Hastings River Kayak & Mangrove Walk
Paddle the Hastings River from Port Macquarie into the mangrove systems upstream, where dolphins, pelicans, and sea eagles share the waterway with kayakers in a pristine estuarine environment.
- 1
Settlement Point Kayak Launch
Settlement Point on the Hastings River is the main kayak launch site — the river is tidal for several kilometres upstream, and paddling with the tide makes the journey into the mangroves effortless.
- 2
Bottlenose Dolphin Zone
Bottlenose dolphins regularly enter the Hastings River to feed — paddling quietly increases the chance of close encounters, and dolphins often approach kayaks out of curiosity.
- 3
Mangrove Channel Entry
The mangrove channels branch off the main river into a complex of narrow waterways — the grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) create tunnels of aerial roots through which kayaks can thread at high tide.
- 4
Heron Island Sand Bar
A mid-river sand bar near Heron Island is a resting site for large numbers of wading birds — royal spoonbills, egrets, and herons crowd the bar at low tide, visible from the kayak at close range.
- 5
Sea Eagle Nest Tree
A large white-bellied sea eagle pair nests in a eucalyptus tree on the river bank — the enormous nest, used for many consecutive years, is visible from the river, and the adults often perch nearby.
- 6
Hastings River Return Paddle
The return paddle with an outgoing tide is fast and effortless — watching the town come back into view from the river perspective, with the lighthouse visible on the distant headland, completes the circuit.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
