The trail from Port Stephens to Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid-North Coast makes for an unforgettable journey combining epicurean indulgences with awe-inspiring natural beauty. From spotting dolphins and migrating whales to connecting to local Aboriginal culture and encountering wild koalas, this beautiful stretch of coastline rewards travellers with wave after wave of memory-making moments.

Take your time by exploring Newcastle 

Begin your coastal odyssey by exploring the cosmopolitan port city of Newcastle, south of Port Stephens. There's no better way to mark the end of your two-hour drive from Sydney than by taking a refreshing dip in the Newcastle Ocean Baths or plunging into the surf at the city's famed Merewether Beach. 

After towelling off and changing, savour creative Asian fusion dishes at Signal Box, located in a heritage building that once housed a railway station, or pair sea breezes with Mediterranean favourites at the light-filled waterfront restaurant Blanca. Dig into a pub-style lunch that showcases Hunter Valley produce at Foghorn Brewery before going behind the scenes on a brewery tour, or see how nearby Earp Distilling Co. makes its range of crisp-tasting spirits on a guided walk-through before dining at its bustling restaurant. 

Step back in time as you immerse in military history at the Fort Scratchley Historic Site, facing popular Nobbys Beach, or let local experts such as the tour guides of Newy Tour Co. take you on a fascinating day trip around the city or beyond to Hunter Valley. 

Discover a watery wonderland in Port Stephens 

Tear yourself away from “Newy” to start the one-hour drive to Port Stephens. You may discover you don't get far before finding a reason to pull off the road: between Newcastle and the town of Port Stephens you'll be tempted by the beer garden, high-tea pavilion, farm-to-fork restaurant, and brewery, distillery and winery experiences at the expansive B.Farm estate, around a 40-minute drive out of central Newcastle.

B.Farm neighbours the incredible shifting coastal sand dunes of the Worimi Conservation Lands. Connect with your inner child and gain hands-on insight into the culture and heritage of the Worimi people on a quad-bike adventure through the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes with Aboriginal-owned Sand Dune Adventures. 

Make the most of your time in Port Stephens by opting for 4WD Tours R Us's Wild Sand Adventure Package, which features a morning sandboarding the dunes and an afternoon meeting cuddly animals and scaly reptiles at the ECO-certified Oakvale Wildlife Park. Or climb aboard a whale-watching experience or dolphin cruise to observe these sea creatures from a respectful distance. Thrill to the sight of whales breaching from Tomaree Head Summit, which towers over the entrance to Port Stephens, between May and November – or tackle parts of the scenic 27km Tomaree Coastal Walk at any time of the year.

You might even see a pod of dolphins swimming by Rick Stein's restaurant at Bannisters Port Stephens, where you'll be tempted by dishes of seafood caught in Nelson Bay, Stockton and other local stretches of water. Then spend a memorable night in a deluxe glamping tent at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and wake up to the sound of koalas in the surrounding bushland. 

Chill out and chow down in Forster 

Watch Port Stephens recede in the rear-view mirror and settle in for the two hour drive to Forster, a coastal town with many picturesque attractions, from sandy beaches to sheltered lakes. Take in the panoramic views of the Great Lakes region from the Cape Hawke lookout – you'll see Booti Booti National Park, with its lush stretches of rainforest and access to beaches, picnic spots and biking trails, and the dense bushland of Wallingat National Park. 

Kick off a food-focussed stay with lunch at one of Forster's tempting eateries before sampling the fresh pours at The Coastal Brewing Company, a family-owned microbrewery. Its beers reflect the Barrington Coast area: there's an IPA named after sandy Cellito beach, and the Wallis Weizen pays tribute to the brewery's site and Tuncurry across the water (a surfing spot also known as Nine Mile Beach). 

Watch the sun set over the lakes before heading over to Wharf St. Distillery to try a selection of its signature hand-crafted gins on a tasting paddle, before feasting on the seafood-centric dishes in the distillery's airy restaurant space. After a full day feasting on Forster, retreat to your stay for a well-earned night's sleep.

Be spoilt for choice in Port Macquarie 

Next up you'll pass through a particularly pretty section of the Legendary Pacific Coast Drive, one of the most breathtaking routes in NSW, before arriving in Port Macquarie. 

This laidback town on the mouth of Hastings River is a two-hour drive from Port Stephens: you might like to time your arrival for a lunch seating at Cassegrain Wines. Here you can look out over gardens from your balcony table at the Taste @ Cassegrain restaurant as you relish how the region's produce and the estate's wines are brought together in a harmonious pairing. Afterwards, explore the gorgeous winery on foot or by horseback with Port Macquarie Horse Riding Centre (make sure you book ahead for horse rides).

Check into Sails Port Macquarie, perched on the edge of the water with a private jetty and poolside cabanas, then freshen up and dive into a thriving restaurant scene that takes advantage of some incredible local produce. Bill's Fishhouse & Bar has a reputation for simple, elegant dishes — try the local oysters and prawns – while its exceptional wine list was voted the state's best for a small regional venue in 2023 and 2024 at the NSW Sommelier's Wine List Awards. Its sister restaurant Twotriplefour by Bills, a few doors down the street, was also a finalist in the 2024 awards. Look over Town Beach to the ocean while savouring regional flavours at The Stunned Mullet or lean into a long seafood lunch at Whalebone Wharf on the edge of Hastings River. 

There are 17 beaches to choose from around Port Macquarie, so you'll be tempted to spend your days splashing around in the surf or lazing on the sand. But there's plenty to see and do away from the beaches, too. Spot dolphins, turtles, sea eagles and learn about the history of Hastings River on a morning cruise with Port Jet Cruises. If you're visiting from May to November, head out to sea on one of Port Jet's whale watching cruises to thrill to the sight of magnificent migrating humpbacks. 

Immerse in Port Macquarie's pristine natural world as you venture through the coastal rainforest of Sea Acres National Park, north of the town centre. Meander along the park's elevated boardwalk, enjoying views of the lush rainforest canopy, before refuelling with cake and coffee at The Rainforest Cafe in the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre.

Port Macquarie is home to one of the state's largest wild koala populations. See these iconic creatures up close at Koala Conservation Hospital Port Macquarie and Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council's new nature tourism precinct Guulabaa – Place of Koala in Cowarra State Forest. Gaze up at The Big Koala sculpture that welcomes you before following the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail. Feel your heart go out to koalas being treated in a dedicated clinic and learn about the centre's wild koala breeding programs before letting the kids loose in the suspended nets of WildNets Adventure Park. If Guulabaa leaves you yearning for more koala interactions, stop in at nearby Billabong Zoo, where koalas live beside kangaroos, emus and exotic animals from around the world. 

Extend your stay for another day to spend a wholesome morning picking (and eating) five different types of strawberries at Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries Farm, around a 10-minute drive out of town. Get lost at Bago Maze and Wine, home to one of the world's largest hedge mazes, in Wauchope, around 25 minutes' drive from central Port Macquarie. Reward yourself for finding your way through 2,000 metres of pathways – book ahead to reserve a local cheese, charcuterie or vegan platter and a sampler of the winery's drops. 

Head around half an hour north from Wauchope to spend the evening at Telegraph Retreat, a series of secluded Australia Federation-style cottages on a sprawling property of native bushland, where kangaroos and wallabies roam. Then the choice is yours: continue north to extend an epic road trip, or begin the return journey south.