8 family-friendly things do to on the Coffs Coast

The Coffs Coast is a destination for both the young and the young at heart, with an abundance of pristine beaches, adventure activities and wildlife encounters, writes Natarsha Brown.

The Coffs Coast is family holidays how they used to be: parents and grandparents continue to flock back to its nostalgic shores with younger generations, trying to capture and share the down-to-earth comfort and charm of the area that permeates their own childhood memories.

Here are the best things to do with your kids on the Coffs Coast to get you back in touch with a simpler time.

1. Hit the beaches

Host to 90 kilometres of beaches, marine reserves and balmy, subtropical weather, Coffs Coast can feel like New South Wales’ very own endless summer. Most beaches are family friendly, with features like playgrounds, beach showers, shaded areas and barbecues for cooking up a tasty lunch. With a string of fine breaks surrounded by unspoilt national parks, it is also an idyllic place to catch a wave.

2. Take a surf lesson

The SurfGroms program with the friendly Lee Winkler’s Surf School operates out of Coffs Harbour, Sawtell and Woolgoolga. Lee himself has been a professional surfer for years, carving barrels against the likes of Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning. SurfGroms is broken into two programmes: MiniGrom for children aged five to eight years and SuperGrom for those nine to 12, so there is a difficulty level suited to each individual Kelly Slater-in-training.

3. Go whale spotting

Considered one of the best places on the east coast of Australia to witness the annual migration of humpback whales, Coffs is truly a once-in-a-lifetime whale watching experience, with its picturesque backdrop of golden beaches and rainforest-clad hills.

Operating daily from June to October, Jetty Dive tours get up close and personal to these enigmatic creatures of the deep, tracking them from the shallow waters of Coffs Harbour to the beautiful Solitary Islands Marine Park.

4. Check out the south side

South of Coffs Harbour you’ll find an endless collection of seaside villages. Long-time favourite ‘Sunny Sawtell’ is as charmingly pretty as they come. Take an eco-tour, go kayaking on Boambee Creek or Bonville Creek, or learn to stand-up paddle board with C Change Adventures.

Further south is peaceful Mylestom, known to locals as North Beach, which is a holiday haven for the littlies ensconced between the Bellinger River and a rolling surf beach. A netted tidal pool offers a protected swimming area, shady picnic area, sand dunes and a ‘shipwreck’ to explore.

5. Pack some action

Traverse the bushland, beaches and resort grounds of Coffs Harbour on land and in style by learning to ride a Segway with Time Out Adventures. After a day in the sun, enjoy the Action Zone Xtreme; walk on water with Ozbubbles; score a slam dunk on the bungee challenge; or race one another on the Adventure Rush giant obstacle course.

6. See the Big Banana

While it may be the epitome of tourism kitsch, the Big Banana was one of Australia’s first ‘big icons’ and a family snap in front of the ripe fruit was a tradition decades before taking a ‘selfie’ was even a thing.

However, there is a lot more to this cultural beacon than getting your photo taken while eating chocolate-coated bananas (even though that is reason enough to stop on its own) with ice-skating, toboggan rides, laser tag, a candy kitchen, Max’s Mini Golf and water park.

7. Get in touch with nature

With over 11 national parks and 37 state forests, the Coffs Coast is a nature lover’s paradise. A day trip through the lush dairy country of bohemian Bellinger Valley, along the roads of Waterfall Way and finally arriving at the heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park , is the perfect way to witness the diversity and history of the area.

Walk among the treetops at one of the region’s most popular attractions, the Dorrigo Skywalk, elevated 21 metres above the rainforest canopy and offering views all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

8. Make some winged friends

Make your way to the unhurried town of Bonville, famous for two things: the nearby Bongil Bongil National Park and the beloved Butterfly House.

The indoor rainforest gives kids an ‘Alice In Wonderland’ moment, as they are surrounded by hundreds of colourful creatures fluttering, feasting on nectar and mistaking them for a flower … landing right on their fingertips.

Planning a getaway to Coffs Coast? You can read our complete family-friendly guide to the Coffs Coast with more great ideas here.

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.