Located on Australia's east coast, this seaside city has a subtropical climate and a giant Big Banana monument. Beaches, marine reserves, and rainforest walking trails draw visitors year-round.
Coffs Harbour sits where the Great Dividing Range meets the Pacific Ocean on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. You'll spot the Big Banana as you enter this coastal city, where you can swim with grey nurse sharks in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, walk through fig trees and palm groves in the botanical gardens, or climb the steps to Muttonbird Island to watch thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters return to their burrows at sunset.
Getting to Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour sits 540 km north of Sydney and 390 km south of Brisbane. You can fly directly from Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, or take the NSW TrainLink service. The Pacific Highway runs through the city, with regular bus services connecting to major urban centers.
Beaches and Swimming Spots
Several calm beaches line the Coffs coast. At Jetty Beach, the harbor walls create gentle waters ideal for children learning to swim. Rock pools dot the edges of Diggers Beach, where you can swim in the morning and watch surfers catch waves in the afternoon. Park Beach stretches north of the jetty, while Boambee Beach runs south toward Sawtell.
Marine Life and Water Activities
Grey nurse sharks swim year-round in the Solitary Islands Marine Park's warm currents, where tropical fish swim alongside temperate species. You can scuba dive with local operators to see the sharks up close, or join boat tours to spot dolphins, whales, and sea turtles. Stop by the Fishermen's Co-op at the harbor to buy fresh fish and prawns caught that morning.
Natural Areas and Walking Paths
Walk five kilometers of paths through the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden's 20 hectares of native and exotic plants. Rest at the tea house in the Japanese garden beside its central lake. At Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, walk out onto the Forest Sky Pier, 310 meters above sea level, to look across the coastline. Follow the breakwall to Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve, where you can climb to the summit for sunrise views.
Cultural Spaces and Museums
Inside Yarrila Place, a modern building wrapped around a century-old fig tree, you'll find the city's museum, art gallery, and library. Walk through a World War II bunker at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery to see its collection of black and white cartoons. On Sundays, local markets fill with food stalls serving Syrian, Iraqi, Burmese, and Ethiopian dishes.
Aboriginal Culture
The Gumbaynggirr people maintain their connection to the Coffs Harbour region through significant sites like Muttonbird Island. Local Aboriginal guides lead walks through the area, explaining their perspectives on the landscape and sharing stories about the waterways and coastal areas.
