 Coffs Coast, with the city of Coffs Harbour as its ‘capital’, is on the NSW North Coast, 550 kilometres north of Sydney and 430 kilometres south of Brisbane.
Come discover our ‘Green, Gold and Blue’. Green – 11 National Parks, 14 Nature Reserves and 37 State Forests; Gold – 90 kilometres of beaches and many sunny days; and Blue – the many rivers and the sea, including the fascinating underwater world of the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Coffs Coast offers families with kids the ideal getaway, with golden beaches, gentle sub-tropical climate, the Big Banana and Pet Porpoise Pool as well as activities such as go-karting, bowling and kegel, surfing and canoeing, boating and snorkelling, swimming and fishing, steam train rides and flying trapeze classes.
Add to that our friendly locals, convenient shopping centres, great cafés and restaurants and abundance of accommodation options, and you’ve found the perfect destination for your next holiday with your kids.
For a list of Coffs Coast attractions – scroll down to Things To Do With Kids.
Climate
Coffs Coast enjoys year-round sub-tropical weather with average daytime temperatures of about 26 degrees in summer and 20 degrees in winter. Without the extremes some other regions get, the weather on Coffs Coast is almost always pleasant. Summer showers often quickly make way for the sun again.
Sea temperatures rise to about 23 degrees in summer, only dropping a few degrees to 18 degrees on average, in winter.
Getting There
By car: Coffs Coast is approximately 6 hours by car from Sydney and 5 hours from Brisbane via the Pacific Highway. Travelling from the west, take the New England Highway and then the scenic Waterfall Way, taking in the natural attractions, lookout points and National Parks along the way.
By air: Coffs Coast is only a short flight from anywhere and discounted tickets are regularly on offer. Qantas, Virgin Blue and Brindabella airlines operate regular flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with convenient connections to all capital cities.
Flights from Sydney only take between 60 and 75 minutes. And within 20 minutes of landing in Coffs Harbour, you can be in your hotel or resort and changing into your bathers!
By train: Countrylink runs two rail services daily from Sydney and Brisbane to Coffs Harbour. Special children’s fares are often available.
Coffs Coast Towns & Villages
There’s a lot more to Coffs Coast than just Coffs Harbour – it includes many other towns and villages, both on the coast and further inland. Think of Bellingen, Dorrigo, Nambucca Heads, Macksville, Urunga, Sawtell and Woolgoolga. And they’re all within about an hour’s drive from Coffs Harbour.
Starting along the coast, from north to south:
• Red Rock – quiet village with river, beach, parks, boardwalk and caravan park
• Woolgoolga – seaside town with cafés and shopping, Sikh Temples and Indian restaurants
• Emerald Beach, Moonee Beach, Sapphire, Korora – part of Coffs Harbour’s Northern Beaches, featuring a wealth of beach-side accommodation options
• Coffs Harbour – increasingly cosmopolitan city with picturesque harbour, historic jetty, marina, regional centre for business, shopping and tourism
• Sawtell – charming town with main street featuring large Morton Bay fig trees, cafés and restaurants and a renovated 1950s-style cinema
• Urunga – seaside village with boardwalk in estuary where the Kalang and Bellinger Rivers join the sea
• Nambucca Heads – main town of the Nambucca Valley, estuary of the Nambucca River, art on the V-Wall breakwater, shops, restaurants, fishing and boating
• Scotts Head – popular beach holiday destination, sailing, surfing and swimming
Inland and hinterland, from north to south:
• Orara Valley – west of Coffs Harbour, rural communities of Coramba and Nana Glen with country pubs, general stores and arts and crafts shops and studios
• Bellingen – artistic riverside town with art galleries, craft shops, cafés, organic food, large community markets with live music, annual jazz and world music festivals, rural accommodation
• Dorrigo – quaint country town nestled 750m above sea level on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, World Heritage rainforests, waterfalls
• Bowraville – ‘Veranda Post Town’ with heritage buildings, art galleries, arts and craft shops, historic pub, museums
• Macksville – commercial centre on both sides of the Nambucca River, historic buildings, river-side parks
Things To Do With Kids
Pet Porpoise Pool
Be kissed by a seal, shake ‘hands’ with a dolphin and feed little Fairy penguins at Australia’s most interactive marine park. Two daily shows and plenty of opportunities to meet the animals and take photos. The Pet Porpoise Pool is in the Coffs Harbour Jetty area, with a café adjacent to Coffs Creek.
