Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie is a coastal resort town with some of the most pristine waterways and magnificent beaches in Australia. It’s located on Biripi Country, just two-and-a-half hours from Newcastle, which makes travel back to main campus easy for University of Newcastle students. Port Macquarie is also a great base for weekend road trips up north. Students who undertake a rural placement in this location are often looking to mix study, travel and a relaxing beach lifestyle.
Port Macquarie has something for everyone. Whether it's waking up early and going for an early morning surf before placement, or trail runs with kangaroos in the afternoon, or our Sunday ritual of going fishing on the break wall.”
Hayden, Radiation Therapy
Explore the local area
Port Macquarie is large enough to keep your days packed with options, but also thrums with small-town vibes. Explore Harry’s Lookout and finish with a dip in the ocean at Shelly Beach, or do the coastal walk from Tacking Point Lighthouse to Town Beach. There are lots of coffee shops and restaurants to try out, a Koala Hospital where you can meet new furry friends, and boutique shops to peruse.
Local learning facilities
Our Port Macquarie office is located at the Shared Health Research and Education Campus (SHREC) building, which is shared with University of NSW and North Coast TAFE. The complex is purpose-built for medical and allied health students, meaning you’ll have access to world-class education—and the same course content, standards and teaching excellence as main campus—while in a relaxed beachside setting.
Port Macquarie Base Hospital
Port Macquarie Base Hospital is a major referral hospital for the Hastings Macleay Network. The 195-bed hospital provides high-level care for the population of Port Macquarie, Hastings and Kempsey, as well as for those of the Greater Taree and Great Lakes in Hunter New England Local Health District.
The hospital includes specialist wards/units for general medicine, surgery, day surgery, planned and emergency theatre service, coronary care, intensive care, obstetrics, paediatrics, 24 hour emergency department, oncology, palliative care, rehabilitation, stroke, acute renal dialysis, high dependency and mental health and an extensive range of outpatient clinics.
Student accommodation
Students can apply for subsidised accommodation in Port Macquarie, located just a five-minute walk from Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Our student accommodation consists of six two-bedroom units, each with one bathroom and shared living, or an eight-bedroom house with three bathrooms and shared living. Students have their own private furnished and lockable room.
If student accommodation in unavailable or full, we may be able to subsidise your alternative accommodation costs, making it an affordable way to experience life away from home. Detailed information about accommodation can be found in the Student Orientation Manual.
Community engagement activities
As a student with us, you’ll have opportunities to be involved in community engagement activities in and around the local region. Past students in Port Macquarie have enjoyed participating in Sailability, an activity that helps people of all background and abilities learn to sail, along with presenting to high school students, and getting involved in a Parkinson’s support group.
Photo gallery
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.