Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people walked side by side in what organisers described as an "overwhelming" response.

Aboriginal community member Rhonda Radley said many people attended the walk to show their support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's formal apology to the stolen generations.

Byabarra Public School students left their hometown, 44km from Port Macquarie, at 7am to make it to the walk in time.

Principal Vana Ford said it was an excellent chance for the students to learn about reconciliation.

"We don't have any Aboriginal students at Byabarra and I like the children to have real experiences for their learning," she said.

Seventeen of the school's 19 students took part in the walk.

The school's vice-captain Katie Hey reflected on the walk's meaning.

"We came here so we could go on the walk and remember we took over Aboriginal lives and we are saying sorry to them," she said.

The event also included a welcome to country, flag raising, breakfast and speeches.

Mrs Radley said the community's response to the walk was wonderful.

"We've got a strong community in the Hastings area that supports reconciliation," she said.

"It's really an opportunity for the community to come together in reconciliation."

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council organised the walk in partnership with other organisations.