Sea Acres Rainforest Centre
Sea Acres National Park
Overview
Close to Port Macquarie, Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the gateway to your rainforest experience. Friendly staff provide information and there is a café where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch.
- Type
- Visitor centres
- Where
- Sea Acres National Park
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Price
- Free. But fees apply for the Rainforest Boardwalk.
- Opening times
9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- Bookings
- Bookings for the Rainforest Cafe can be made on 02 6582 4444.
- Please note
Self-guiding brochures are available at the Rainforest Centre.
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the ideal place to begin your fascinating journey through Sea Acres National Park, near Port Macquarie. Eco-displays provide a wealth of information about local Aboriginal culture and the surrounding rainforest environment. There are also regular exhibitions of works by local artists, and a gift shop stocking a range of unique environmental products, gifts, crafts, educational toys and games.
Chat to our friendly staff in the Sea Rainforest Centre - they're experts in the area so will be able to tell you all about Sea Acres Aboriginal bush tucker and Discovery tours. The Rainforest Centre has a theatrette that hosts a variety of local events and educational activities throughout the year, and is the meeting place for rainforest meditation that runs once a month.
Stretch your legs along Sea Acres Rainforest boardwalk, or the adjacent Rainforest Cafe, nestled amidst a magnificent grove of bangalow palms, is a great place to stop and enjoy a delicious lunch as well as morning and afternoon tea.
Also see:
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Sea Acres Rainforest boardwalk
The Sea Acres Rainforest boardwalk is best experienced on a guided tour. An easy 1.3km walk through the rainforest canopy, you’ll see forest birds and animals.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/visitor-centres/sea-acres-rainforest-centre/local-alerts
Park info
- in Sea Acres National Park in the North Coast region
Sea Acres National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Sea Acres Rainforest Centre.
Getting there and parking
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is located at the entry to Sea Acres National Park. To get there:
- From Port Macquarie, head south along Pacific Drive.
- Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is on the left just after Shelly Beach Road
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre.
Best times to visit
Summer
Head to the cool rainforest to escape the summer heat.
Winter
Take binoculars and a camera on beach walks to look to sea for migrating whales.
Facilities
Cafe/kiosk
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
This area is fully wheelchair accessible.
- The centre's theatrette is wheelchair accessible
- Toilet facilities are wheelchair accessible
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
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Sea Acres Rainforest Centre
159 Pacific Drive, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 - 9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 6582 3355
Nearby towns
Kempsey (40 km)
Kempsey is a historic river town close to national parks and majestic beaches. Kempsey is a convenient place for an overnight stop for anyone driving between Sydney and the North Coast.
Port Macquarie (3 km)
Vibrant Port Macquarie is surrounded by beautiful waterways - the Hastings River, canals, creeks, bays and the Pacific Ocean. The city also has a five-star collection of golden-sand beaches stretching from Port Macquarie Beach to Town Beach and north along the 16-km swathe of North Beach.
Wauchope (20 km)
Wauchope is great base for exploring nearby national parks that are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Follow the Hastings Forest Way to Werrikimbe National Park, a rugged wilderness of outstanding beauty spread with short and long walks. Willi Willi National Park is a rainforest mountain park with three beautiful walking tracks that follow the river and lead to a sparkling waterfall.
Learn more
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is in Sea Acres National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Ancient connections
Sea Acres National Park is the traditional country of the Birpai People. The park's landscape has provided a rich source of food, medicines and shelter for thousands of years. Evidence of Aboriginal inhabitants has been found in Sea Acres National Park, and it's likely that the Birpai used the area for fishing, hunting and gathering.
- Shelly Beach bush tucker tour Take a walk to Shelly Beach in Sea Acres National Park on this Aboriginal ranger-guided activity. Discover bush tucker and medicine in the rainforest as you learn about Birpai culture.
Find out more about this special place
If you are looking for an educational experience within Sea Acres National Park then take some time out to have a look at The Spirit of the Land exhibition. This multimedia exhibition takes you on a virtual tour of Birpai Country and introduces you to key Birpai stories.
- Port Macquarie coastal walk You'll pass historic sites, stunning coastal scenery, beaches, and rainforest along the Port Macquarie coastal walk. It can be enjoyed as a full day walk or broken up into several short walks.
- Sea Acres Rainforest Centre Close to Port Macquarie, Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the gateway to your rainforest experience. Friendly staff provide information and there is a café where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch.
Midnight feast
- Shelly Beach bush tucker tour Take a walk to Shelly Beach in Sea Acres National Park on this Aboriginal ranger-guided activity. Discover bush tucker and medicine in the rainforest as you learn about Birpai culture.
Worlds away
When you venture out on the boardwalk, immersed in the still beauty of the rainforest, you’ll really believe you've travelled back in time. And you're right. The environment here has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Engage your senses and let the rainforest and its residents take you away to another place. The rainforest is a haven for myriad birds, so look out for the colourful wompoo fruit dove and rose crowned fruit dove and listen for the distinctive yowl of the green catbird. You're bound to see a brush turkey or two foraging on the forest floor.
- Sea Acres Rainforest boardwalk The Sea Acres Rainforest boardwalk is best experienced on a guided tour. An easy 1.3km walk through the rainforest canopy, you’ll see forest birds and animals.
Plants and animals you may see
Animals
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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
