TravelTips24 : Oceania : Australia : New South Wales : North Coast : Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a town on the north coast of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately two thirds of the way from Sydney to Brisbane. Coffs is largely a family destination, but also attracts some backpackers travelling between Sydney and Brisbane.

Travel to Coffs Harbour & Visa Requirements

By car

Coffs Harbour is a 570 km drive north of Sydney and 350 km south of Brisbane on the Pacific Highway.

By train

Coffs Harbour is a nine-hour train ride on Countrylink [1] (ph 132232) from Sydney via the Central Coast, Newcastle and the north coast. It is a six hour trip from Brisbane. The train station is in the south of the town near the Jetty area and there is also a railway station in the Sawtell that is in the Coffs Harbour vicinity.

Buses to Coffs Harbour

All the coaches travelling the route between Sydney and Brisbane make a stop in Coffs.

Flights and airtickets to Coffs Harbour

You can fly to Coffs Harbour

The airport is usually referred to by airlines as Coffs Coast and is located about a five minute drive outside the town. There is no transport into town aside from cars and taxis. The taxi fare is $10-$15.

Tours & Getting around Coffs Harbour

Buses Busways Sawtell Coaches and Ryans bus service run regular services around the city to make up a local transit network. Buses also run to Nambucca Bellingen and surrounding areas.

Taxis Coffs harbour has a local taxi network that will run you up and down the Coffs Coast.

Coffs Harbour attractions and sightseeing

  • The Big Banana, right on Pacific Highway, just north of town. [7]. Australia's original "Big Thing", over 40 years old, marking the approximate half way point between Sydney and Brisbane - includes fun rides, ice skating, a real snow slope, recreational activities, a variety of food experiences and retail outlets.
  • Pet Porpoise Pool, Orlando Street (near the jetty end), tel 02 6652 2164, fax 02 6650 0264, email info@petporpoisepool.com, [8]. Visitors to the pet porpoise pool can touch and interact with dolphins and seals; if you book in advance you may be able to swim with them. Open 9am - 4pm every day, adults $26, children $13.
  • There is a Creek-side Boardwalk through mangroves near the jetty area and a quite extensive Botanical Garden nearby.
  • Shearwater nesting on Muttonbird Island. Muttonbird Island is a penisula extending out from the marina area. It is completely treeless, but is a nesting site for the migratory birds call wedge-tailed shearwaters, or muttonbirds. Birds complete their courtship in November and the eggs hatch towards the end of summer. On the eastern side of Muttonbird Island, there is a great view out to sea and whales can also be seen at some parts of the year. Walking over Muttonbird Island is a short walk (10-20 minutes), but it's also steep and there is no shade. Wear a hat, cover your shoulders, and take a bottle of water with you.

Coffs Harbour city tours

  • Swim at Coffs' beaches.
    • Park Beach is the main beach in Coffs, and is just to the north of the mouth of Coffs Creek. It is a surf beach and the swimming can be a little rough.
    • Just inside the mouth of Coffs Creek is a small sheltered beach. Families with small children swim here and there are lots of fishermen.
    • There is another calm beach between the jetty and the wharf area that is popular with families.
  • Scuba dive in the Solitary Islands marine park off the coast of Coffs. Jetty Dive [9], 398 High Street. ph 02 6651 1611. A day trip to the islands with two dives is $99, gear hire is $30. Full openwater courses start at $195. In non-peak season Jetty Dive conducts some $55 single dive trips, mainly for night dives.
  • Go on a dolphin or whale watching cruise. Whale season is June to November each year, and dolphins are seen in the area year round. Spirit Cruises takes a large day boat of whale or dolphin watchers out daily at 9:30AM. On weekends and holidays there is also a luncheon cruise at 1pm. The boat has a bar and, for the more active participants, there is a waterslide and pool set up in the ocean. Cruises are popular so book in advance, phone bookings are preferred. Spirit Cruises [10], Coffs Harbour International Marina, Marina Drive. tel and fax 02 6650 0155. email spiritcruises@westnet.com.au
  • Helicopter scenic flights over the stunning beaches and rainforest with Precision Helicopters, 77 Aviation Drive, Coffs Harbour. Phone (02) 6652 9988. Flights start at $35.00. Half hour learn to fly lessons over the coast - spectacular!

