The Hastings River is a pristine 180-kilometer estuary system flowing from the Great Dividing Range to the Tasman Sea at Port Macquarie. As one of New South Wales' 30 designated Recreational Fishing Havens, it is renowned for its excellent fishing and healthy fish populations, a status bolstered by its complete closure to commercial fishing. The river is relatively short, narrow, and shallow for the region, with an average depth of 1.9 meters, and is characterized by crystal-clear water, especially on a high tide. Its journey from the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park through towns like Wauchope and Beechwood culminates in a diverse estuary offering everything from deep tidal bends and sandy flats to extensive oyster farms and rocky breakwalls.