Port Macquarie - Port Macquarie   

Port Macquarie is a coastal town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, about 390 km north of Sydney. Founded as a penal settlement in 1821, it replaced Newcastle as the destination for convicts who had committed secondary crimes in New South Wales. Newcastle, which had fulfilled this role for the previous two decades, had lost the features required for a place for dumping irredeemable criminals, that being isolation.
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Port Macquarie is a coastal town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, about 390 km north of Sydney. Founded as a penal settlement in 1821, it replaced Newcastle as the destination for convicts who had committed secondary crimes in New South Wales. Newcastle, which had fulfilled this role for the previous two decades, had lost the features required for a place for dumping irredeemable criminals, that being isolation.

These days Port Macquarie is a retirement destination, known for its extensive beaches and waterways. The town is also known for its koala population, being the home to the Billabong Zoo and the Koala Preservation Society's Koala Hospital, caring for koalas injured through bushfire, dog attacks and collisions with vehicles.

The 101km circuit around Port Macquarie first heads south skirting the perimeter of lake Cathie, however there is no time for the riders to take in the amazing coastal scenery along the Pacific & Ocean Drives to Camden Haven. Arriving in Dunbogan, some small climbs will greet the riders, to bring some variety to the race and keep the participants attentive. A small loop here will bring the riders around 180 degrees and send them back in the direction of the start line

The route itself contains something for everyone and will ultimately favour an all-rounder/rouleur type rider whose abilities are spread evenly across all disciplines. If the peloton is inattentive, breakaways have also known to succeed from time to time, but the prevailing conditions on the day will be the ultimate factor in determining the name that will be added to the history books.