The Big Banana
Not just a photo opportunity at Australia’s first ‘Big Thing’, but also a state-of-the-art educational multimedia experience called ‘World of Bananas’, fun and interactive displays, toboggan rides, ice skating rink, trike rides, café and ice creamery, gift shop, puzzle shop and candy factory. On the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour.
Butterfly House
At the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House Maze and Tearooms you can learn all there is to know about butterflies in an indoor subtropical rainforest setting. Wear bright colours and bring your camera for when these gentle creatures land on you and your kids. Located in Bonville just south of Coffs Harbour.
Zip Circus
Try your hand at the flying trapeze by taking a one-off swing or a full 90-minute lesson at Zip Circus, guided by experienced instructors. Besides the flying trapeze, there are also juggling lessons, aerial arts and a range of Kids Circus Camps in the school holidays. Zip Circus is at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour.
The Clog Barn
Visit The Clog Barn to experience the colour and charm of Holland. See real Dutch wooden clogs being carved by hand and enjoy a stroll around a miniature Dutch village with working windmills and model railway. Includes a gift shop, Big Oma’s Coffee House and caravan park. On the Highway in Coffs Harbour.
Glenreagh Mountain Railway
Hop aboard fully restored 1919 steam train ‘Betty’ and enjoy a ride through the countryside, complete with puffing steam and blowing of the whistle. Run by volunteers, the steam train runs on the first weekend of every month, and more often during school and public holidays. Glenreagh is in the Orara Valley, 35 minutes west of Coffs Harbour.
Carobana
Drop into this working carob factory and watch delicious carob products being made. Sample some of the products while enjoying a free tea or coffee, then head to the shop to buy your kids’ or your own favourite treats. Popular products include various carob-coated goodies, nutty brittles and honeycomb. Just off the Pacific Highway in Korora, Coffs Harbour.
Go-Karting
Hire a go-kart and experience the thrill of speed racing along the track at one of two Coffs Coast go-kart operators. F1 Kart Hire, on Stadium Drive in Coffs Harbour, has electric fun karts for 4-6 year olds and 2-stroke 100cc racing karts for those 7 years and older. At Raleigh International Raceway on Valery Road, Raleigh, there are single karts for those 12 years and over while 3-12 year olds can ride in double karts driven by someone over 16 years old. It also features a water park with swimming pool, waterslides, playground and picnic areas.
Bowling
For some indoor fun, why not go bowling with the family. Enjoy a couple of games of 10-pin bowling at Holiday Lanes in Grafton street, in the centre of Coffs Harbour, or for a different experience, try a game of 9-pin bowling, the original bowling game from Germany, at Kegel Barn on the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour South.
The Jungle Bungle
A great indoor playing area for babies, toddlers and kids up to 12 years old is on offer at The Jungle Bungle, with a coffee lounge available for supervising parents. Let your kiddies burn off their excess energy in the fun, giant play structure, or watch your toddlers socialise in the soft play area. Located in Lyster Street, Coffs Harbour.
The Honey Place
Watch a colony of bees making honey in a special glass-enclosed bee hive. Taste many different varieties of pure Australian honey, browse the bee and honey-themed gift shop, relax in the café, stroll through the nursery and marvel at the dolls and teddy bears at Dolls of Distinction. The yellow bee hive-shaped building is on the Pacific Highway in Urunga.
Whale/dolphin watching cruise
In whale-watching season (June to November), Spirit of Coffs Harbour Cruises operate fun whale-watching cruises, perfect for families with children. The rest of the year, you can come along on a cruise as well – you’ll often see dolphins, turtles and other sea creatures. Located in the Coffs Harbour International Marina.
