Port Macquarie coastal geotrail
Picture of the coastline at Rocky Beach courtesy of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
The Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail is a 4 km walk along the coast from Shelly Beach to Rocky Beach that tells the story of plate tectonics and how Earth’s crust was formed.
The geotrail features rocks formed by volcanoes, microscopic marine animals, ocean currents, and extreme temperatures and pressures up to 100 km below Earth’s surface.
The Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail provides a unique scientific recreational experience for the local community, including school groups, and for visitors to the Port Macquarie–Hastings region.
The collaborative geotrail project was led by the University of Newcastle. The Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have had significant input.
Google Maps
NSW GeoTours app
Take yourself on the Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail tour by downloading the free NSW GeoTours app on your smartphone or tablet (Android and Apple).
Key points of interest on each of the tours have been geo-tagged to pop up when you reach the site.
Geotrail brochure
A brochure including a map of the geotrail tells the story of how the area was formed and highlights the geology along the way, so visitors can identify various rock formations and learn how they came to be formed.
The brochure is available for download (PDF, 8.39 MB) or is free at the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, 159 Pacific Drive, Port Macquarie or at The Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre, 30–42 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie.
Accessibility
The Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail is accessible by foot or by vehicle.
You can travel in the same direction as the oceanic plate was moving, from Shelly Beach and Sea Acres to Rocky Beach and Town Beach, or you can do the reverse.
Alternatively, you can drive to key stops that are accessible from nearby carparks, or use public transport to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre.