New South Wales North
Coffs Harbour
Population 22,170
Coffs Harbour is situated on the coast of New South Wales, 578km (359 miles)
north of Sydney and 427km (265 miles) south of Brisbane.
Climate
Average temperatures: January max 26C (79F) - min 19C (66F); June max 19C
(66F) - min 9C (48F). Average annual rainfall: 1759mm (69 ins); wettest
six months October to March.
Characteristics
Coffs Harbour is a popular year-round tourist destination. On one side
there are the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, while the western border
area is the Great Dividing Range. The combination of golden sands, high
mountains, dense luxuriant rainforests, steep banana plantations, clear
rivers and streams make it a superb holiday area.
Coffs Harbour was originally called Korff's Harbour, named after Captain
John Korff, who sheltered here in 1847. The harbour, being halfway between
Brisbane and Sydney, was an extremely busy port facility for the many vessels
plying the coastal trade. It was considered a dangerous port, however,
and after a boycott by many ships' captains, the lighthouse was eventually
built in 1878.
The surrounding lowlands and rolling hills were once a source of red cedar
and other valuable timber when discovered some 150 years ago. The pastoralists
followed in the tracks of the timber cutters and the area was given to
cattle, dairying, vegetable growing and, of course, banana plantations.
How to Get There By Air
The following airlines fly regional services into Coffs Harbour: Qantas,
13 1313 and Kendell, 9670 2677.
By Bus
Interstate coach lines operate daily in Coffs Harbour. Contact Greyhound
Pioneer, 13 2030, or McCaffertys, 13 1499.
By Rail
XPT services operate daily from Sydney and overnight expresses operate
from Sydney and Brisbane, 13 2232.
By Road
Travelling by the Pacific Highway, it is an 8 hour drive from Sydney, and
about 6 hours from Brisbane.
Visitor Information
The Coffs Harbour-Tourism Holiday Coast Information Centre is located at
the corner of Rose Avenue & Marcia Street, Coffs Harbour, (02) 6652
1522 or 1300 369 070.
It is open 9am-5pm daily. Email them at tourism@ coffscoast.com.au or check
out the website at www.coffs.net
Accommodation
Coffs Harbour has resorts, motels, holiday apartments, caravan parks, hotels,
cabins/lodges and hostels. Here is a selection with prices for a double
room per night, which should be used as a guide only. The telephone area
code is 02.
Aanuka Beach Resort, Firman Drive, Diggers Beach, 6652 7555. 49 units,
licensed restaurant, swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym, tennis, barbecue -
$205-400 including breakfast.
Coffs Harbour Motor Inn, 22 Elizabeth Street, 6652 6388. 35 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa, barbecue - $90-130.
Big Windmill Motor Lodge, 168 Pacific Highway, 6652 2933. 39 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym, barbecue - $80-130.
Premier Motor Inn, Pacific Highway, 6652 2044. 32 units, licensed restaurant
(closed Sun), swimming pool, barbecue - $160-120.
Coachmens Inn, 93 Park Beach Road, 6652 2055. 41 units, swimming pool,
spa - $55-100.
Matador Motor Inn, cnr Grafton & Albany Streets, 6652 3166. 16 units,
swimming pool - $55-85.
Bananatown Motel, 15 Grafton Street, 6652 4411. 13 units, swimming pool,
barbecue - $50-90.
Caravan Parks
Coffs Village Caravan Park, 215 Pacific Highway, 6652 4633. (No pets allowed),
52 sites - powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans $25 for two.
Bananacoast Caravan Park, Pacific Highway, 6652 2868. (Dogs allowed by
arrangement), 105 sites - powered sites $17-26 for two, cabins $35-105
for two.
Split Solitary Caravan Park, Split Solitary Road, 6653 6212. (No pets during
holiday period), 125 sites - powered sites $15-20 for two, cabins $40-75
for two.
There is a Youth Hostel in 110 Albany Street, 6652 6462. It has 15 rooms
at $20-22 per person twin share.
Eating Out
Coffs Harbour has many restaurants and fast food outlets, particularly
down on the Marina. The restaurants range from many international cuisines
to the family type catered for by the local clubs. Many of the motels and
hotels have restaurants and bistros, and here is a taste of what else is
available.
The Fishermans Katch, 394 High Street, 6652 4372. Seafood platters and
steak. Open 6am-8pm daily, closed Public Holidays.
Tequila Mexican Restaurant, 224 High Street, 6652 1279. Fully licensed
open 5.30pm-8pm every day.
Stetsons Steakhouse & Saloon, cnr Pacific Highway & Bray Streets,
6651 9166. Open 5.30pm-10pm 7 days, closed Public Holidays.
Sawan Thai Restaurant, 376 High Street, Coffs Jetty, 6652 9699. Vegetarian
food is a speciality, Open 5.30pm-10.30pm Mon-Sat, closed Sunday and Public
Holidays.
Star Anise, 93 Grafton Street, open 6pm-9pm Wed-Sun, 11.30am-2pm Thursday
and Friday, closed Monday and Tuesday with selected hours on Public Holidays.
The Dragon, 108 Grafton Street, 6652 4187. Cantonese cuisine with a seafood
emphasis.
Ocean Oyster & Steak Grill, 394 High Street, 6650 0444.
Sands, cnr Park Beach Road & Ocean Parade, 6652 2666.
Taruah Thai Restaurant, 360 High Street, 6652 5992.
The Village, 97 Park Beach Road, 6652 2055.
McDonalds have a branch on the corner of the Pacific Highway and North
Boambee Road and one in the High Street Mall. There is a Pizza Hut on the
corner of High and Gordon Streets, and you can call them for delivery on
13 1166.