Canoeing & kayaking
Hire a canoe or a kayak and explore some of Coffs Coast’s many rivers and creeks.
• Coffs Kayak Centre at the Promenade in Coffs Harbour have canoes, kayaks and peddle boats available for a paddle on Coffs Creek.
• Liquid Assets Adventure Tours, at the Coffs Harbour Marina, offer guided kayak tours in Bongil Bongil National Park.
• At Bellingen Canoe Adventures in Fernmount, you can explore the Bellingen River on your own or take a guided canoe tour.
• Repton Riverside Tourist Park in Repton has boats and canoes for hire, as well as a playground and a pool along the Bellinger River.
Surf lessons
Coffs Coast has many fantastic beaches, so why not let your children learn to surf from qualified instructors? Surfing lessons are offered by Liquid Assets Adventure Tours at the Coffs Harbour Marina; by former world pro surfer Lee Winkler at Lee Winkler’s Surf School, which also offers complete surfing courses; and by East Coast Surf School which offers a whole range of classes and camps.
Helicopter joy flights
For something completely different, treat your kids to an unforgettable flight over the scenic Coffs Coast with Precision Helicopters, which has several tours available. Their popular 15-minute flight gives you a bird’s eye view over Muttonbird Island, the Jetty and Marina, and various beaches along the coast and returning over Coffs Harbour to the airport.
Horse riding
If your children like horses, book a horse riding trip in one of Coffs Coast’s beautiful rural areas. Valery Trails and Horse Riding Centre offers guided tours, using well-disciplined and friendly horses, for all levels of riders through the rainforest at the edge of Bongil Bongil National Park. Located in Valery, west of Bonville.
National Parks Discovery Tours
Discovery walks, talks and tours are held throughout the year in Coffs Coast’s National Parks, mostly during school holidays. Check out what’s on and book in for a tour guided by a knowledgeable National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger. Rainforest walks, night stalks, birdwatching, canoe tours, and much more. Dorrigo National Park and other locations.
Snorkelling & scuba-diving
Discover the colourful underwater creatures of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, where tropical and temperate waters converge, on a snorkelling trip to the Solitary Islands. Coffs Harbour’s only five-star PADI dive centre, Jetty Dive Centre, has special snorkelling programs for kids and diving courses for teenagers. Located near the Coffs Harbour Jetty.
Swimming
What child doesn’t enjoy splashing in the water? Coffs Coast has dozens of beaches to choose from, all the way from Red Rock in the north to Scotts Head in the south, with the main beaches patrolled by lifeguards during the swimming season. There are also various public swimming pools throughout the area.
Cinema
On a hot or rainy afternoon, take your children to see a movie at one of Coffs Coast’s cinemas. Choose from the 5-screen Birch Carroll & Coyle cinema in Bray Street, Coffs Harbour, the 3-screen Majestic Cinemas in Nambucca Plaza, Nambucca Heads or the historic single-screen cinema in Sawtell, the independent Sawtell First Avenue Cinema. Or check out the new Coffs Open Air Cinema at the Jetty Foreshores in January.
Cycling
Hire a bicycle, strap on a helmet, take a map and head off to explore Coffs Coast’s bike paths. Cycle around the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores and along Coffs Creek, or take the sealed, off-road Hogbin Drive Cycleway from Coffs Harbour to Sawtell, have a leisurely lunch and head back to Coffs. Bike hire available in various locations.
Fishing
Coffs Coast is well-known for having many great fishing spots. Cast a line from the beach, a boardwalk or riverside with your young ones. Woolgoolga, Nambucca Heads, Urunga, Mylestom and Sawtell are popular, as is fishing off the Coffs Harbour Jetty in the harbour. You’ll find plenty of fish and tackle shops along the coast where you can hire gear and get fresh bait.
Accommodation
Coffs Coast has lots of choices of every possible type of accommodation you could want. You can do an easy accommodation search on the Coffs Coast website (www.coffscoast.com.au), and make an online booking or enquiry. Or call the Coffs Coast Visitor Centre on 1300 369 070.
