WALK THE FULL LENGTH OF THIS BEAUTIFUL TRACK OR DO SECTIONS INDIVIDUALLY
Lighthouse Beach and Tacking Point Lighthouse
The Walk
The Port Macquarie Coastal Walk was developed over many years and finally completed in August 2009. It comprises a well developed bush track, paved sections, beach walks and some steps.
The full length of the Coastal Walk from Tacking Point Lighthouse to Westport Park is 9.1 km but there are plenty of exit and entry points. Caches in our series can be tackled individually, or the entire track can be walked south-to-north so you can collect several in one stroll. You will pass other people's caches along the way, so get these too if you have not done so already. Most people of reasonable fitness should be able to do the full walk, or manage all sections individually.
Your cache hunt starts near the southern end of the Coastal Walk. If you are driving, you can park at the Tacking Point Surf Club car park. If you are only doing this cache it is not far back to your car. If you plan to walk the full length of the Coastal Walk, you will of course have to get back to your car - "Busways" Route 322 will return you from Stop 1 "Port Central" or Stop 2 "Settlement City" not far from CW #9. You may prefer to start in the CBD, catch the 322 from Stop 1 "Port Central", alight at Stop 8 "Lighthouse Beach SLSC" and then walk back to town. This way you can perhaps plan your timing better. Details of bus times are found below. Route 322 travels along Pacific Drive so you can get-on-get-off for many of our Coastal Walk caches.
Description of the series of 10 caches
CW #1: Beautiful Lighthouse Beach. Available - this is it.
CW #2A: Miners Beach South. Available at GC3A6AM. NWPS consent given for a cache in a National Park.
CW #2B: Miners Beach North. Available at GC3A6BK. NPWS consent given for a cache in a National Park.
CW #3: Shelly Beach. Available at GC3A8F3
CW #4: Nobbys Beach. Available at GC3A8FD
CW #5: Flynns and Rocky Beaches. Available at GC3A8FG
CW #6: Oxley and Town Beaches. Available at GC3BGJY
CW #7: Waterfront. Available at GC3BGJZ
CW #8: Westport Park. Available at GC3BGK0
CW #9: The End of the Walk. Available at GC3BGK1
The Coastal Walk is popular with locals and visitors alike and cachers will sometimes need stealth and patience to make their find.
On 15 June 3013 I congratulated Curious Kitten who were then the first cachers to follow the Coastal Walk series in the manner intended - travelling end-to-end in one long and enjoyable walk. Well, almost, because when they first set out on their trek in April 2012, the series was available only up to CW#8. By coincidence I activated CW#9 the very same day. They found CW#9 more than a year later. So well done Curious Kitten for your persistence.
Cacher YGGGD became the FIRST to actually accomplish this walk in only one day, on 26 September 2013. I am sure they, and everyone else who tries it, agree that this has to be one on the great seaside walks to be had anywhere - with beautiful and varied scenery all the way along. We are very pleased you enjoyed the walk YGGGD, and the variety of caches.
This cache
Write down the answers to the questions as you walk the cache route. Do not bush-bash. It is neither permitted nor necessary.
The listed coordinates are the start of Coastal Walk #1 at Lighthouse Beach carpark.
Having collected some numbers and passed two other waypoints, you will arrive at a Lookout. Enjoy the view and locate the cache container. Then continue along the Coastal Walk or return to your car via the road (about 500 m).
The locale of the two next caches is also visible.
Of optional interest or assistance.
Click here for a map of the Coastal Walk
Click here for Route 322 information.