Glasshouse Rocks & Perpendicular Point Walk
Walk the rugged coastal headlands south of Port Macquarie including Glasshouse Rocks — extraordinary columnar basalt formations — and the dramatic Perpendicular Point sandstone cliffs.
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Glasshouse Rocks Beach
Glasshouse Rocks are an extraordinary geological formation — columns of hexagonal basalt rise from the beach and extend into the surf zone, formed by the slow cooling of ancient lava flows from a nearby volcano.
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Basalt Column Formation
The basalt columns at Glasshouse Rocks are similar to Giant's Causeway in Ireland — the hexagonal jointing forms naturally as lava cools from the outside in, creating remarkably regular geometric shapes.
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Lighthouse Head
The headland above Glasshouse Rocks provides views of the basalt formations from above — at low tide the full extent of the reef is visible, extending far into the water beyond the visible beach section.
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Perpendicular Point
Perpendicular Point is named for the near-vertical sandstone cliffs that drop directly into the ocean — the layered sandstone shows clearly the horizontal bedding of ancient sea-floor sediments now lifted above sea level.
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Coastal Heath Walk
The coastal heath between the rock formations is extraordinary in spring — banksias, grevilleas, and hakeas cover the headlands in flower, providing a feast for honeyeaters and lorikeets that fill the air with colour.
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Tacking Point Southern View
Looking north from the basalt rocks toward Tacking Point Lighthouse provides the definitive Port Macquarie coastal perspective — nine beaches, the lighthouse, and the town skyline composing a classic mid-north coast view.