A Information to Port Macquarie {{Photograph}} Spots + Scenic Areas
They’re saying the additional you go the extra you’ll uncover nonetheless what…typically there’s furthermore magnificence mendacity appropriate in entrance of your specific individual doorstep.
Having lived interstate and overseas for roughly 14years, I’ve just lately had a necessity to search out additional of Australia. The coast, the centre, the rugged ranges and patterned landscapes. I’ve extended acknowledged of the dramatic contrasts all by the nation nonetheless I knew little of the photogenic scorching spots that lay spherical my very private hometown.
With a shoreline of 17 seashores, Port Macquarie has heaps pure magnificence to search out and this earlier 12 months I’ve lastly had a risk to see the place I grew up by my lens.
Positioned merely 4 hours drive north of Sydney, Port Macquarie is the form of place the place households come for his or her holidays, the place individuals select to retire and the place an brisk, open air way of life is the norm. It’s a form of coastal escapes individuals dream of when residing in a metropolis and by likelihood, it’s the place I went to highschool and labored my first job as a journalist.
Utilizing it as my base (optimistic, I’m nonetheless travelling) this 12 months has meant that after I return from a go to, I can spend time working nonetheless then take pleasure in getting out and about, revisiting places that spur recollections and encourage images.
Some areas have been an entire shock as I solely had a faint recollection from after I was youthful, others haven’t modified a bit…which it seems, is what makes them so particular.
So, I needed to place collectively a bit of knowledge to a few of my favorite images places in and spherical Port Macquarie. Sharing loads of the perfect seashores and vantage components of a metropolis that’s someplace I take into account everybody visiting Australia should see.
To get began, correct proper right here’s slightly little bit of map exhibiting the place you’ll uncover every spot. I’ve included just a few extra images spots equal to Queens Lake, Diploma Plomer and Earlier Bottlebutt all by way of the map since there are too many spots to place in writing down about individually. Be glad to click on on on every icon and uncover spherical slightly little bit of…
Photogenic Seashores in Port Macquarie
There’s no scarcity of coastal images places in and spherical Port Macquarie, in truth it might take you just a few months and even years to cowl all of them in golden hour. From Diploma Plomer all through the north to Crowdy Bay Nationwide Park all through the south, the realm is form of made for seascape photographers!
Beneath I’ve listed a few of my favorite spots nonetheless should you’re eager to go looking your specific individual, take a wander alongside the 9km Port Macquarie Coastal Stroll which covers your complete seashores between Metropolis and Lighthouse Seaside. Alongside the route you’ll uncover Oxley, Flynns, Nobbys, Shelley and Miners Seaside plus fairly a couple of little rocky coves and corners to handle your digicam busy. There’s positively fairly a couple of stand out rock formations nonetheless too many to itemizing on this textual content so I counsel discovering a spot that takes your fancy and visiting all by each dawn and sundown.
Metropolis Seaside
Coordinates – 31°25’46.2″S 152°55’12.8″E
Perhaps the primary seaside you’ll see when exploring Port Macquarie, Metropolis Seaside presents your complete summery vibes. Beginning on the breakwall and curving spherical to Flagstaff Hill, the seaside typically has good surf circumstances and calm areas for swimming.
For photographers it’s a implausible spot to seize dawn, notably on a foggy winters morning when sea mist creates a shocking scene. Metropolis Seaside is a particular spot on account of it supplies not solely a dawn vantage stage nonetheless, a sundown one too. Enterprise all the way in which through which all the way in which all the way down to the jap nook close to Flagstaff Hill and as well as you’ll be handled to views wanting as soon as extra to the west, ideally suited to capturing the nice and cozy glow of sundown with pine bushes and even the hinterland all through the space.
Salty Crew Kiosk is one amongst my favorite spots on the town to seize a espresso and breakfast then wander alongside the coast with my digicam. There’s a substantial amount of small rock swimming swimming swimming pools and jagged rocks to make the most of in composing a surprising panorama shot. You would choose to stay to the trail, or get your toes sandy and wander the shoreline to seize seascapes utilizing the rocks in your composition.
Shelly Seaside
Coordinates – 31°27’18.4″S 152°55’54.9″E
It’s the place the rainforest meets the ocean and one amongst my favorite areas to swim in summer time season. Shelly Seaside is surrounded by Sea Acres Nationwide Park which means you gained’t have buildings lining the shore, it’s all pure, all fairly. On account of the rainforest is so shut, you’ll uncover there’s a substantial amount of wildlife together with bush turkeys and lace screens (large lizards) which tend to hold all through the BBQ areas or roam by the bushes. Normally they’ll even be seen clinging to the pine bushes, practically camouflaging themselves in opposition to the bark so maintain an in depth eye out whenever you’re strolling spherical!
