Port Macquarie's Heritage Tours are the ultimate way for international and domestic visitors to learn about the region's rich heritage and experience the beautiful scenery of this great walking town.

Local heritage guru Mitch McKay runs regular walking tours that tell stories of the life and times of the early convicts and visit a range of historical sites. Choose from the 'Uncovering Our Past' history and archaeology tour and the 'Grave Tales' cemetery tour with intriguing human stories of soldiers, convicts and settlers.

The area around Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast of NSW is the traditional home of the Birpai people and has a rich cultural history. Surveyor John Oxley observed an abundance of Aboriginal people as he travelled down the Hastings Valley in 1818, and noted that "a great many canoes were seen on the river".

British settlement came in 1821 when it became a major penal settlement and people earned their livelihoods from timber getting and milling, dairying and farming, and maritime trade. Now the area is a contemporary tourist and sea change town home to 75,000 people.

The region features 24 National Trust listed sites that are excellent and accessible visitor experiences, 11 State heritage registered and 152 local heritage registered items. Must-dos to visit include St Thomas' Church, Roto House, Camden Head Pilot Station, Lake Innes Ruins, Mid North Coast Maritime Museum, Tacking Point Lighthouse, Thorne River Bridge, Port Macquarie Historic Cemetery, Laurieton School of Arts and Kindee Suspension Bridge.

Port Macquarie's Heritage Tours are a great introduction to the area and are run regularly:

• The 2.5hr 'Uncovering Our Past' history and archaeology tour runs at 9.30am on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Cost $29pp
• The 1.5hr 'Grave Tales' historic cemetery tour runs at 2pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Cost $19pp
• Bookings are essential. For information phone 0447 429 016 or go to www.pmheritage.com.au

Must-do heritage attractions in Greater Port Macquarie:

• Port Macquarie Historical Society Museum – this is the best place to start for an educational overview. Located on Clarence Street it is housed in an early commercial and residential building constructed in 1835
•  Lake Innes Ruins - Major Archibald Clunes Innes (1799-1857) predicted that Port Macquarie would become a major coastal gateway and he became one of Australia's richest colonists. See the ruins of the house he built with convict labour at Lake Innes Ruins. Guided tours run on the first Saturday of the month between 2pm & 4:30pm
• Douglas Vale Vineyard - established in 1862 this was the first vineyard in the region and was recently restored to offer tours and tastings of the original "Isabella" grape
• Sea Acres Rainforest Centre - a new permanent interactive exhibition "Spirit of the Land" is a celebration of the indigenous Birpai people. It focuses on education via multimedia with a film, traditional stories told in sand animation, interactivity and photography
• Roto House - built in 1891 the 11-room weatherboard house was lived in by the same family until 1979, visitors can step back in time and explore the rooms and enjoy a picnic in the gardens with the Koala Hospital next door 
• Port Macquarie Historic Cemetery - nearly 1500 soldiers, convicts and settlers were buried here from 1824
• Tacking Point Lighthouse - over 20 shipwrecks occurred in the Tacking Point area before a lighthouse was built in 1879, it is the third oldest lighthouse in Australia
• Kindee Suspension Bridge - the oldest suspension bridge in Australia was built in 1836 providing access across the Ellenborough River
• Mid North Coast Maritime Museum - located in the historic cottages built for harbour pilots in 1896, this museum celebrates Port Macquarie's rich maritime history as a significant trading port and a treacherous bar crossing
• St Thomas' Church - built by convict labour in 1824 this is the fifth oldest Anglican church in Australia and dominates the landscape by land and river

Other significant cultural attractions in the area:

• Three Brother Mountain - the most notable Aboriginal mythological nature sites are in the Camden Haven
• The Glasshouse - see the archaeological remains in the basement of the region's major arts and entertainment centre, and upstairs is the Regional Gallery over three levels
• Outdoor art - Cowarra Dam Public Art Project at Wauchope features local Indigenous works of art, mosaic installations and sculptural poles
• Galleries and Art - over 600 artists, designers and creative groups offer galleries and studios to browse, plus public art displays, markets and craft centres

To book and find out more about the region.