 The Coffs Coast is the perfect destination for a family holiday, with an abundance of things to see and do!
Let's start with the beaches - one after another, scallops of gold washed by the clear, blue waters of the Pacific. Tucked in between a string of headlands, the beaches of Coffs Coast have protected corners where the water is calm - and open sweeps of sand where surf curls lazily to shore.
A few minutes from Coffs Harbour is Diggers Beach, where the whole family can learn to stand up on a board, guided by expert surf school instructors. After your first lesson, you'll be riding the waves like star surfer Tom Carroll (after his first lesson). Surf rafting is another activity you'll all love - riding an inflatable raft is a soft and bouncy way to crack a waveIf quieter water appeals, find a sheltered spot and pull on mask and snorkel - it's another world down there. Two ocean currents converge in the waters off Coffs Coast, creating a rich and diverse underwater environment - there's a huge variety of marine life to be seen, either from the surface or by diving deeper.
North from Coffs Harbour, the Solitary Islands Marine Park protects an extensive area of ocean, islands, reefs and shorelines. With such a variety of excellent dive locations close to shore, it's a great place to learn to scuba dive - professional instructors offer everything from first-time dive experiences to five-day open water PADI courses.
 Back on shore, take a family walk to the tip of one of Coffs Coast's headlands - at any time of the year, the views to sea and along the coast are superb, but between June and October, there's an even more spectacular attraction, as humpback whales follow their ancient migratory journey between the Antarctic and warmer northern waters. Whale numbers increase each year, so good sightings are very likely. You can get even closer on a whale watching cruise from the Coffs Harbour Marina.
Coffs Coast offers a variety of family activities, from horse riding on forest tracks to zipping around a raceway in a high-octane kart. Plan your day over breakfast - how about a mountain bike expedition, a monorail ride at the Big Banana, a bushwalk in the Dorrigo National Park or a close encounter of the whiskery kind as you meet a seal at the Pet Porpoise Pool in Coffs Harbour? Maybe the kids would enjoy splashing some colours around by painting their own creative postcard on the breakwater boulders at Nambucca's V-Wall? Yes, it's legal!
This is a very easy region to tour - the distances are short, so you can forget the calls of 'Mum, are we there yet?' Just inland from the coast, there are green and fertile hinterlands with funky, creative towns like Bellingen - in less than half an hour you're climbing the spectacular escarpment of the Great Dividing Range, past waterfalls and World Heritage rainforest. From the rim of the range at Dorrigo, the views back towards the sea are magnificent.
At Coffs Coast, the choice of accommodation is as varied as the scenery. One of the best options are the family-friendly holiday resorts, where outdoor pools and organised activities keep the children happy, while you can enjoy sipping something long and cool in a poolside lounge, be pampered in a day-spa or get active with a game of tennis or a round of golf. Other choices that suit a family holiday include a comfortable self-catering apartment or beach house, or a self-contained cabin in one of our holiday parks.
Coffs Coast - Green rainforests, golden beaches and blue Pacific - they're the colours that will make your next holiday with the kids the coolest one yet. For up-to-date local advice and bookings, please call the Coffs Coast Visitor Information Centre.
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