Coffs Coast family-friendly travel guide

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About Coffs Coast

Coffs Coast, with the city of Coffs Harbour as its unofficial capital, is on the North New South Wales coast, almost exactly halfway between Brisbane and Sydney.

Coffs Coast offers families with kids the ideal relaxing getaway, with golden beaches, a gentle sub-tropical climate, the Big Banana, Dolphin Marine Magic, as well as activities such as go-karting, bowling, surfing, canoeing, boating, snorkelling, swimming, fishing, steam train rides and flying trapeze classes.

Add to that friendly locals, convenient shopping centres, great cafes and restaurants, and an abundance of accommodation options, and you’ve found the perfect destination for your next holiday.

Coffs Coast facts

Capital

Coffs Harbour

Population

70,000 (2017)

Time zone

GMT+10

Landmass

1,175 km²

Currency

Australian dollar (AUD)

Emergency number

000

Helpful information

Where to go

The Big Banana

Not just a photo opportunity at Australia’s first ‘Big Thing’, The Big Banana features toboggan rides, an ice skating rink, trike rides, cafe and ice creamery, puzzle shop, opal centre, mini golf course, candy factory and the biggest water park between Sydney and the Gold Coast. Located conveniently on the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour, it’s the perfect way to break up a road trip along the coast or a fun day out with the family.

The Honey Place

At The Honey Place all ages will enjoy watching a colony of bees making honey in a special glass-enclosed bee hive, tasting different varieties of pure Australian honey, browsing the bee and honey-themed gift shop, relaxing in the cafe, strolling through the nursery and marvelling at the dolls and teddy bears at Dolls of Distinction. The quirky yellow beehive-shaped building is on the Pacific Highway in Urunga, a small town between Sawtell and Nambucca Heads worth exploring.

Dolphin Marine Magic

Be kissed by a seal, shake ‘hands’ with a dolphin and feed little fairy penguins at one of Australia’s most interactive marine parks, Dolphin Marine Magic. With two daily shows and plenty of opportunities to meet the animals and take photos, it’s a hands-on experience the kids will never forget. The park is in the Coffs Harbour Marina and Jetty Area, with a cafe adjacent to Coffs Creek.

Dorrigo

Dorrigo, a quiant town a little inland from Coffs Harbour, offers an array of walking tracks and beautiful scenery for the family to get lost in. In Dorrigo National Park, visit the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre to learn about the local flora and fauna. Once you are finished with the educational side of things, wander outside to the Skywalk lookout and enjoy views all the way from Bellinger Valley to the coast. Down the road at The Glade picnic area get high among the trees on the Walk with the Birds boardwalk, which gives the kids a chance to see the rainforest from a different angle and is an easy 15-minute loop.

Families will also enjoy Dangar Falls, a 30-metre waterfall set among farmland just a five-minute drive outside of town, and the Sakura Bonsai Gallery, which boasts over 100 bonsai trees, some up to 70 years old.

Bellingen

Bellingen, also located in the Coffs Harbour hinterland, gives kids a chance to experience rural life. Like Dorrigo, the charming town is on the Waterfall Way, a scenic driving route that winds its way through UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest, waterfalls, valleys and peaks.

Visit the Bellingen Community Markets for artisan food products and crafts or the Bellingen Growers Market for organic produce. Families wanting to linger longer should head to the Old Butter Factory to admire the timber toys and art lovers should stop by The Woodcraft Gallery to shop for practical kitchen items, toys or unique gifts.

Best time to go to Coffs Coast

Coffs Coast enjoys year-round subtropical weather. 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 Celsius in summer, only dropping a few degrees in winter.

Summer

Coffs Harbour has average daytime temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius in summer.

Winter

Coffs Harbour has average daytime temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius in winter.

Getting in and around for families

Drive

Coffs Coast is approximately six hours by car from Sydney and five hours from Brisbane via the Pacific Highway. Travelling from the west, take the New England Highway and then the scenic Waterfall Way, marvelling at the natural attractions, lookout points and national parks along the way.

Fly

Coffs Coast is only a short flight from Sydney or Brisbane and discounted fares are often available. Qantas, Virgin Australia and Tiger airlines operate regular flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with convenient connections to all capital cities.

Bus

Long-distance and regional buses operated by Greyhound, Premier and New England Coaches travel from Coffs Harbour to a number of destinations, including Sydney, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Brisbane and Surfers Paradise.

Train

NSW TrainLink trains run from Coffs Harbour to both Sydney, Brisbane, Kempsey, Nambucca Heads and Grafton.

Food and drinks that kids will love

If you’re looking for places to eat out with your family, you’re in luck – Coffs Coast has a wide choice of restaurants, cafes, 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 some in great waterfront locations.

There are also a number of ‘restaurant clusters’, or ‘eat-streets’, where you’ll be able to choose from a variety of options.

For a night of outdoor dining and entertainment drop by Eat Street Woolgoolga, which features an abundance of food trucks in addition to the usual restaurants on Market Street. Have a glass of wine while your kids are entertained by the children’s entertainment and live music.

The strip of eateries at Coffs Harbour’s Jetty Area are great for both lunch and dinner, with many options on the harbour that also enjoy great views.

Shopping

Coffs Coast offers a wealth of shopping experiences, including a diverse array of 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. Coffs Central, Palms Shopping Centre and City Square in the CBD provide all kinds of shops and cafes, while Woolgoolga’s main street has a number of retail shops and small supermarkets, opposite the beach.

Customs

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

What to wear

In warmer months, New South Wales can be very warm. Pack thongs, singlets, and swimmers! If visiting in winter, be sure to pack a few warmer layers.

Courtesy

Australia is renowned for its laid-back, egalitarian culture. By and large, friendliness is equated with good manners.

Electricity

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

Safety and health precautions

Health precautions

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Australian cities.

Safety

By and large, Coffs Coast is considered a safe destination, although still exercise regular safety precautions as you would at home.

Most photographed places

Sawtell

Sawtell is a quaint little town just a 15-minute drive south of Coffs Harbour. The main street is picturesque and separated by big fig trees with plenty of cafes and shops to peruse. Sawtell is the perfect spot to get that classic fish and chips picture on the beach, just watch out for the seagulls!

Butterfly House

Get lost among 400 butterflies in an indoor subtropical rainforest at Butterfly House. The colourful creatures fluttering around and landing on your little ones makes for the perfect photo opportunity.

Coffs Harbour Marina and Jetty

If you are a fan of boats, pretty marinas and strolls along the jetty, then a visit to Coffs Harbour is a must. On Sunday’s there is a market at the entrance and there are also plenty of cafes if you build up an appetite after your walk. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun go down and watch the surfers catch a few waves.