15 Greatest Issues To Do In Coffs Harbour NSW

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If you happen to’re planning a go to to Coffs Harbour, you’re most likely heading there to go to the seashores and seize a selfie with the Large Banana monument.

However there are lots extra issues to do in Coffs Harbour than simply this. The city is ideally positioned close to to some superb snorkelling and diving spots, fowl watching places, and the rainforest of Ulidarra Nationwide Park.

The reality is, the city simply doesn’t do this a lot for me. However what I do actually like is the area surrounding Coffs Harbour. There are some nice close by seashores, cities, and Nationwide Parks, you simply must drive a bit additional to get to them.

So when you’re planning a visit to Coffs Harbour however you’re unsure what to do in addition to seashores, then maintain studying to see a few of our favorite sights there!

The place Is Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour is a 6-hour drive north from Sydney or 4.5 hours drive south of Brisbane. If you happen to’re coming from Armidale down the Waterfall Method it’s a couple of 2.5 hours drive.

The closest airport is Coffs Harbour Airport, which is correct by Boambee Seashore. It’s about 10 minute drive from the airport to the city centre.

Nevertheless, after we visited we didn’t truly keep in Coffs Harbour, however we stayed close by on the Sawtell Seashore Vacation Park which is a ten minute drive from Coffs Harbour.

This area is kind of rural, so you’ll need a automobile to get round. You can rent a car from the airport, if you’re not driving to Coffs Harbour on a wider street journey.

Is Coffs Harbour Price Visiting?

Once I consider Coffs Harbour, I consider it as a base for exploring the encompassing space, and that is what will get us as a household going again for extra.

Even the drive into Coffs is fairly whether or not you’re coming from Sydney or from Armidale down the Waterfall Method.

On our go to throughout our street journey by way of NSW, we didn’t even keep in Coffs Harbour, however down the street in close by Sawtell which we a lot want (extra on that later).

However Coffs Harbour is price visiting for its location alone. If in case you have a automobile and are able to driving exterior the city middle to discover extra of the area, you’ll discover there’s a plethora of fantastic sights in Coffs Harbour.

Not solely that, nevertheless it’s ideally located half-way between Sydney and Brisbane, making Coffs a preferred cease off level for folks doing the Sydney to Brisbane street journey.

Nevertheless, for these trying to spend every week or two the area is large enough and has one thing for everybody.

Greatest Issues to Do in Coffs Harbour NSW

Under I’ve shared a few of my private suggestions for the realm in addition to the standard Large Banana and Park Seashore sights. Listed here are all of the unmissable and enjoyable issues to do in Coffs Harbour.

1. Go to Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve

Certainly one of my favorite issues to do in Coffs Harbour is take the brief stroll up Muttonbird Island.

We didn’t even learn about this place till a number of years in the past after we went for a stroll alongside the breakwall on the Coffs Harbour Marina and there it was.

On strategy, I truly envisioned myself being again in Eire because it was so inexperienced and had the rugged cliff face look about it.

The stroll to the highest provides you unbelievable views up and down the coast and over the mountains. It’s the right spot to sit down and watch the sundown over the Marina.

Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve can be nice for fowl lovers, being one of many solely easily-accessible locations in NSW the place the migratory wedge-tailed shearwater nests.

 

2. Go to Coffs Harbour Marina and Jetty

If you happen to like boats and cities with a marina and jetty, Coffs has a very nice one. It’s positioned within the coronary heart of Coffs Harbour and can’t be missed.

On the entrance to the historic jetty precinct on Harbour Drive there’s a group of cafes and eating places and on Sunday’s is the harbourside markets.

The Marina Village additionally has cafes, eating places a fish co-op and an ice creamery.

Latitude 30 and the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club are good spots to have a wine and beer and watch the surfers and the solar go down.

The Marina can be the place the whale watching boats depart from in season (June to November).

3. Chill out on Diggers Seashore

Certainly one of our pals who lives in Coffs Harbour beneficial we try Diggers Seashore (positioned throughout from the Large Banana) and we’re glad they did.

It’s an important family-friendly seaside being sheltered and huge making it a pleasant place for our youngsters to swim and play on the sand.

It’s additionally a preferred browsing spot for the locals or for a wind-free seaside stroll.

4. Take the Diggers Seashore to Park Seashore Headland Stroll

While within the Diggers Seashore space, we did the Macauleys Headland stroll which runs between Diggers and Park Seashore.

You can begin at both finish and the views of the Pacific Ocean and of each seashores are spectacular.

The spot overlooking Park Seashore within the photograph above is a superb place to sit down and watch the surfers.

5. Go to Sawtell

Sawtell is a stunning little city quarter-hour drive south of Coffs Harbour and the place we selected to base ourselves.

The principle avenue is picturesque and divided by massive fig timber with loads of cafes and outlets lining each side of the road.

Seasalt is in style for takeaway fish & chips, and the cafe on the Surf Membership on the seaside is nice for a meal, a espresso and traditional seaside views.

Sawtell Seashore is household pleasant, particularly towards the southern finish which has a pleasant tidal rock pool space and Sailors Bay, an space sheltered by a small island which will be reached at low tide.

We stayed on the Big4 Sawtell Beach Caravan Park.

6. Examine Out Bellingen

Bellingen is a brilliant laid-back city within the valley only a 30-minute drive from Coffs Harbour on the Waterfall Method.

It has a stunning tree lined avenue and river operating by way of city, and has an inventive really feel and full of life cafe scene (we suggest Black Bear Cafe).

However on our go to to Bellingen the factor we preferred most was visiting the Bellingen Markets that are one of many greatest and greatest regional markets in Australia.

You’ll find recent produce, artisan candy treats, dwell music, crafts and handmade presents. It’s the right place to choose up souvenirs in your journey.

