lighthouse. NSW National Parks lists it as a Grade 4 walk with a suggested walking time of 3 to 4 hours, and it can be broken into four sections: Westport to Town Beach, Town Beach to Flynns Beach, Flynns Beach to Shelly Beach, and Shelly Beach to Tacking Point.
I had not planned to walk that day (I wanted to swim) but the pool was closed for Australian winter…so why not walk and enjoy some beautiful scenery. One thing I really appreciated about Australia is there is no shortage of walks available.
Port Macquarie Coastal Walk FAQ
How long is the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk?
The Port Macquarie Coastal Walk is 9 km one way. NSW National Parks lists the suggested walking time as 3 to 4 hours.
Where does the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk start and finish?
Most full-route descriptions start near Westport Park or Town Green and finish at Tacking Point Lighthouse. You can also reverse the walk from Tacking Point Lighthouse back into Port Macquarie.
What is the best section of the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk?
For scenery, I would choose Shelly Beach to Tacking Point Lighthouse or Flynns Beach to Tacking Point Lighthouse.
Is the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk hard?
It is moderate as a walk and harder as a run because of stairs, sand, uneven sections, and surface changes.
Port Macquarie Coastal Walk Quick Facts
Location: Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Official trail name: Port Macquarie Coastal Walk
Route: Westport Park or Town Green to Tacking Point Lighthouse
Distance: 9 km one way
Difficulty: Grade 4 walk
Runability: Runnable in sections with stairs, sand, road crossings, and uneven trail
Best for: Scenic running, coastal walking, beaches, whale watching, ocean views, and a lighthouse finish
Main sections: Westport to Town Beach, Town Beach to Flynns Beach, Flynns Beach to Shelly Beach, Shelly Beach to Tacking Point
External map: NSW National Parks Port Macquarie Coastal Walk Map
Gear note: For shoe choice, I’d read Trail Running Shoes vs Road Shoes or What is a Hybrid Running Shoe? before packing.
Where Is the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk?
The Walk follows the coast through Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast. The full route is usually described as Westport Park or Town Green to Tacking Point Lighthouse, although you can start almost anywhere along the route.
The walk passes historic sites, beaches, coastal lookouts, rainforest, and Sea Acres National Park. NSW National Parks notes that the route can be done as one full walk or split into shorter sections, which also makes it easier to use as a run.
Westport Park to Town Beach
This part is not the best scenery on the route, but I still like including it because it makes the route feel complete. Town Beach is more coastal and less like you are just connecting sidewalks.
Town Beach to Flynns Beach
Town Beach to Flynns Beach is where the route gets better. You get stairs, beach views, lookouts, and more variation underfoot. You can find the beachside cafe at Flynns Beach if you are in need of food or a beverage.
Flynns Beach to Shelly Beach
Flynns Beach to Shelly Beach is one of the better sections…it feels less urban than the beginning and still easy to follow. Shelly Beach is also a good stopping point if you are not doing the full route. There are swimming and barbecue options along the walk, including Shelly Beach.
Shelly Beach to Tacking Point Lighthouse
The final section to Tacking Point Lighthouse is the one I would not skip. This section goes through Sea Acres National Park and has the best finish of the route. Tacking Point Lighthouse was built in 1879, and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council notes the reserve has ocean and coastline views, whale watching lookouts, accessible upgrades, and marks the finish of the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk.
There was also a current NSW National Parks safety alert for slippery and eroded sections between Miners Beach and the car park near Lighthouse Road and Matthew Flinders Drive when I researched this, so check alerts before you go.
Is the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk Runnable?
Yes, but it is better as a scenic run than a workout (like Bondi Beach to Coogee Walk). It is pretty hilly and you also have a lot of slippery sections. There are plenty of runnable sections, especially near Westport, Town Beach, and the smoother coastal path areas. There are also stairs, sand, beach access points, road crossings, and uneven parts that slow everything down.
I would wear a road-to-trail shoe or a light trail shoe. The Altra Experience Wild 3 type of shoe makes sense here because it handles light trail, mixed surfaces, and door-to-trail running. If you want more protection for longer runnable trail days, something like the Mizuno Neo Accera also fits that category.
How Hard Is the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk?
As a walk, the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk is moderate. As a run, it feels harder than 9 km because the surface keeps changing. NSW National Parks lists it as Grade 4, which fits the full route because of stairs, uneven sections, sand, and the Sea Acres portion.
What Makes It One of the Best Walks in Port Macquarie?
It has a lot in one route: beaches, headlands, rainforest, ocean views, historic spots, stairs, swimming options, and Tacking Point Lighthouse. It is also easy to split into shorter sections. That makes it one of the best walks in Port Macquarie for visitors because you can do the full 9 km or choose a smaller section without missing the coastal scenery. You can start and stop at a lot of spots along the way.
Whale Watching on the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk
The walk can also be good for whale watching. NSW National Parks says whales may be spotted during migration season from May to November, and the Tacking Point Lighthouse area has whale watching lookouts. Sadly I was not lucky to see one when I went in July.
What to Bring
Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and shoes with decent traction. NSW National Parks recommends drinking water, a hat, and sunscreen for the walk.
I would also save the route on your phone and check current NSW National Parks alerts before going.
Conclusion
The Port Macquarie Coastal Walk is one of the best runs in Port Macquarie if you want scenery over speed. The 9 km one-way route gives you beaches, stairs, headlands, rainforest, whale watching potential, and a finish at Tacking Point Lighthouse.
You can see more trail runs and hikes here.
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Questions for you:
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