Australia may boast numerous tourist destinations, which are on every traveller’s itinerary but, if there ever is an underrated coastal destination in NSW, it has to be Coffs Harbour. Being halfway between Brisbane and Sydney, it is perfect for a road trip yet befuddling, as to how it can be overlooked by almost every tourist. It is perfectly positioned in a place where mountains meet the sea giving you the best of both worlds.
From secluded beaches to lush green rainforests, the NSW Coffs Coast combines a treasure-trove of attractions minus the crowds. It is perfect for relaxing and rejuvenating with its natural surroundings. A simple internet search will reveal that its famous for its icon “The Big Banana“ fun park but this delightful seaside city has plenty more to offer ranging from sandy beaches to woods and nature in abundance. We have put together a collection of 15 best things to do and see in Coffs Harbour to help you plan your trip.
Coffs Harbour Highlights
Catch the first light of the day from Coffs Harbour Jetty
Walk up onto and over Muttonbird Island
Stride along the tide at Jetty Beach
Go bananas at the Big Banana Fun Park
Stroll around the miniature Dutch village
Head out to Forest Sky Pier and Sealy Lookout
Get edu-tained at Dolphin Marine Conservation Park
Immerse yourself in the world of butterflies
Visit Harbourside Markets
Relish on political satire at National Cartoon Gallery
Feed your body and soul at Guru Nanak Sikh Temple
Wander the beautiful North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
Clear your mind at ever-popular but quiet Diggers Beach
Surf or splash around at Park Beach
Solitary Islands Coastal Walk
Have you been to Coffs Harbour?
Catch the first light of the day from Coffs Harbour Jetty
You know the old timber jetty is a favourite with the locals when there is a café on the wooden strip open at 5 30 AM. It is a great place to begin your day by watching the sunrise and taking a leisurely walk to the end of the jetty.
The hub of the Coffs Coast built during the 1890s is exquisitely preserved and is still standing strong. With Jetty Beach below, the promenade is a perfect place to set up a tripod to capture your version of a Jetty Sunrise. We started to jetty before dawn, expecting a dull and grey morning but to our pleasant surprise, the gloomy clouds parted to reveal the most incredible daybreak we had ever seen.
Walk up onto and over Muttonbird Island
Yes, a very intriguing name indeed, the island gets its name from wedge-tailed shearwaters also named Muttonbirds by early settlers because of their mutton-like flesh. The island surrounded by sparkling shades of blue ocean is of great significance to the local Aboriginal people and is also one of the best places to capture your classic Coffs Harbour photo.
Though technically an island, you can walk to this steep green holm via a causeway that serves as the city’s northern breakwater. Muttonbird Island is an excellent vantage point. You can look out and soak in the views of the Coffs Coast and hilly hinterland. This unique, off-shore perspective serves as a perfect spot to sit and watch the sunset over the Marina.
Stride along the tide at Jetty Beach
Jetty beach, with its picturesque jetty, is one of the best places for a stroll. With a cool ocean breeze ruffling your hair and golden hour light illuminating your face, it is possibly the best way to start your day or even end one. If you fancy a dip, swimming at the beach is not a bad idea either as it has calm conditions.
The beach is quite popular with both locals and tourists. It is easily accessed via Jetty Foreshores park if you are driving there. The park has all the essential amenities like showers, toilets, barbecues, picnic areas including children’s playgrounds. If you are feeling a little peckish, you are not too far away from the Jetty restaurant strip.
Go bananas at the Big Banana Fun Park
You cannot claim to have been to Coffs Harbour unless you get a mandatory photo clicked in front of Australia’s very first ‘Big Thing’ tourist attraction, The Big Banana.
The big yellow distraction built-in 1964 was a way to encourage travellers to stop in the area. Needless to say, it was an instant hit. Today the site offers a lot more than just a photo stop, it is a hub of fun activities with heaps of thrills and spills. We highly recommend stopping by, especially if you are travelling with children. It’s a whole bunch of fun and kids will love it.
Stroll around the miniature Dutch village
The Clog Barn is one of a kind attraction that brings European charm to the Australian doorstep. Entry to model Dutch village is absolutely free, the handcrafted models by owner Thomas Hartsuyker are replicas of actual buildings in Holland, complete with windmills, sawmills and working railway. The sheer dedication and level of craftsmanship are evident here with immaculate attention to detail.
Visitors can also witness the clog making demonstrations every day from 10 AM to 2 PM in the souvenir shop, do check their website for updates and changes. Try their delicious Dutch delights in the coffee shop at the Clog Barn. You can also opt to stay with them at their clean and affordable accommodation, The Clog Barn Holiday Park.
Head out to Forest Sky Pier and Sealy Lookout
A short 10-minute drive from the city, up through the winding roads and cascading banana plantations, will lead you to an excellent Forest Sky Pier. Visit here is a must-do activity for first-time visitors to the Coffs region. The overhanging “pier” that extends out from Sealy Lookout gives you the impression of walking right into the horizon as it provides a vantage point with uninterrupted 180° views. It offers a magnificent expanse of the entire Coffs Harbour, one of the perfect places to test out panoramic shots in your camera or phone.
Picnic tables and toilet amenities are available here, so packing lunch is a good idea. Breathe in the refreshingly cool mountain air and lose yourself in the view for a moment or two while you enjoy a bite in the beautiful surroundings.
Get edu-tained at Dolphin Marine Conservation Park
We generally tend to avoid places that have animals in captivity, but after learning about this conservation park, we had to check it out. It has cared for native marine animals since the 1970s and gives them a forever home. Not just the dolphins, they also home other animals such as seals, penguins, green sea turtles and the endangered Australian sea lion. They currently work with the NSW Nationals and Wildlife Services and animal rescue groups such as WIRES and ORRCA Inc.
