What to know about Port Macquarie
- At the 2021 Census, the Port Macquarie Significant Urban Area counted 50,193 people, with a median age of 47, and by our count about 28.0% were aged 65 or older.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has installed outdoor gym equipment at various locations around the region under its Move Well, Eat Well, Live Well initiative, and each piece carries a QR code linking to a video on how to use it correctly.Source: Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council lists outdoor gyms at sites including Oxley Beach Reserve, Rocky Beach Reserve, Lighthouse Beach, Windmill Hill Reserve and Lake Cathie Foreshore.Source: Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
- The Jack Dwyer Reserve outdoor gym in Wauchope has three stations on the walking path beside the Hastings River.Source: Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council describes Town Beach Reserve as very popular for outdoor activities such as fitness classes, yoga, bootcamps and learn to surf programs.Source: Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Starting out later in life
At the 2021 Census the Port Macquarie urban area had 50,193 residents and a median age of 47, and by our count about 28.0% were 65 or older. If you are one of them, Australia's movement guidelines for people 65 and over suggest 30 minutes or more of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity on most days, with muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week. Check with your doctor before you begin if you have a health condition, and let the trainer set a pace you are comfortable with.
Outdoor gyms with a how-to video
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has installed outdoor gym equipment around the region through its Move Well, Eat Well, Live Well initiative, and every piece carries a QR code that links to a video on using it correctly. Its list includes Oxley Beach Reserve, Rocky Beach Reserve, Lighthouse Beach, Windmill Hill Reserve and the Lake Cathie Foreshore. A trainer can use one of these as a base and add the movements the stations leave out.
Wauchope and Lake Cathie
Inland, the Jack Dwyer Reserve outdoor gym in Wauchope has three stations on the walking path beside the Hastings River. Down the coast, the Lake Cathie outdoor gym at Jonathon Dickson Reserve on Kywong Street has equipment for chin-ups, leg lifts and sit-ups. Either one means you can meet a trainer close to home instead of driving into town.
Bootcamps at Town Beach Reserve
The council calls Town Beach Reserve very popular for fitness classes, yoga, bootcamps and learn to surf programs. If training in a group sounds more fun than going it alone, read about partner and small group training.
Port Macquarie questions
Can a trainer take me through the council's outdoor gyms?
The equipment is there for the public. Separately, the council takes applications for approval to conduct commercial activities on council-managed land, so it is worth asking a trainer whether they have approval for the spot you pick.
I have not exercised for years. Where do I start?
Say on the request form that you are starting again and what you would like to be able to do. The trainer can then plan a slow, steady first few weeks with you.