Shelly Seaside supplies numerous images alternate choices from the rock swimming swimming swimming pools and rainforest to the engaging shoreline and native preserve gliders which can be seen flying from Harry’s Lookout. A neighborhood legend, Harry lived in a caravan at Shelly Seaside alongside collectively along with his companion Jean from 1961 till his demise in January, 2000. Harry turned the caretaker of this particular spot, hand carving the 254 steps as lots as what’s now normally known as Harry’s Lookout. Beginning out from the Shelly Seaside carpark, you presumably can take the stroll as lots as a result of the lookout and alongside the way in which through which by which go the ‘thong tree’ and carved artworks the place his caravan and yard as rapidly as have been ahead of taking the trail he walked recurrently up the hill for top-of-the-line views in Port Macquarie.
On the highway all the way in which through which all the way in which all the way down to Shelly Seaside there’s a extraordinarily photogenic (extraordinarily regarded with marriage ceremony ceremony images) strangler fig about 200m from Ocean Dr, you’ll perceive it whenever you see it. Nonetheless you presumably can’t actually cease your automotive correct proper right here so proceed driving to the seaside then wander as soon as extra up alongside the rainforest.
Miners Seaside
Coordinates – 31°27’41.4″S 152°56’05.1″E
This spot is my favorite. Truly, my favorite spot tends to vary based mostly on the native climate nevertheless after I’m hoping to {{{photograph}}} a secluded seaside and clear teal seas, that is the place I will first. Miners Seaside is tucked slightly little bit of south of Shelley Seaside and to entry it it is important to walk roughly 10minutes alongside the coastal strolling path. Ahead of arriving on the seaside, you’ll go an incredible little spot to take a look at whales between Could and October, and this view stage might be ideally suited to photographing Miners Seaside from above.
It’s value noting that Miners Seaside might be thought-about a nudist seaside nonetheless on account of it varieties a part of the 9km Port Macquarie Coastal Stroll, there are hikers and walkers recurrently passing by.
The function that makes Miners Seaside so photogenic for me is the rocky outcrop that juts out from the sand. Relying on the tides and circumstances, the rocks can every be completely separated from the seaside, or, they’re normally linked by a extraordinarily photogenic strip of sand. If that is the case, you’ll have waves coming in from the left and proper, providing you with heaps to seize and play with.
Tacking Diploma Lighthouse
Coordinates – 31°28’30.1″S 152°56’13.3″E
The shining star of Port Macquarie is after all the lighthouse. Perched up excessive overlooking Lighthouse Seaside, from correct proper right here you presumably can see all the way in which through which by which south to Laurieton, and on a transparent day, all the way in which through which by which north to Hat Head.
The lighthouse itself is photogenic with it’s inserting blue and white paint contrasting fantastically in opposition to a sunny day or pastel sky. From the lighthouse you presumably can seize footage of the encircling shoreline with a substantial amount of crashing waves and rocky coves to compose your footage with. Personally although, I want to incorporate the lighthouse in my footage which implies exploring spherical to go looking a super perspective.
In case you wander down the steps to the north of the lighthouse, you’ll enter the beginning of the Sea Acres Nationwide Park and uncover a partaking cove that gives limitless composition prospects. There are rock formations carved by the tides, rock swimming swimming swimming pools, grassy tufts and should you enterprise up onto the little headland, there’s a super view wanting as soon as extra in route of the lighthouse with the cove in your shot too. Capturing nightfall from this location would make any panorama photographer do some cozy dance!
Watonga Rocks
Coordinates – 31°28’48.4″S 152°55’42.6″E
A neighborhood favorite, Watonga Rocks are positioned on Lighthouse Seaside and seem to stay up within the midst of the 10km sandy shores. It’s for that motive, they make an incredible matter to {{{photograph}}}!
You would zoom into the rocks from the northern finish of Lighthouse seaside and contains surfers for perspective, or stand up shut and seize extended exposures as waves wrap spherical their base.
Must you wish to fake you’re all through the Sahara, that is furthermore the spot the place the Camel Safaris happen so all by way of most days you’ll uncover camels strolling alongside the shore, one issue slightly little bit of absolutely utterly totally different to incorporate in your images of Port Macquarie!
Scenic Spots in and spherical Port Macquarie
Coordinates – 31°25’40.2″S 152°54’28.7″E
Metropolis Inexperienced + Lady Nelson Wharf
Positioned appropriate all through the centre of metropolis, Metropolis Inexperienced is the place to picnic, watch the boats cruise out and in of the river and naturally, to {{{photograph}}}. Correct proper right here you’re handled to sundown over the Hastings River and will seize footage that options the seagulls, dolphins and should you’re fortunate, a leaping sting ray or two.
