Port Macquarie and the Hastings River

Port Macquarie is located north of Sydney on the East Coast of Australia about 380km via road on the M1 motorway. Accessible by air and rail, Port Macquarie has a temperate climate which is suitable for outdoor activities all year round.

The Hastings River one of the smaller river systems on the East Coast of Australia. Yachts generally are limited by the Dennis Bridge to the west of Port Macquarie upstream with shallow areas making the river unsuitable for yachts with a draft over 3.5 meters. The Hastings River Bar can be dangerous in large seas and in particular approaching low tide. The PMYC races are conducted to avoid these dangerous conditions with racing scheduled around the return crossing of the bar.

When conditons are ok, the area can be spectacularily beautiful. Dolphins and turtles are regularily seen in the Hastings river and during an incomming tide, the water is clear and clean. The Central Business District of Port Macquarie serves as a viewing platform for yacht racing with yachts visible from the bars and parks along the foreshore. 

The Hastings River is subject to flooding during periods of extended and heavy rainfall. The river can rise in places up to 2 meters causing significant damage to property and yachts that are not sheltered from debris. Moorings located near the Westport Park are generally protected from significant flows and debris however moorings near Hibbard Ferry are in the full flow of the river.