The Point Cafe Restaurant

The Point Cafe Restaurant sits on the water at 1/87-91 Park Street, on the North Shore side of the Hastings River near the Settlement Point ferry. It trades breakfast and lunch from 8am to 2:30pm every day, and the river-and-marina view is the reason people come. Dogs are listed as pet friendly on AGFG's Port Macquarie directory, taking up the outdoor seating.

The dog setup

Dogs stay in the outdoor area facing the marina and river, which is partly covered for shade and roomy enough to settle a dog clear of the table legs. Only service animals go inside. Water bowls are usually on hand, but carry a collapsible one for the busy weekend rush. The ground is flat from the car park to the tables, which helps with an older dog or a pram alongside.

Worth knowing

The menu runs breakfast through lunch with fresh seafood, salads and the river views doing heavy lifting, so plan for a longer, scenic sit rather than a quick stop. A lunch-only window means this is a daytime outing, and mornings are the calmest with the water at its stillest. The ferry landing next door adds some passing foot traffic, so keep the lead short when the boat runs.

Getting there and parking

Park Street runs out to Settlement Point on the river's northern bank, a short drive from the Port Macquarie CBD. Parking sits in the nearby streets and around the marina. The Settlement Point to North Shore cable ferry runs on demand, and dogs are allowed on the deck leashed or in your vehicle, which opens up the North Shore side for a bigger outing.

Settlement Point Reserve right at the ferry landing is a designated council off-leash area, with the usual ten-metre buffer from the playground and effective control required. For a bigger run, Stuart Park Fenced Dog Park sits back toward town, and Banks is the town-centre dinner option for the evening.

More choices are in the NSW restaurants index and the Port Macquarie destination guide.

Max: off-lead fetch at Settlement Point Reserve, then the covered tables while the ferry does the laps.