Wheelchair-friendly places

There are a number of accessible playgrounds within our local government area that aim to provide children of all ages and abilities a play space that promotes social interaction.

These play spaces reduce the barriers experienced by people with special needs. The accessible play spaces are located at:

• Bain Park, Wauchope
• Lasiandra Park, Wauchope
• Westport Park (Livvi's Place), Port Macquarie
• Liberty Swing at Town Beach play space, Port Macquarie *MLAK key required for access to Liberty Swing (key available from cafe during their business hours)
• Lake Cathie Reserve Play space
• Blair Reserve
• Tacking Point Lighthouse (Lighthouse Beach Port Macquarie)

*Port Macquarie Hastings Council is committed to using the 'Everyone Can Play' model for all future play space upgrades to create inclusive play spaces for all.

We believe everyone should be able to enjoy a day out at the beach. Port Macquarie Hastings Council offers FREE beach wheelchairs for hire at four of our beaches.

Beach wheelchairs are specifically designed for use on sand and the water’s edge making it easier for people with a disability or limited mobility to access the beach. The Sandcruiser beach wheelchair has large tyres so it can be pushed along the sand with the assistance of one or two carers.

Locations

The beach wheelchair is available free for community hire when lifeguards are on duty, at the following beaches:

• Town Beach
• Flynns Beach
• Rainbow Beach
• North Haven Beach 

Safety

What you need to know before you go:

• The beach wheelchair is only available during patrol times and in favourable conditions.
• View patrol times and beach conditions at our patrolled beaches page.
• You can only use a beach wheelchair at the location you borrowed it from.
• You will need to bring one or two people to help you transfer, wheel along the beach, and accompany you in the water. Lifeguards are not able to assist with these tasks.
• It can be difficult to wheel the beach wheelchairs through soft sand. It’s necessary to bring some strong companions to help.
• All hirers will be required to provide identification and sign a waiver form on collection.

Please complete our online booking request form to request use of the Sandcruiser beach wheelchair.

Request a Booking

Before hiring the wheelchair, please familiarise yourself with our user guide.

Download Sandcruiser User Guide(PDF, 884KB)

Enjoy your time at the beach!

Our wheelchair friendly fishing platform at Lake Cathie has handrails and a low guard rail along the water side to allow ease of casting. 

You’ll find it on the southern side of Lake Cathie Foreshore, near the Aqua Crescent car park. 

Our Changing Places toilet is located in the Short Street Plaza car park. It includes:

• Three wheelchair friendly toilets
• Overhead gantry hoist (bring your own sling)
• Height adjustable adult change table

The toilet block is open 24/7 but you’ll need a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK) to access the Changing Places toilet.

If you see a Access Friendly logo at a business, you’ll know that our Access Committee members have given the premises a test drive and found it to be disability friendly. You’ll spot the logo at the following access-friendly businesses:

Cafes / Restaurants

• Bonny Hills Garden Centre and Café, Bonny Hills (accessible toilet)
• Café Abundance, Sancrox (accessible toilet)
• CWA Tea Rooms, Port Macquarie (accessible toilet, 2 accessible car spaces)
• McDonalds, Bay Street Plaza, Port Macquarie (accessible toilet, 2 accessible car spaces)
• Pipeworks Cafe, Bay Street Plaza, Port Macquarie (accessible toilet, 2 accessible car spaces)
• Sandbar Café, North Haven 
• Town Green Inn, Port Macquarie (accessible toilet)

Retail Shops

• Hastings Co-op Mitre 10, Wauchope 
• Hastings Co-op IGA, Timbertown (1 accessible car space)
• Hastings Co-op IGA, Wauchope (2 accessible car spaces)
• Hastings Co-op Department Store, Wauchope (1 accessible car space on street)
• Hastings Co-op Supa IGA Plus Liquor, Timbertown  
• Officeworks, Port Macquarie (accessible toilet, 1 accessible car space)
• Pillowtalk, Bay Street Plaza, Port Macquarie (2 accessible car parks)
• Rivers, Bay Street Plaza, Port Macquarie (accessible change room, 2 accessible car spaces)
• Tahlee-Jas Lingerie and Sleepwear, Bay Street Plaza Port Macquarie (accessible change room, 2 accessible car spaces)
• Taking Shape, Horton Street, Port Macquarie

Pharmacies / Chemists

• Plunketts TerryWhite Chemmart, Gordon Street, Port Macquarie
• Priceline Pharmacy, Horton Street, Port Macquarie
• Timbertown Pharmacy, Wauchope

Service Stations

• Hastings Co-op Lasiandra Service Station, Wauchope

Accommodation

• Mantra Quayside, Port Macquarie (accessible rooms and car space)
• Mercure Centro, Port Macquarie (accessible rooms and car space)
• South Pacific Apartments, Port Macquarie (accessible rooms and car space)

Destinations

• Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie (accessible toilets and shower)
• Historic Roto House, Port Macquarie (accessible toilet)