Scenic Eco Cruise

The Scenic Eco Cruise departs twice daily from the Macquarie wharf and takes about two and half hours to make the trip, including a 1/2 hour stop-over for a cuppa at one of the oyster leases.

This Scenic Eco Cruise is a very laid-back cruise, and although interesting in a general sense, it is nothing much to write about. After leaving the ticket office, the boat heads to Pelican Island, at the mouth of the Hastings River. We were told that the Island is expanding at about the rate of one metre per year, and there is Indigenous memory when it didn’t exist.

The Hastings River has around 30 commercial oyster farmers, and the river’s water quality is up there with the best. The Hastings River at Koree Island supplies the town with water. The Port Macquarie and Cowarra Off-Creek Storage Dams store the pumped water. Seven creeks flow into the Hastings River. Koree Island’s fully automated Aqualab constantly monitors the Hasting River water quality.

Fishing

Fishing is popular particularly from October to June each year, with peaks during Christmas and Easter. Water and air temperatures are generally mild during winter and very pleasant during summer.

The river has a wide range of fishing opportunities, from freshwater bass and catfish in the upper reaches to estuarine species such as bream, flathead and luderick near the entrance.

Within the Hastings River, recreational anglers can target bream, luderick or flathead from the famous Port Macquarie break walls. Keen anglers can try Hastings River recreational fishing guide for the highly sought-after mulloway. Found off the south or north break barriers after dark.

Limeburners Creek is a popular spot for small watercraft, with schools of bream and luderick hiding amongst the oyster leases. Remember: please do not tie up or interfere with oyster cultivation leases.

Other things to do like Whale Watching visiting Timbertown or Sea Acres Rainforest, the Koala Hospital or Lunch at Rivermark Cafe

A video of the Scenic Eco Cruise.