Danoz's ultimate guide to Port Macquarie for Schoolies.
Damn, I wish I'd found this thread earlier, I'm now going to have a say in this.
Okay,
Port is a crappy place to spend your schoolies trip, so DON'T DO IT.
It has been said loads of times already, but PORT IS FULL OF OLD PEOPLE - I mean 65+ and we're full of nursing homes. There's a lot of bored teenagers/druggies here who love breaking into the Sundowner, even if you lock your place up, they can still get in a lot of the time. A lot of the bored wagging no-hoper teenyboppers here love causing shit, a lot of them are arrogant pricks to be honest.
Yeah, the weathers pretty nice here - not hot like Queensland but no Victorian chills either. But when it rains you'll have nothing at all to do. Except drink and ... drink.
The beaches are nice, they're usually clean and safe lol, but the surf is shit. You could go to Point Plomer which is a 30min drive away, across the Settlement Point Ferry, I've never been there myself, but apparently it's full of 50 year old Mal riders who love hogging the waves and kicking the young ones (apart from the known locals) off.
There's accomodation, things to do and see, eating places etc at
http://www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au/ . Sure it looks like a 'pretty' place to spend your Schoolies trip, but Port's tourism is mainly aimed at young families from Sydney, backpackers to stop through the night, or retired couples interested in learning about the town's history *hurl*. Port isn't aimed at a 'schoolies' group, and I don't think it ever will be.
The nightclubs are okay, there's only two you should bother with - Roxy's and the Macquarie Hotel. They aren't flash, Macquaries drinks are expensive, coz it's free to get in. Roxy's is good, again, not flash, costs $5 entry after 10pm, lockout at 2:30 I think. Other nightclubs, like Down Under, are full of seedy old men who would love some 'fresh meat'. Apparently full of drugs too - sniffer dogs are walked through frequently. Although apparently there is good karaoke on wednesdays - I haven't been to it...yet!
GOKARTING AND CAMEL RIDES are about the only attractions at Port now, both are really pricey. Also you need to book Gokarting - you might with camel rides if there's a big group of you, I'm not sure. I've never gone gokarting just because it's so expensive and always booked out.
Yeah, it's a quiet and peaceful place which would be nice after the exams - but it's damn boring and not a very rememberable place to spend your Schoolies trip.
Last year I drove past schoolies kids with nothing to do but to wave and cheer at cars like you'd do in Primary school. That's how bored they were, and you'll probably all end up doing something as immature and stupid because you'll be just as bored!
kthnxbye.