Coffs Harbour

Straddling the sparkling Pacific Coast between Sydney and Brisbane, Coffs Harbour is the quintessential NSW beach town where laid-back surf culture meets lush hinterland. The city’s icon is the Big Banana, but beyond this roadside oddity lies a destination of genuine beauty: world-class surf breaks, the dramatic Solitary Islands Marine Park, and rainforest-clad mountains that tumble into the sea. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs on a coastal drive, learn to surf, or simply sink your toes into golden sand.

Highlights & What to See

• Big Banana Fun Park – Australia’s original Big Thing, this is part theme park, part ice-creamery, and a must for a quirky family photo. Skip the rides and head straight for the banana-boat ride and the free banana tasting.
• Solitary Islands Marine Park – Snorkel or dive at Muttonbird Island or South Solitary Island, where you’ll swim with sea turtles, rays, and kaleidoscopic fish. The island is also a vital seabird rookery – visit in spring for nesting muttonbirds.
• Coffs Harbour Jetty – A working fishing harbour with a breezy boardwalk, fish-and-chip shops, and the regional museum. Time your visit for the weekly Sunday markets for local crafts and oysters.
• Dorrigo National Park – A 30-minute drive west takes you into Gondwana Rainforest, a World Heritage site. Walk the Skywalk boardwalk above the canopy, then descend to Crystal Shower Falls for a swim beneath a waterfall.
• Forest Sky Pier – A 15-metre cantilevered viewing platform jutting out from Sealy Lookout, offering a vertiginous panorama of the coast from the Solitary Islands to the hinterland. Go at sunset for the golden light.

Suggested Time to Spend

Two to three days is ideal: one day for the beaches and jetty, a second for a marine park tour or surf lesson, and a third to explore Dorrigo or the nearby Bellingen Valley. If you’re on a road trip, even an overnight stop lets you catch a sunrise surf and a jetty lunch before heading north.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Bellingen – A charming artsy town 30 km inland, known for its timber buildings, Sunday markets, and swimming holes on the Bellinger River.
• Sawtell – A relaxed beach suburb with a excellent café strip and a patrolled surf beach; perfect for a morning coffee and swim.
• Woolgoolga – A laid-back surf village 20 km north, with a long sandy beach and a surprising Sikh community – visit the colourful Gurudwara Sahib temple.
• Dorrigo – The gateway to Dorrigo National Park and the Waterfall Way, a scenic drive past cascades like Dangar Falls and Ebor Falls.
• Urunga – A sleepy coastal town where the Kalang River meets the sea; paddle a kayak through the mangroves or walk the boardwalk over the lagoon.

Please check official sources for current details.