Resorts
The string of resorts just north of Coffs Harbour offer families a complete getaway, featuring recreation facilities, swimming pools, lush gardens, beach access, good restaurants and some of them even have Kids Clubs.
Holiday Parks
The choice of holiday, caravan and tourist parks right along Coffs Coast is enormous. From budget cabins and powered sites to luxurious villas and family bungalows, often with children’s playgrounds, pools, games rooms and many other facilities.
Apartments, self-contained units
Coffs Coast has a wide variety of holiday houses, villas and apartments, all self-contained so you can really make yourselves at home. Whether you like to be by the beach, closer to town or in a more rural setting, there’s something to suit every family.
Hotels, motels
Of course, there are also heaps of hotels and motels to be found across Coffs Coast, ranging from good options for the budget conscious through to numerous places that will satisfy those families expecting a little bit more.
Shopping
Coffs Coast offers a wealth of shopping experiences. Below is an overview of the main shopping areas. There are also many regular markets, most of them held on Saturday or Sunday, where you and your kids will enjoy browsing the stalls and having a bite to eat.
• With about 120 specialty shops, supermarkets and national chain stores, Park Beach Plaza, just off the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour, is the largest regional shopping centre between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
• Coffs Harbour’s City Centre, Palms Shopping Centre and City Square in the CBD provide all kinds of shops and cafés.
• The Promenade along Coffs Creek, closer to the Jetty area, is a small but unique shopping and restaurant complex.
• Moonee Shopping Centre in Moonee is a new shopping centre providing a good mix of shops.
• Woolgoolga’s main street has a number of retail shops and small supermarkets, opposite the beach.
• Sawtell’s main street has a variety of small, local shops and an Aboriginal art gallery.
• Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre is a convenient centre with a variety of shops.
• Bellingen’s main streets provide an eclectic mix of arts and crafts shops, homewares and clothing stores.
• Nambucca’s main street has a good variety of stores plus there’s the Nambucca Plaza Shopping Centre for supermarket shopping.
Restaurants
If you’re looking for places to eat out with your family, you’re in luck – Coffs Coast has a wide choice of restaurants, cafés, bistros and takeaways. Besides the dining options you’ll find in the main resorts and the many clubs, there are restaurants scattered throughout Coffs Coast, including in some great waterfront locations.
There are also a number of ‘restaurant clusters’, or ‘eat-streets’ if you will, where you’ll be able to choose from a variety of options:
• Jetty Restaurant Strip, Coffs Harbour Jetty
• The Promenade, between Coffs Harbour Jetty and CBD
• City Square and Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour CBD
• Beach Street, Woolgoolga
• First Avenue, Sawtell
• Hyde & Church Streets, Bellingen
Festivals & Events
January:
• March’s Carnival, Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores
• Festival of Sail, Coffs Harbour International Marina, Jetty Beach
• Coffs Open Air Cinema, Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores
• Putt Bennett Family Fishing Festival, Mylestom
February:
• Botanical Jazz, North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, Coffs Harbour
• Coffs Coast Ocean Swims, Coffs Harbour Jetty
April:
• Woolgoolga Curryfest, Woolgoolga
May:
• Japanese Festival of Children’s Day, Botanic Garden, Coffs Harbour
July:
• Sawtell Chilli Festival, Sawtell
August:
• VW Spectacular, Valla Beach and Nambucca Heads
• Bellingen Jazz and Blues Festival, Bellingen
September:
• Rusty Iron Rally, Macksville Showground
• Urunga Food & Wine Spring Festival, Morgo Street Reserve, Urunga
• Bellingen Global Carnival, Bellingen Showgrounds
• Start of Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival, various locations
October:
• Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival, various locations
• Hot Rod Show, Valla Beach and Nambucca Heads
• Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo Showground
• Coffs Coast Food & Wine Festival, Park Beach Reserve, Coffs Harbour
December:
• Carols by Candlelight events, various locations
• Start of March’s Carnival, Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores
• New Year’s Eve Celebration, Scotts Head Reserve
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