Lady Nelson Wharf works as a shocking function to make the most of inside your composition at Metropolis Inexperienced. At sundown, the sky will delicate up behind the wharf which means you presumably can {{{photograph}}} it so as in order so as to add perspective to the scene, or use it because of it exhibits into the river. As a rule there’ll even be individuals fishing on the wharf too and don’t be afraid to wander down the steps and peek spherical beneath for an alternate view wanting as soon as extra in route of the breakwall and pine bushes.
Enterprise additional earlier the wharf to {{{photograph}}} the views wanting west from the outdated Cruise Terminal. There’s a string of boats moored in opposition to the picket jetty which you could benefit from inside your footage, or zoom earlier to {{{photograph}}} Pelican Island and the setting photograph voltaic behind.
The Breakwall
Maybe principally in all probability probably the most iconic function of Port Macquarie is the breakwall, the place households have painted rocks over time, adorning this coastal stroll with vibrant murals and messages. The breakwall connects Metropolis Inexperienced with Metropolis Seaside and is a implausible place to go for a stroll collectively collectively together with your digicam, notably early all through the morning or spherical sundown and nightfall.
You would {{{photograph}}} the panorama, pine bushes alongside the shore, crashing waves and native fishermen silhouetted in opposition to the setting photograph voltaic.
North Brother Mountain
Coordinates – 31°39’26.5″S 152°46’40.7″E
That is the spot to go for one in every of many important epic views in New South Wales. Wanting over Laurieton, the shoreline and Camden Haven River system, North Brother Mountain supplies top-of-the-line vantage components to seize a panorama picture from up excessive.
The drive up is scenic too with thick forests, fairly a couple of gum bushes and should you’re fortunate, a extraordinarily moody mist is extra more likely to be current that wafts all by the mountain on winter mornings.
In case you’re feeling energetic you presumably can hike up, capturing footage of wildlife and flora you see alongside the way in which through which by which. Alternatively, should you’re slightly little bit of lazier (like me), you presumably can drive up, revenue from the views then enterprise down the coast to Diamond Head for sundown by the seaside.
Diamond Head + Break up Rock
Coordinates – 31°43’02.9″S 152°47’43.3″E
Kangaroos hop alongside the seaside at dawn and waves gently roll by Crowdy Bay which is completely formed like a crescent moon. Diamond Head is stress-free, peaceable and in my view, top-of-the-line camp internet sites in Australia.
It’s the form of place to go and get away from all of it, to wander alongside the seaside collectively collectively together with your digicam and breath in slightly little bit of salt air. There’s heaps to work with correct proper right here with Break up Rock being the obvious matter. Reminding me of the rocky shores of Scotland, Break up Rock is a inserting formation of pillars that jut out from the headland and beg to be explored. Use them in your footage from the seaside or stand up amongst the rocks and clamber by to hunt out diversified utterly totally different vantage components.
Bago Bluff
Coordinates – 31°30’39.5″S 152°39’40.8″E
On the extra adventurous side within the case of accessibility, should you’ve obtained a 4WD, driving as lots as Bago Bluff is a must. The views from the perfect are unimaginable, wanting over the farmland and hinterland between Wauchope and Comboyne.
On my first journey up I didn’t actually know what to anticipate and simply went with the notion that getting up excessive will certainly recommend there’s some form of view! Fortunately, that is absolutely the case and when you’ve reached the height of Bago Bluff there’s some little rocky outcrops the place you presumably can picnic and {{{photograph}}} the encircling setting. Merely to notice, there are not any security fences, it’s a straight drop from the rock ledge so be tremendous cautious when exploring up there!
Getting there: To realize Bago Bluff, drive from Port Macquarie out to Kings Creek and head all through the course of the partaking (efficiently value a cease) Bago Vineyards. From there you’ll uncover a set of 4WD tracks and should you’ve obtained Google Maps open or a GPS, alter to Milligans Rd till it turns to Pine Hut Rd after which Rollover Rd which is able to lead you up and alongside the ridgeline.
*It’s a particular 4WD observe, you gained’t make it up the hill in an frequently automotive nonetheless the trouble is rewarded with photogenic views!
There are such a lot of additional images places I am going to embody on this information nonetheless I needed to share a few of my favourites and hopefully you’ll go to shortly and uncover a few of your specific individual.
Have you ever ever ever been to Port Macquarie and have a favorite spot? Let me know all through the solutions beneath!
Whats up! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as an educated journey and panorama photographer, all suggestion discovered on this web page is from my personal expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful in your personal travels and want to take heed to all through the solutions about your journeys and experiences world huge.