Celebrating 25 years of commitment to rural health, education and community partnerships.
Port Macquarie
Located on Biripi Country, Port Macquarie offers a relaxed coastal lifestyle alongside a growing regional health and education community. Just two-and-a-half hours from Newcastle, it’s an easy-to-reach placement location for University of Newcastle students, with beautiful beaches, waterways and plenty of opportunities to explore.
For students, Port Macquarie offers the chance to combine study and clinical experience with a coastal lifestyle. It’s also a great base for exploring the Mid North Coast, with weekend adventures and nearby towns within easy reach.
Study in Port Macquarie 2:02
Thinking about a rural health placement in Port Macquarie? Experience Port Macquarie, where coastal living meets hands-on learning! This stunning Mid North Coast town offers top-tier healthcare facilities, a welcoming community, and a relaxed beachside lifestyle. Enjoy beautiful beaches, coastal walks, wildlife encounters, and a vibrant food scene—all while gaining valuable rural health experience.
Learn more about Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie has plenty to keep you busy outside of placement. Explore the local area and discover coastal walking trails, beaches, lookouts and national parks. Take the coastal walk from Tacking Point Lighthouse to Town Beach, enjoy a swim at Shelly Beach or stop by the Koala Hospital to learn more about local wildlife.
With a wide range of cafés, restaurants, boutique shops and markets, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the relaxed coastal lifestyle.
Port Macquarie Base Hospital is a major referral hospital for the Hastings Macleay Network, providing high-level care to communities across Port Macquarie, Hastings and Kempsey, as well as surrounding areas.
The 195-bed hospital provides a broad range of specialist services, including general medicine and surgery, day surgery, planned and emergency theatre services, coronary and intensive care, obstetrics, paediatrics, oncology, palliative care, rehabilitation, stroke care, renal dialysis, mental health and an extensive range of outpatient clinics. The hospital also provides a 24-hour Emergency Department.
Students can apply for subsidised accommodation in Port Macquarie, located approximately five minutes’ walk from Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Accommodation includes six two-bedroom units and an eight-bedroom house, with shared living areas and furnished, private and lockable bedrooms for students.
If student accommodation is unavailable or full, we may be able to subsidise the cost of alternative accommodation, helping make your rural placement experience more affordable. Detailed accommodation information is available in the Student Orientation Manual.
As a student with us, you’ll have opportunities to get involved in community engagement activities across Port Macquarie and the surrounding region. Previous students have participated in Sailability, supporting people of all backgrounds and abilities to learn to sail, as well as speaking with local high school students and connecting with Parkinson’s support groups.
What our students say
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
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Get in touch with us
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.