Points of Interest
The Big Banana, Pacific Highway, 6652 4355 is the landmark of Coffs
Harbour, and is 3km north of the town. There you will find an audio-visual
theatrette, Aboriginal Dreamtime Cave, historical exhibits, hydroponics
glasshouse, banana packing shed, Triffid Forest, Time Tunnel, Future Culture
Space Station, Greenhouse Food Fair/Souvenir complex, display gardens,
machinery museum/ocean lookout, and a farmers' market.
Pet Porpoise Pool, 6652 6133, in Orlando Street, has
performing dolphins and sea lions, native fauna, marine animals,
live sharks and reef tank, a kiosk and souvenir outlet. It
is hopen daily 9am-5pm. Shows are at 10.30am and 2.15pm.
North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, 6648 4188, in
Hardacre Street in the centre of town, has 19ha (47 acres)
featuring native and exotic plants, open daily.
Within an hour's drive of Coffs Harbour, and covered with magnificent rainforest,
is Dorrigo National Park, which has many walking trails.
From Coffs Harbour there are a half-a-dozen drives that are recommended
by the Tourist Office:
1 North along Pacific Highway, including the Big Banana,
then continue north to Bruxner Park (Sealy Lookout) and Rainforest,
back south, left at the Big Banana through residential areas
returning via Macauleys Headland.
2 Starting at the Post Office, go east to Beacon Hill
Lookout then down to the harbour area, Muttonbird Island
nature walk, out to Pet Porpoise Pool, Park Beach Surf Club
development.
3 West along Coramba Road to Red Hill, Karangi, Coramba,
Glenreagh, returning via Nana Glen, Lower Bucca and Moonee
to Coffs Harbour.
4 South along Pacific Highway, turn left into Sawtell
Scenic Drive, including Boambee Creek, Sawtell Beach and Bonville
Lookout. Then on to Storyland Gardens, Pine Creek State
Forest, Mylestom and Urunga then return.
5 South along Pacific Highway including Bellingen,
Dorrigo National Park, Dangar Falls, and return via Thora
to Coffs Harbour.
6 North along Pacific Highway including Big Banana,
continue north to Kumbaingeri Wildlife Sanctuary, further
north to Woolgoolga, see the Sikh Temple, Woolgoolga Art
Gallery, return to Coffs via Lake Russell Gallery.
There are seven State Forests in the area. Sealy Lookout is a must when
visiting Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, as it offers panoramic views of the
city, Pacific coastline and banana-clad hillsides. The Dorigo National
Park and Rainforest Centre is on the corner of Dome Road and Lyrebird Lane,
6657 2309.
Several art and opal galleries are in and around the town. The Tourist
Information Centre in Hickory Street, Dorrigo, 6657 2486, can provide you
with details if you are interested in browsing through these places.
Joy flights over Nambucca Heads, Bellingen, Orara Valley, Woolgoolga and
the Solitary Islands, are available (Skylink Helicopters, Aviation Drive,
6658 0899; Wingaway Air, Airport Drive, 6650 0655), as are deep sea fishing
trips(Adriatic Fishing Trips, Shop 5 International Marina, 6651
1277; Cougar Cat 12 Fishing Trips, 6651 6715).
Storyland Gardens, 6653 1400, 10km south of Coffs Harbour on Lyons Road,
Sawtell, has a giant Old Woman's Shoe, surrounded by popular fairytale
settings such as Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. It is hopen 10am-4pm
Thu-Sun and every day during school holidays.
And of course, there are the beaches. Coffs Harbour has many, and they
range from those with full-blooded rolling surf that boardriders and body
surfers love, to the sheltered, lagoon-type that are perfect for toddlers,
to some secluded beaches used for nude bathing.
Festivals
The Agricultural Show is held in May.
Facilities
Two golf courses, five lawn bowling clubs, three surf clubs, a yacht club,
a deep sea fishing club and racecourse. Tennis, squash, ten-pin bowling,
croquet and indoor cricket facilities are available. An indoor stadium
caters for basketball, badminton, indoor hockey and many other indoor
sports.
Outlying Attractions Woolgoolga
Situated 25km north of Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga has a large Sikh community
and they have built a lavish temple, called Guru Nanak.
The Raj Mahal Emporium, 6644 1149, an Indian Theme Park on corner of Pullen
Street and the Pacific Highway, has Indian artefacts and food.
The Woolgoolga Art Gallery, Turon Parade, 6654 1064, has a treasure trove
of fine art, pottery, batikwork and woodcraft, and is open daily 10am-4pm.
Whitewater rafting on the Nymboida River is available for the adventurous.
George's Gold Mine, 6654 5355, 782 Moleton Road, Moleton, is open Wed-Sun
10am-5pm, and has inspections of the Bayfield gold mine and original equipment.
There are picnic and barbecue areas, and food is available.
Valery Trails, 758 Valery Road, Valery, 6653 4401, offer escorted trail
rides through the Pine Creek State Forest, catering for both experienced
and inexperienced riders.
Nambucca Heads
Situated 114km (71 miles) south of Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads is another
popular holiday resort, and has a wide range of accommodation from premier
hotels to flats and caravan parks. It is a farming and timber district,
and there are facilities for boating, lawn bowls, fishing (river, rock,
beach and deep sea), golf, surfing and tennis.
Attractions include: the Nambucca Historical Museum;
Mary Boulton's Pioneer Cottage; The Pub with No Beer; Taylor
Arm - venue for the Easter Country Music Festival and Fair;
the historical Star Hotel; Kew House Toy and Doll Museum;
and the Worm Farm, Valla Road, Valla, which has worm picking,
packing and racing.
The Nambucca Valley Visitor Information Centre can be found at 4 Pacific
Highway. They are open 9am-5pm daily, and have all the information you
will need, (02) 6568 6954 or 1800 646 587.
