One of the original Australian holiday destinations, Coffs Harbour lies on the east coast, about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. Thanks to its history as a centre for tourism, there are plenty of facilities here serving its great beaches, but you won’t find the same sized crowds that you get further along the coast at Byron Bay. There’s rainforest here to explore, long beaches and plenty of sunshine all year round. Visit the historical town of Woolgoolga and see the banana plantations, passing through national parks and past waterfalls along the way.
Areas & Neighbourhoods in Coffs Harbour
The Jetty - Originally built in 1892 to load cedar logs onto departing ships, these days the jetty is more of a tourist attraction with the Jetty Markets a great place to pick up a bargain.
Town Centre - Home to a choice of excellent markets, including the Growers Market, Harbourside Market and Parkbench Market
The Beaches - Park Bench is the main beach in Coffs Harbour but there’s also Coffs Creek just inside the mouth of the harbour, and several others close by.
Solitary Islands - Just off the coast from Coffs Harbour, this marine park is a superb place to go scuba diving.
Things to See in Coffs Harbour
The kitsch Big Banana is exactly what you think it is. It’s a huge plastic banana by the roadside, but it’s also Australia’s original ‘big thing’, many others of which now dot the roads all over this vast nation. It’s a nod to the area’s one time cash crop, bananas, which are still grown at a number of farms. There are also rides and even a real snow slope near this huge yellow fruit. The butterfly house is a slightly more natural attraction, with an indoor rainforest home to hundreds of species. If you love birds, then the shearwater nesting site on Muttonbird Island is your chance to spot these migratory travellers. You can also walk along the creek to the Botanical Gardens.
Things to Do in Coffs Harbour
The beaches at Coffs Harbour are beautiful, and great for swimming. Park Bench is the biggest and most popular but there are some other family beaches near the jetty. Scuba dive out on the Solitary Islands, a marine park just offshore, or take a boat out to spot whales and dolphins that live in these waters. If you want to guarantee some dolphin action, then head to Dolphin Marine Magic where you can get up close and personal. Hunt for bargains in the markets here, there are a few to choose from, or take a scenic helicopter flight out over the harbour.