Extremely popular with the kids as they can get close and interact with marine animals. They also have Reefs exhibit, do walk about and learn about the incredible marine life around Coffs Harbour. If you are lucky, you might even get the chance to feed some of their marine mammals and be edutained by the daily Marine Discovery Presentation. Don’t miss to snap the beautiful peacocks who roam the grounds freely in the spring and summer.
Immerse yourself in the world of butterflies
Beauty, tranquillity and colourful flutter of wings come to mind when you think of a butterfly. Go ahead and immerse yourself in a peaceful environment at Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. It is an indoor tropical habitat housing more than 400 native Australian butterflies. Stroll through a maze of pathways at your leisure. It is designed to be informative and entertaining for all ages. Capture these ephemeral beauties on your camera & join the informative guides explaining the significance of this enclosed environment.
The Butterfly House operates year-round regardless of the weather & staff members are always available to answer any questions about butterflies. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. The best time to view the butterflies is between 10 AM and 2 PM when they are generally more active.
Visit Harbourside Markets
We believe that the market reflects the true spirit of the local community. A visit to Harbourside Markets can give you an insight into the lifestyle of the Coffs locals.
Experience a wide variety of local produce, delicious delicacies, creamy coffee and beautifully handmade art and craft at this Makers and Growers Market set alongside the Jetty Foreshore and historic jetty in Coffs Harbour.
The market has a fun and entertaining vibe for all ages with live music, community workshops, festivals and events. The markets are held every Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM.
Relish on political satire at National Cartoon Gallery
Home to the biggest private collection of original cartoons in the southern hemisphere is entertaining and thought-provoking. We are sure you can relate to some humour presented here and smile at the witty thought of the creator. It is a one-of-a-kind cartoon gallery that is converted and housed in a unique heritage-listed RAAF underground WWII bunker.
Apart from viewing the exhibitions both on paper and digital, you can also learn about the building’s history. If you are interested in any drawings, you can purchase copies and other merchandise on offer. The gallery is open all days of the week between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Feed your body and soul at Guru Nanak Sikh Temple
There is something calming and comforting about visiting a religious place. The first Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Australia is an architectural landmark of Woolgoolga. The temple not only provides a space to practice the Sikh faith, but also opened its doors to everyone regardless of faith, gender, race, or social status to join in a Sunday service or to share a communal vegetarian meal (Langar).
Sikhism firmly believes in the idea that everyone is equal. Everyone who visits here is free to share the tasks of preparation, cooking, serving and cleaning. It is not often that the community of faith extends its open arms to all in the community espousing the full sense of the word “Coming together.”
Wander the beautiful North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
North Coast Regional Botanical Garden located in the middle of Coffs Harbour offers the beauty of flora from both Australian and overseas regions. Check-in at reception and grab a map to stroll along the 5km walking pathway around various themed grounds like Japanese and Sensory Gardens. It is easy to lose track of time and your track so keep that map handy.
The Garden is renowned for its natural bushland as well as exotic species. Entry is free and the gates open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day of the week throughout the year. We recommend the use of insect repellent which is available at no cost from the Information Shop.
Clear your mind at ever-popular but quiet Diggers Beach
Diggers beach part of the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk, is probably about halfway between Sawtell and Red Rock. The sandy horseshoe-shaped with headlands at each end is perfectly located close to the tourist attraction Big Banana. It’s also a popular surfing spot for the locals or for a contemplating beach stroll.
There is a large car park at the southern end of the beach for easy access. The beach also features a picnic area for those ideal family barbeque time and a children’s playground to keep the tiny tots busy.
Surf or splash around at Park Beach
Park beach is one of the beautiful beaches that Coffs has to offer. It is considered to be the city’s main spot for surfing, as well as fishing and a range of water sports but be aware of the strong rips, especially at the creek mouth. You can also pop over to Park Beach Reserve and enjoy other fun shoreside activities like barbecues and picnics.
The beach is easily accessible with ample parking at Beach Reserve and its close proximity to camping facilities, hotels cafes and restaurants makes it a perfect place to frequent.
Solitary Islands Coastal Walk
The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is a 60km walking trail that follows some of the spectacular beaches and headlands of the Coff’s coast. Starts in the north at the seaside village of Redrock and trails along the coast to Sawtell in the south. We prefer doing this walk in small sections but you can do the entire stretch across a few days as well.
There are lots of places to stop for lunch, coffee and drinks along the way. There are lots of interesting things to discover along the way. Learn about the history of the lighthouse or visit the solitary island aquarium. The best way to finish off this walk would be to take a dip in the ocean pool at Sawtell. It would be quite a challenge to find a more beautiful walk on the east coast.
Have you been to Coffs Harbour?
If you have any questions or want to add any favourite spots that we’ve missed for other readers or our next trip, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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Hi I wish I checked this list a week ago. We just came back from Coffs. I agree with u it is underrated spot. It provided us more than we asked for. We got lucky with accomodation right next to sky pier. I think my favourite bit was highland walk from Emrald beach to Monee beach. Dorrigo national park and Urunga were also beautiful and not to miss however 1 to 1.5 hours drive from Coffs. I knew leaving it that I m not done with Coffs. Ur list is awesome. I will follow ur blog for future too. Thank u
Hi Trupti, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your suggestions are really good and we need to try it all out ourselves.
We are not done with Coffs too, there is so much more to do here 🙂