Destination overview

Where the Great Dividing Range meets the sea on the Northern Coast of New South Wales, you'll find the relaxing holiday town of Coffs Harbour, dubbed by the CSIRO as having Australia’s most liveable climate. The mountains, dotted with banana plantations for which the town is famous, provide a stunning backdrop to the region's unspoiled white beaches.  You will find activities on tap at Coffs Harbour, ensuring that all holidaymakers from couples to families will be well-catered for.

Of course there's the iconic Big Banana, claimed to be the very first of Australia's ‘big' things, and one of the most photographed attractions in the country. As well as an informative tour which will tell you everything you need to know about this delicious fruit, there are also plenty of fun things for the kids to do at this great destination.

Conveniently situated mid-way between Sydney and Brisbane, and with a population of just over 26,000, Coffs Harbour attracts a diverse group of famous people who call the region home – most notably being world-famous Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe.
This popular coastal city is well-known for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere, its spectacular coastline, and its many attractions and events.

Surrounded by national parks and facing the Solitary Islands Marine Park, the natural environment and uncrowded beaches are complemented by exciting activities and attractions, excellent shopping and award-winning cafés and restaurants.

The sub-tropical city lies between forested hills and sparkling blue waters. Coffs Harbour is a modern city with a small-town atmosphere – and the hub from which to explore Coffs Coast’s enormous selection of things to see and do.

To get a feel for the lay of the land, take the short drive up to Sealy Lookout in Bruxner Park, northwest of the city, where you’ll enjoy superb views of the city and beaches below from the new Forest Sky Pier.

Coffs Harbour’s city centre and CBD are situated close to the highway. The city centre’s unique shops and boutiques, al fresco cafés and the Thursday Growers’ Market are popular with office workers, regular shoppers and visitors alike.

The picturesque Jetty and Harbourside district is a few kilometres to the east along Harbour Drive, just past The Promenade with its shops and restaurants overlooking Coffs Creek. The Jetty Strip opposite the Jetty Village Shopping Centre features approximately 15 cafés and restaurants offering indoor and alfresco dining, as well as great food and a terrific atmosphere.

Take a stroll along the Jetty foreshores, the historic Jetty itself, the Marina and the North Wall breakwall and admire the scenic harbour views. The hilly island dominating this view is Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve, home to thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters. The walking track offers exceptional views back to Coffs Harbour.

Coffs Harbour is a paradise for kids, who won’t be able to decide whether to go surfing, swimming, fishing, go-karting or visiting Coffs Coast’s many popular attractions.

National Parks

There are four major national parks in the Coffs Harbour region, with all of them certainly worth a visit if you have the time.

Hosting flora that varies from coastal littoral rainforest, to lowland rainforest to escarpment sub-tropical rainforest, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more natural, beautiful or peaceful surroundings.

Bongil Bongil National Park is home to the Bundageree Rainforest Walk. This meanders through a coastal forest that runs parallel to the shoreline at Tuckers Knob, south of Sawtell. It is easily accessible by car and takes about 2 hours to walk.

Sherwood Nature Reserve is ten minutes by car from Woolgoolga. This is rare lowland rainforest which boasts a walk along the forest trail beside exotic sub-tropical vegetation. You’ll find quandong and strangler figs, elkhorns and hoop pine, rusty plum and booyong, as well as luxuriant vines, creepers and ferns.

The World Heritage Area of Dorrigo National Park is escarpment rainforest and watered by moist winds that rise from the coast to the 700 metre plateau and escarpment. There are walking trails under towering coachwood, sassafras and crabapple. On the forest floor are buttressed tree roots, woody vines, epiphytes and ferns. Above, on the elevated Skywalk, you can look down to these treetops and enjoy a vista of forests and farm fields all the way to the coast.

Bruxner Park Flora Reserve is in the hills, and only a ten minute drive from the city centre. The sub-tropical flora is made up of tall eucalypts - blackbutt, turpentine, blue gum and flooded gums up to 65 metres tall. There are trails and tracks to wander that can keep you occupied for either a few minutes or all day long.

Diggers Beach
The ever-popular Diggers Beach is perfectly located for tourists – right across the road from Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana. Wide and sheltered, Diggers makes for a lovely wind-free beach walk – but it’s not only visitors who love this beach. It’s also a favourite among locals for surfing, fishing and swimming. And, if you’d rather stay dry, you can take a seat at the elevated pavilion to admire the view and look at the birds, or walk the short pathway to Macauleys Headland.

When you’ve had enough of the surf, take a break from the beach in the neighbouring Diggers Beach picnic area. Featuring a children’s playground and plenty of space to run around, it’s ideal for a family barbecue.

Solitary Islands Marine Park – where you’ll see some rare living creatures
The Solitary Islands Marine Park preserves a diverse underwater eco-system that mirrors the terrestrial biodiversity, covering the southern limit of northern tropical species and the northern limits of the southern temperate species. Muttonbird Island is accessible by walking along the breakwater from the harbour, with the nature reserve protecting a significant wedge-tailed shearwater breeding site. The Muttonbird Island footpath leads to a viewing platform where whales are often spotted between June and November.

Coffs Harbour offers a truly unique and diverse region perfect for exploring and appreciating all the natural beauty that the area is famous for. Make it a must-visit destination and you won’t be sorry. You will view it as a holiday to remember.