Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 (Pop 68 000)

Pic: The harbour at Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a subtropical coastal city located 540 km north of Sydney on the Pacific Hwy.  According to the CSIRO, Coffs Harbour has the most temperate climate in Australia.  Originally home to the Gumbayggir Aborigines,  the city owes its name to Captain John Korff who named the area Korff’s Harbour when he was forced to take shelter from a storm in 1847. Due to an unintentional misspelling by a surveyor, it became known as Coffs Harbour. Today the city is a thriving tourist and holiday destination.  Agriculture in the form of bananas, avocados, blueberries and coffee flourish. Coffs markets (each Sunday) Jetty Village Shopping Centre. Tel (02) 6653 6771. Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Classic (Jan), the Buskers & Comedy Festival (Sept/Oct), Food & Wine Fiesta (Oct).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Pet Porpoise Pool (Orlando St) (2.5 km east) marine park established in 1969 and home to a variety of marine life. Two daily shows (10am & 1pm) and a third in school holidays. It is possible to arrange to swim with the dolphins and seals, partake in the fun of feeding them and also enjoy the kangaroos and emus that stroll through the park.  During school holidays, there is also an informative reptile show after the main show.Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve via a 500 m walk along the seawall from the harbour is an important breeding site for the Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Muttonbird).  Also an excellent whale watching (May-Oct) and dolphin spotting location. The Marina departure point for fishing charters, scuba diving and whale watching trips. The nearby Coffs Harbour Jetty, originally built in 1892, is an historically important timber wharf where coastal shipping once moved the timber from the hinterland. North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, Hardacre St 20 scenic ha of native and exoitc flora, rainforest, herbarium and diverse birdlife. Open (9am-5pm) daily. Free entry. The Coffs Creek/Habitat Walk easy grade 9km circuit of bushland tracks, boardwalks and bridges. Coffs Harbour City Gallery, cnr Coff & Duke Sts. Cartoon Bunker Gallery, cnr Albany St & Hogbin Dr unique cartoon gallery within WW 2 bunker. Open (10am-4pm) daily. Coffs Harbour Museum, (currently housed within Bunker Cartoon Gallery), vast collection of historical pioneering artifacts, photographs and a working lighthouse built around 1875. 

Nearby:
Big Banana (4 km north) first of Australia’s Big Things. The world’s largest banana celebrated its 40^th birthday in 2005 and is considered the region’s best known export. National Marine Science Centre, near Pacific Bay resort. Excellent aquarium exhibtions. Open daily during school holidays. Tel (02) 6648 3900. Bruxner Park Floral Reserve (9 km n-w) 407 ha of bushwalking trails through dense rainforest and nearby Sealy Lookout (310 m) offers stunning views of the city. Solitary Islands Marine Park covers about 71 000 ha and is popular for diving, snorkelling, whale watching, surfing, boating and fishing. The Park is divided into a number of zones (Sanctuary, Habitat Protection, General Use and Special Purpose) see markers. Wedding Bells State Forest, 83 km round trip from Coffs Harbour through native eucalypt and rainforests. Bindarri NP (20 km west) rugged and remote park for the seasoned bushwalker offering breathtaking waterfalls and untouched forests.

Accommodation:
Coffs Harbour and its surrounding areas have close to 40 motels, 4 hotels, 7 resorts, holiday apartments, 5 farmstays, 26 cabins/cottages, 19 B&Bs, 6 hostels/backpackers and 10 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Cnr Pacific Hwy & McLean St. Tel (02) 6648 4990 or 1300 369 070.

Airport:
Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) just off Hogbin Dr. Tel (02) 6648 4000. (7 km south of CBD).

Hospital:
Coffs Harbour Health Campus, Pacific Hwy. Tel (02) 6656 7000. (4 km south).