Coffs Harbour souvenirs & shopping

  • Park Beach Plaza, intersection of Pacific Highway and Park Beach Road. The Park Beach Plaza is a giant shopping centre with the usual assortment of useful shops including a Woolworths supermarket and pharmacies.
  • Jetty Village Shopping Centre, 361 Harbour Drive. The Jetty Village Shopping Centre is a small shopping centre with a bakery and a small IGA supermarket.
  • Jetty Markets. The Jetty Markets are a craft and produce market held under the Jetty Village Shopping Centre every Sunday.
  • Palms Shopping Centre, Right in the CBD of Coffs Harbour with about 60+ stores including Coles, Big W and a post office and also outside is the mall with more specailty retailers. Also in town is the RSL (Returned Services League) great place for cheap beer and meals.
  • Centro Tormina. A Shopping Centre in the suburb of Tormina

this shopping centre at the moment is going under extensive renevations and will even include a Kmart in the list of new stores.

  • Promnade. Combides fine dining with fine shopping botiques.

Coffs Harbour Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

There is a group of eateries in the Jetty area, mostly on Harbour Drive. This area is known as having the best eating in Coffs.

  • Cafe Aqua, 57 Ocean Parade, tel 02 6652 5566. Cafe Aqua is a small breakfast and brunch cafe behind Park Beach, locally famed for its coffee.
  • Foreshores, 394 Harbour Drive, tel 02 6652 3127. Foreshores is a hugely popular breakfast and brunch cafe (it closes at 3pm), with a menu ranging from toast with Vegemite through to a big brekkie with sausages, egg and bacon.
  • Granma's Restaurant, 92 Park Beach Road, tel 02 6651 4777. Granma's is a small German restaurant tucked away in a residential area near Park Beach Plaza. Large serves and really tempting desserts.
  • Jetty Village Cafe & Juice Bar, Shop 7, Jetty Village Shopping Centre, 361 Harbour Drive, tel 02 6651 2287. The Jetty Village Cafe is a counter service sandwich shop with a small amount of hot food. Its main advantage is that it is open in the late afternoons when most of the other eateries in the Jetty area are closed.
  • Park Beach Bowling Club Park Beach Road. For great wholesome food home cooked food at cheap prices. Get there early though as it does get quite busy.
  • Split Cafe and Espresso Bar - located at First Avenue in Sawtell (south of the Coffs Harbour township), Split Cafe and Espresso Bar offers fresh juices, brilliant coffee and a lunch and breakfast menu that caters to all tastes. Split is open early (about 7:30) 7 days a week and is also open Friday and Saturday nights, with reservations being recommended as tables are very popular. Split offers a great small community feel that is complemented by the quiet and relaxed village atmosphere of Sawtell.
  • SSS BBQ Barns, Great Steaks, Ribs, shanks. Service is fabulous, a wonderful country atmosphere. winner of tourism award for Coffs Harbour. It can be somewhat expensive.
  • Scoffs Restaurant, 386 Harbour Drive, tel 02 6651 1516. Scoffs has good grilled seafood and steaks (beef and kangaroo), but is somewhat drastically understaffed, at least in peak times. Mains $20-$30. The quality of the food at this restaurant is also questionable, especially in regard to freshness. Instead it would be suggested that you go to another restaurant on the Jetty Strip or visit Sawtell.

Coffs Harbour nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

The Plantation Hotel is newly refurbished, has a lounge, food, sports bar, big screen TV, gaming, as well as an Internet cafe and bottle shop.

Coffs Harbour cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

The high season in Coffs Harbour is the summer school holidays, from late December until the end of January each year. Some accommodation on the spot is likely to be available even at those times.

In addition to the usual hostel/motel/hotel accommodation, Coffs has a large number of motel-like facilities that call themselves 'holiday apartments'. These are typically large motel like flats with 2 or 3 bedrooms and some cooking facilities. They are designed to be booked on a week-to-week basis but are often available for shorter bookings.