The markets are solely on each third Saturday of the month so you must time your go to, however when you can they’re positively price it.

7. See The Waterfalls of Dorrigo Nationwide Park

For an important day journey from Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo is simply 65km (1 hour by automobile).

Proceed on previous Bellingen and up the Waterfall Method and also you’ll get to the city of Dorrigo. Drop in for a espresso after which go to close by Dangar Falls.

This city can be the gateway to Dorrigo Nationwide Park, positioned within the heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest the place you possibly can take pleasure in waterfalls and rainforest walks – together with an elevated Tree Prime stroll beginning on the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre.

We additionally suggest the stroll to Crystal Bathe Falls (you possibly can stroll behind the falls) and the Glade Picnic space is a pleasant spot for lunch.

8. Go to the Coffs Harbour Butterfly Home

Our youngsters actually loved The Butterfly Home in Bonville. Kalyra is mad on butterflies, and so is Caz.

Get amongst 400 butterflies in an indoor subtropical rainforest setting as they fly round and even land on you making it one of many best locations I’ve ever photographed a butterfly.

There’s additionally a maze to discover within the aspect backyard. We got a chunk of paper with a paragraph about butterflies that had lacking phrases in it. We needed to seek for the lacking phrases on the picket partitions of the maze

9. Chill out on Purple Rock Seashore

One other nice tip from our good friend dwelling in Coffs was to go to Purple Rock Seashore.

Purple Rock is a tiny however stunning village a straightforward half an hour drive (40km) north of Coffs Harbour, and the seaside is completely gorgeous. Climb up the cliff on the northern finish for a high view wanting down the seaside.

Kalyra and Savannah cherished enjoying within the mild waves and accumulating shells on the seaside.

There’s a Caravan Park at Red Rock when you’d like to remain over a number of days and discover the various seashores, lagoons, and swamps within the space.

10. Seize a Selfie with The Large Banana

I can’t determine whether or not the Large Banana is a should go to or a completely over-hyped vacationer lure. I’m leaning in the direction of the latter.

It’s a type of well-known Large Issues we now have happening right here in Australia and you’ll’t miss it from the street as you head north out of city.

I’d visited many instances as a teen and it now appears extremely small in comparison with once I was ten.

We didn’t cease in on this event, however our youngsters loved it a number of years again which is all that issues, and for me (and presumably our youngsters) one of the best factor in regards to the Large Banana is the banana break up sundae from the cafe.

The Large Banana is a part of the Large Banana Enjoyable Park, which is an enormous amusement park and water park that has an ice skating rink, tobogganing, mini-golf, laser tag, and different enjoyable video games and rides.

11. Examine Out The Views from Sealy Lookout and Forest Sky Pier

The Forest Sky Pier is a 15 meter excessive pier that overlooks Coffs Harbour from Ulidarra Nationwide Park.

There’s a automobile park proper subsequent to the look out, so no must hike as much as see the unbelievable vistas it affords.

You too can pack a picnic and luxuriate in it from the picnic space close by, or seize a espresso from the Little Cafe.

There are a collection of strolling tracks close by that take you to different lookouts. The Sealy Lookout is a 500 meter loop stroll from the automobile park and in addition has unbelievable views and a picnic space.

12. Go Diving within the Solitary Islands Marine Park

From Coffs Harbour Marina, you possibly can take a diving trip to the Solitary Islands, that are positioned 75km off the Coffs Coast.

Diving fanatics will discover a protected reef that’s dwelling to greater than 550 reef fish together with pelagic fish and turtles, making it the very best reef fish variety in Australia. In actual fact, it has the densest protection of anemone fish on the planet.

If you happen to don’t take pleasure in diving, you possibly can go to the Solitary Islands Aquarium the place you possibly can study in regards to the variety of the park with guided excursions and interactive displays.

It’s a small aquarium although so you need to make a reservation if you wish to go to as customer numbers are restricted to 50 folks per day.

13. Chill out at Jetty Seashore

Situated subsequent to the Marina on the jetty foreshore is Jetty Seashore, a stunning seaside that’s protected by the bay, making it an important place to see stingrays and turtles swimming within the waters.

The waves are additionally mild so little swimmers can splash within the waters with out worrying in regards to the massive waves.

The jetty markets are positioned simply behind the seaside, so you possibly can wander over to the grassy space and take within the environment. There’s additionally loads of eating places, cafes and parking close by.

14. Go to the North Coast Regional Botanic Backyard

The botanic garden in Coffs Harbour is a superb place to discover the range of NSW’s crops and fauna. It has themed backyard areas that make for the right place to chill out in.

If you happen to’re excited about biodiversity, the gardens affords excursions that educate you about their conservation efforts and the work they’re doing.

In addition to taking good care of uncommon crops, the gardens have a pure forest which makes up half of the grounds.

There are a lot of nature trails across the backyard which you are able to do by your self or with a educated information.

15. See the Miniature Dutch Village at Clog Barn

A bizarre however fantastic vacationer attraction in Coffs Harbour is the Clog Barn, which is positioned on a caravan website.

Guests can see a miniature model of The Netherlands with little windmills, cities with canals operating by way of them, and even little folks.

You may even see clogging demonstrations after which go to a dutch-themed cafe for some dutch meals.

Remaining Ideas on Issues to Do in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a small and quiet city with loads of stunning nature surrounding it. Lots of the high sights in Coffs Habour contain getting out of the city and into the pure landscapes.

Whether or not you’re trying to see thriving marine life or just need to laze on a seaside, or stroll by way of the rainforests or benefit from the bustling markets, you’ll discover loads of issues to do right here.

I hope this information helped you intend your journey to Coffs Harbour and gave you some inspiration on what to do.

For extra info on issues to see and do in Coffs Harbour, try the the Destination NSW website.

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