Roto House
Roto House Historic Site
Overview
Discover the charm of historic Roto House, a late-Victorian building nestled within tranquil Roto House Historic Site in the heart of Port Macquarie. You might even spot a koala in the surrounding trees.
- Type
- Historic buildings/places
- Where
- 2 Roto Place, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444 - in Roto House Historic Site in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Easy
The beautifully preserved Roto House offers a glimpse into the past and is also a picturesque backdrop for weddings or family gatherings.
Enjoy a relaxing picnic on the lawns or visit the onsite cafe for a delightful treat, all while soaking in the peaceful ambience of the historic site and neighbouring Macquarie Nature Reserve.
Built by surveyor John Flynn in 1891, this 11-room heritage weatherboard house constructed from local red mahogany was occupied by his family right up until 1979. It's still lovingly maintained by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Roto House Historic Site is also home to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, where visitors can learn about local conservation efforts and get up close to these iconic creatures. Plus, it's a short walk to popular Flynns Beach, making it the perfect spot to enjoy both history and nature.
Take a virtual tour of Roto House captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Also see
-
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre
Close to Port Macquarie, Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the gateway to your rainforest experience. Friendly staff provide information and there is a café where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch.
-
Port Macquarie coastal walk
You'll pass historic sites, stunning coastal scenery, beaches, and rainforest along the Port Macquarie coastal walk. It can be enjoyed as a full day walk or broken up into several short walks.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/historic-buildings-places/roto-house/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Roto House Historic Site in the North Coast region
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Roto House.
Getting there and parking
Roto House is in Roto House Historic Site:
- Access to the parking area and wheelchair-accessible pathways to Roto House and the Koala Hospital is from Roto Place, off Lord Street.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available for cars and buses in a bitumen carpark, including 2 accessible spots. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking can be limited.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Roto House Historic Site. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Autumn is a very attractive time in the park as the days grow crisper and the light becomes softer.
Spring
Visit the park in spring to see the busy birds and the magnolia in bloom.
Winter
Enjoy the cosy atmosphere of Roto House on a cold day.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
42.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
8°C and 19°C
Lowest recorded
0°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
298.2mm
Facilities
Toilets
There are accessible toilets onsite that you can reach along continuous concrete pathways from either the carpark or from Roto House. The female toilets also have a change facility for parents and carers.
- Flush toilets
Cafe/kiosk
There is an onsite cafe that serves refreshments and light meals, tables available.
Carpark
Step-free access
There's step-free access into the building via the main café entrance, but you'll need navigate over a small lip (less than 3cm high) at the door.
The other entrances to the Roto House have steps. Please note, the steps at the front door are very steep.
Outside the house, there are step-free concrete pathways that lead from the carpark:
- To the fence where you can view the front garden
- Around the side of the house to the café entrance and toilets. This path has a slight slope.
To reach the outdoor cafe tables around the side of the house, you'll need to cross over a stretch of flat grass or navigate 2 steps off the veranda.
- Step-free main entrance to the building
- Step-free access to restaurant/cafe
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
There are timber bench seats with backrests near the carpark and near the café entrance.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
There's step-free access to Roto House along concrete pathways that lead from the carpark to the café entrance and to the toilets:
- The entrance to the house that goes through the café is step-free, but there's a slight lip (less than 3cm) at the door
- The other entrances to the house have steps, including the front door which has a steep set of stairs.
- The toilets are accessible with a change facility for parents and carers
- There are bench seats with backrests at the café entrance and at the carpark for resting.
- To reach the outdoor cafe tables, you'll need to cross over a stretch of flat grass or navigate 2 steps off the veranda.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.