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Major city · Australia

Macksville

Stop one night, not two: Macksville is a half-way break on the Sydney–Brisbane drive, not a destination in itself.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Macksville is a small riverside town of about 2,600 on the Nambucca River, roughly half-way between Sydney (470 km south) and Brisbane (440 km north) on the Pacific Motorway. It has one small museum, a handful of places to eat and a station on the Sydney–Brisbane XPT line. Treat it as a leg-stretch and an overnight, then move on to Nambucca Heads or Coffs Harbour.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Sep–Nov, Mar–May
avoid Dec–Jan (school holidays, hot and busy on the highway)
Airports
PQQ · CFS
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Macksville000 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Macksville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or pub room, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$170 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$260 (≈ US$180)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$280 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Half-way point on the Sydney–Brisbane driveNambucca River and the M1 bridgeMary Boulton's Pioneer Cottage & MuseumXPT rail stop
Airports
PQQ Port Macquarie Airport (About 100 km (62 mi) south by road; the nearest scheduled airport.) · CFS Coffs Harbour Airport (About 55 km (34 mi) north by road.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    28°C (82°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  5. May

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    20°C (68°F)

  7. Jul

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  8. Aug

    not flagged

    21°C (70°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Jan. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jul (8°C (46°F) low), wettest Mar (14 rain days), driest Aug (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Macksville: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C (82°F)

19°C (66°F)

13 rd

Feb

28°C (82°F)

19°C (66°F)

13 rd

Mar

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

14 rd

Apr

25°C (77°F)

15°C (59°F)

12 rd

May

22°C (72°F)

12°C (54°F)

11 rd

Jun

20°C (68°F)

9°C (48°F)

10 rd

Jul

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

9 rd

Aug

21°C (70°F)

9°C (48°F)

8 rd

Sep

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

8 rd

Oct

25°C (77°F)

14°C (57°F)

10 rd

Nov

26°C (79°F)

16°C (61°F)

11 rd

Dec

28°C (82°F)

18°C (64°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to walk: shops, the river and most motels sit within about 10 minutes on foot. A car is needed for the museum on Gumma Rd and for anything beyond town. The XPT stops at Macksville station; a connecting taxi runs to Nambucca Heads.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Nambucca Headsgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive north on the M1, about 20 min; taxi connection from Macksville station

River mouth, breakwall and beaches; a better base than Macksville for two nights.

Bellingengo

Door to door: About 50 min

Drive north-west via the Pacific Highway and Waterfall Way, about 40 min

Riverside town with cafés and the Dorrigo escarpment beyond.

Port Macquariego

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive south on the M1, about 1 h 15 min

Koala hospital, beaches and a proper town centre; a full day out.

Coffs Harbourgo

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive north on the M1, about 45 min

Bigger town with the jetty, marina and the Big Banana.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Princess St and River St)

Motels and the pub within a few minutes' walk of the shops and the river.

Highway side of the river

Servo-and-motel strip for a quick overnight off the M1; you will need the car for everything.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–230 (≈ US$100–160) excl. bed
High
A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × A$170A$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$160A$320
XPT Sydney → Macksville, one way2 × A$90 · checkA$180
Fuel, Sydney → Macksville, one way1 × A$70 · checkA$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$79
Trip total≈ A$435 per person per day, bed includedA$869≈ US$600

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Pub main mealA$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Chinese restaurant mainA$18–28 (≈ US$12–19)
Motel double room, one nightA$120–260 (≈ US$80–180)
Fuel, unleaded, per litreA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet country town and generally safe. The real risks are the highway, wildlife on the road at dawn and dusk, and summer flooding on the Nambucca River.
  • The M1 bypasses the town centre: follow signs for Macksville, not the motorway, if you want fuel or food.
  • Some XPT services stop on request only: tell staff or book ahead.
  • Kangaroos and wallabies on the road at dawn and dusk outside town.
  • Summer can bring heavy rain and local flooding on the Nambucca River: check road closures before driving.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MacksvilleMacksville

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassies in Macksville; the nearest consulates are in Sydney. US, UK, Canadian and other embassies are in Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • XPT Sydney → Macksville: about A$90 (≈ US$60) one way, roughly 8 h (check)
  • XPT Brisbane → Macksville: about A$90 (≈ US$60) one way, roughly 7 h (check)
  • Taxi Macksville → Nambucca Heads: about A$40–55 (≈ US$30–40) (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Is it far? — Is it far?
  • I need fuel — I need fuel

English is the everyday language here.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Macksville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Sep–Nov, Mar–May · avoid Dec–Jan (school holidays, hot and busy on the highway) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PQQ and CFS: last flights, transfer times and taxi fallback.
  2. Walking cluster for the town centre with verified opening hours for the museum and the shopping centre.
  3. Eat pages with last orders for the pub and the Chinese restaurant.
  4. Flood and road-closure fixtures for the Nambucca River so the drive page can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources

Ask about Macksville

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