Departing Coffs Harbour, We are headingDepart from Port Macquarie.
Seventh stop: Port Macquarie
It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie. Before entering Port Macquarie, you will pass through a small town called Kempsey. You may want to stop for a break and have a cup of coffee, and then taste the most famous Fredo Pies in Australia. The store has more than 50 different flavors of Australian folk delicacies, meat or vegetarian pies. The most famous is the crocodile meat pie. One of its very successful marketing techniques is widely circulated in the local area! It is said that the store was founded in the 1990s. The store is located on the old Highway 1, which is a must-go road for vehicles. In order to get drivers to stop and consume, the owner had an idea to put a large statue of idol Marilyn Monroe on the roof of the store. Everyone stopped because of curiosity. This also made the pie store popular. Locals said that as long as you find Marilyn Monroe, you will easily find this store! Now because of the new highway, you no longer need to pass by this store, but its business is still booming.
In addition, the father of Australian country music: Slim Dusty, was born near Kempsey. He is an Australian country music idol singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is also one of Australia's most acclaimed stars. His career spanned nearly 70 years and he produced many records. He is known for his award-winning recordings, particularly the bush music genre coined "Bush ballad", with "A Pub with No Beer" becoming an international hit. He was the first Australian musician to be recognised internationally and has won an unrivalled 45 Gold Guitars and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Award. At the time of his death, aged 76, Dusty had been working on his 106th album for EMI Records. In 2007, his domestic sales in Australia exceeded AUD 10 million. At the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he sang the famous Australian song "Waltzing Matilda". He is one of the three national treasures of Australia, along with the famous Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. If you have the chance, you must visit the personal museum set up for him by the locals of Kempsey.https://slimdustycentre.com.au/
Port Macquarie is a vibrant coastal city at the heart of this beautiful region, with beautiful beaches, delicious fresh food such as oysters, endless outdoor adventures and beautiful walking trails.
The Koala Hospital, set up to care for injured and sick koalas, is one of the most popular attractions in the area. The hospital welcomes visitors all year round. There are tour guides every day at 3pm. In addition, in order to strengthen the public's awareness of koala conservation, the government went to the UK and quoted the story of the Frog Prince. 65 koala statues titled "Hello Koalas" were built at the entrance of the famous scenic spot in Port Macquarie. Each colorful koala represents a different background and image, very cute! 1 meter tall, made of fiberglass, all sponsored by local companies, everyone can collect various koala statues along the Koala Trail map, and also take a look at the local attractions.
Port Macquarie is 390 kilometres from Sydney and has a population of about 48,000. With a mild climate and parks, gardens and winding trails throughout, it is a great place for a leisurely walk. Explore the mysteries of this beautiful land along the 9-kilometer coastal trail, get close to nature and feel the surprises. You can also explore from the water, taking a boat tour to spot dolphins and whales. As the second eastern city in New South Wales, Port Macquarie is an excellent location for whale watching from May to November. In Camden Haven, walk through Kattang Nature Reserve to Perpendicular Point and watch whales swim by. Because the whales are so close to the coastline, the cruise ship can reach them faster, and you will have more time to observe these giants and admire the spectacular sight of them leaping out of the sea and slapping the water with their tails, leaving you with unforgettable memories.
Europeans first arrived at Port Macquarie in 1818 when John Oxley reached the Pacific from the inland following his exploration of inland New South Wales. He was named after New South Wales Premier Lachlan Macquarie. Oxley noted in his report that "the harbour is well stocked with fish, and sharks are larger and more numerous than I have ever observed before. The forested hills and rising ground are full of large kangaroos, and the swamps afford shelter and support to numerous wild fowl. Moreover the water in the country is generally good, and there is a good spring at the entrance to the harbour…" In 1821, Port Macquarie was established as a penal settlement to replace Newcastle as the destination for convicts who had committed crimes of the second degree in New South Wales. Under its first commander, Francis Allman, the settlement became a hellhole, where convicts had limited freedom, particularly in regard to the possession of letters and written papers, which could earn a convict up to 100 lashes. The penal settlement lasted from April 1820 to 15 August 1830. The settlement peaked in 1825 with 1,500 convicts, but by 1828 this had fallen to 530.
Starting from Port Macquarie, it is an enjoyable experience to explore the region's stunning national parks, beautiful rivers such as the Hastings River, 18 beaches and the ocean. You can enjoy the beauty of nature with outdoor activities including skydiving, paragliding, horseback riding, surfing, boating, biking, water skiing, kayaking, golfing and fishing. Other attractions include Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, Breakwall Waking Path, Ricardoes Tomatoes and U-Pick Strawberry Farm, and Timbertown heritage theme park.
In the next episode we will temporarily leave the coastline and enter the mysterious inland mountainous New England city.
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