3 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
540 km north of Sydney by car
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Coffs Harbour (Australia)
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Sophie LIGER
Practical information on Coffs Harbour
Reviews of Coffs Harbour
Situated along the New South Wales coast, Coffs Harbour is a little paradise on earth between Sydney and Brisbane.
My suggestion:
Avoid the middle of the summer when the rain can be abundant, and the middle of the winter when the slightly crisp temperatures can make swimming difficult.
My review
Though I didn't stay a long time in Coffs Harbour, I have the memory of a small city with a more than pleasant atmosphere which contains several of Australia's very own wonders: a magnificent coastline made up of numerous bays and immaculate beaches, a perfectly formed sea which offers excellent spots for surfing and other water sports, a quite extensive student life, and the proximity to several natural parks with impressive biodiversity.
I advise you to stay in Coffs Harbour for at least two days to be able to make the most of the beaches and parks surrounding this little corner of paradise. For those who don't have the time to extend their Australian itinerary to Queensland, the city has a tiny coral reef where you can go diving. It's also one of the main banana producing cities in Australia, which seems to be a source of pride in the area given the numerous references to the fruit in the city!
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Andrea Schaffer
Small city with no great interest.
My suggestion:
A day in Coffs Harbour is enough to explore it all.
My review
If Coffs Harbour is part of your Australian itinerary, don't spend too long there because there's not a lot to do! I recommend that you visit the botanical garden, which is quite big and has several species of plant. You can perhaps also see one or two koalas there so look up and open your eyes!
I also went for a walk along the Coffs Harbour peninsula which is a bird reserve and so there are several species there. Unfortunately I can only advise this in this city which isn't very interesting and where the activities are quite limited. You can always practise water sports there, a bit like you can on all of the Australian coastline.
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Sophie LIGER
Coffs Harbour, "the Banana City", is a family-friendly seaside city of 60,000 inhabitants. Thanks to its famous theme park, the local economy relies more on tourism than on extensive banana farming.
My suggestion:
Go on a tour of the Jetty Strip around the marina and have a coffee or some lunch. Or you can take your children to the theme park. There you will find the Big Banana, the iconic structure of the region and city of Coffs Harbour.
My review
During my visit to the East Coast of Australia, I only made a brief stop at Coffs Harbour, which held little interest for me. It is an average-sized city, with a marina and a few beaches.
The Jetty Strip on Harbour Drive is packed with restaurants and cafés where I stopped for a while before going to see the Big Banana, which is the city's tourist attraction. It is famous for being the first object to be built out of the collection of 150 Big Things in Australia. On the road along the East Coast, travelling north towards Cairns, you will see—among others—the Big Mango in Bowen, the Big Gumboot in Tully, and the Big Cassowary in Mission Beach. You can amuse yourself by looking for them at your stops on your trip through Australia.
Adjoining the Big Banana, there is a theme park with a souvenir shop that revolves around the banana theme. I did not enter the park; however, I have heard only good things about it. There are many activities for children, particularly a toboggan track. Coffs Harbour is an ideal place for a holiday with your family.
If you are in the area, have a car, and love nature like I do, I strongly recommend a quick look at Nambucca Head, which is 47 kilometres south. Captain Cook Lookout offers such a great view that you won't regret it!
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flickr CC Inchki
257 travelers' photos
