Home To The ‘Big Banana’
Coffs Harbour Cruise Experiences
Famous Coffs Harbour Attractions
Honourable Mentions
The Big Banana Fun Park
Most Coffs Harbour sightseeing happens close to the water, between the marina, the Jetty and the beaches. Behind the city, rainforest-covered ranges rise to lookouts with views of the coast.
Coffs Harbour Jetty
A timber jetty off Jordan Esplanade, opened in 1892 for coastal shipping between Sydney and Brisbane, and later used to load timber. It is the last surviving late 19th-century jetty of the NSW Government in the state and was added to the State Heritage Register in 2021. The jetty is around 500m long; it was closed to the public in the early 1990s, was restored and reopened in 1997.
Jetty Beach sits on its southern side, with the grassy Jetty Foreshores Park behind it. The beach is patrolled during the summer school holidays and has beach wheelchairs available.
Jetty Beach sits on its southern side, with the grassy Jetty Foreshores Park behind it. The beach is patrolled during the summer school holidays and has beach wheelchairs available.
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
An island at the edge of the harbour, joined to the mainland by the northern breakwall. The Gumbaynggirr people call it Giidany Miirlarl, meaning “moon sacred place”. In their stories, the Moon Man came to the island to rest and heal after a battle, and he still protects it and its birds. The island is also famous for its wedge-tailed shearwaters, or muttonbirds. They return from Southeast Asia every August to breed in burrows here and leave again in late April.
From the marina car park, a short walk along the breakwall leads to the base of the island. A sealed but steep track then climbs to the lookout on the eastern side. Between May and November, you can watch Humpback Whales pass from atop. In summer, NSW National Parks run evening Muttonbirds by Moonlight tours.
From the marina car park, a short walk along the breakwall leads to the base of the island. A sealed but steep track then climbs to the lookout on the eastern side. Between May and November, you can watch Humpback Whales pass from atop. In summer, NSW National Parks run evening Muttonbirds by Moonlight tours.
Solitary Islands Marine Park:
North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
Most Coffs Harbour sightseeing happens close to the water, between the marina, the Jetty and the beaches. Behind the city, rainforest-covered ranges rise to lookouts with views of the coast.
A timber jetty off Jordan Esplanade, opened in 1892 for coastal shipping between Sydney and Brisbane, and later used to load timber. It is the last surviving late 19th-century jetty of the NSW Government in the state and was added to the State Heritage Register in 2021. The jetty is around 500m long; it was closed to the public in the early 1990s, was restored and reopened in 1997.
Jetty Beach sits on its southern side, with the grassy Jetty Foreshores Park behind it. The beach is patrolled during the summer school holidays and has beach wheelchairs available.
Jetty Beach sits on its southern side, with the grassy Jetty Foreshores Park behind it. The beach is patrolled during the summer school holidays and has beach wheelchairs available.
An island at the edge of the harbour, joined to the mainland by the northern breakwall. The Gumbaynggirr people call it Giidany Miirlarl, meaning “moon sacred place”. In their stories, the Moon Man came to the island to rest and heal after a battle, and he still protects it and its birds. The island is also famous for its wedge-tailed shearwaters, or muttonbirds. They return from Southeast Asia every August to breed in burrows here and leave again in late April.
From the marina car park, a short walk along the breakwall leads to the base of the island. A sealed but steep track then climbs to the lookout on the eastern side. Between May and November, you can watch Humpback Whales pass from atop. In summer, NSW National Parks run evening Muttonbirds by Moonlight tours.
From the marina car park, a short walk along the breakwall leads to the base of the island. A sealed but steep track then climbs to the lookout on the eastern side. Between May and November, you can watch Humpback Whales pass from atop. In summer, NSW National Parks run evening Muttonbirds by Moonlight tours.
Popular Day Trips From Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour sits between the Great Dividing Range and the sea, so World Heritage rainforest and quiet coastal towns are both within an easy drive. The hinterland lies to the west, while the beach towns stretch north and south along the Pacific Highway.How To Get To Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour can be reached by air, rail or road. Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) is around 4km south of the city centre, with direct domestic flights.Know Before You Go
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit Coffs Harbour is from September to April, when the weather is warm and perfect for beaches, water sports and outdoor adventures. Whale watching peaks from May to November, while summer brings a lively holiday buzz along the coast.
The ideal time to visit Coffs Harbour is from September to April, when the weather is warm and perfect for beaches, water sports and outdoor adventures. Whale watching peaks from May to November, while summer brings a lively holiday buzz along the coast.
Australia-wide holidays 2026:
1 Jan (Thu) – New Year’s Day
26 Jan (Mon) – Australia Day
9 Mar (Mon) – Canberra Day*
3 Apr (Fri) – Good Friday
6 Apr (Mon) – Easter Monday
25 Apr (Sat) – Anzac Day
8 Jun (Mon) – King’s Birthday
5 Oct (Mon) – Labour Day*
25 Dec (Fri) – Christmas Day
26 Dec (Sat) – Boxing Day
28 Dec (Mon) – Boxing Day Holiday
*regional observed holiday
1 Jan (Thu) – New Year’s Day
26 Jan (Mon) – Australia Day
9 Mar (Mon) – Canberra Day*
3 Apr (Fri) – Good Friday
6 Apr (Mon) – Easter Monday
25 Apr (Sat) – Anzac Day
8 Jun (Mon) – King’s Birthday
5 Oct (Mon) – Labour Day*
25 Dec (Fri) – Christmas Day
26 Dec (Sat) – Boxing Day
28 Dec (Mon) – Boxing Day Holiday
*regional observed holiday
NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2026
Term 1: 7 April to 17 April
Term 2: 6 July to 17 July
Term 3: 28 September to 9 October
Term 4: 18 December to 27 January (Eastern division)
18 December to 3 February (Western division)
Term 1: 7 April to 17 April
Term 2: 6 July to 17 July
Term 3: 28 September to 9 October
Term 4: 18 December to 27 January (Eastern division)
18 December to 3 February (Western division)
Coffs Harbour Show (May)
A traditional country show featuring rides, livestock displays, local produce, and family entertainment — celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage.
Woolgoolga Curryfest (26 September)
This colourful multicultural festival is celebrated in the month of September where the region honours the town’s Sikh heritage, with spicy street food, live music and dance performances filling the streets.
Rally Australia (date varies)
Rally Australia is part of the international motorsport calendar, this high-octane event sees rally drivers tackle challenging forest tracks around the Coffs Coast.
A traditional country show featuring rides, livestock displays, local produce, and family entertainment — celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage.
Woolgoolga Curryfest (26 September)
This colourful multicultural festival is celebrated in the month of September where the region honours the town’s Sikh heritage, with spicy street food, live music and dance performances filling the streets.
Rally Australia (date varies)
Rally Australia is part of the international motorsport calendar, this high-octane event sees rally drivers tackle challenging forest tracks around the Coffs Coast.
Coffs Harbour has stays that suit every traveller from luxury beachfront resorts and boutique hotels to family-friendly apartments and caravan parks. Most visitors base themselves near Jetty Beach, Park Beach or the marina for easy access to attractions and dining.
The food scene includes beachside seafood shacks, farm-to-table cafés, and fine dining with ocean views. The Jetty and Harbour Drive precincts are top spots for evening meals and relaxed drinks.
Local buses (operated by Forest Coach Lines) link major suburbs, beaches, and shopping areas. Taxis and rideshare services like Uber operate regularly, and bike hire is popular for short coastal trips. For long-distance travel, NSW TrainLink runs services from Sydney and Grafton, stopping at Coffs Harbour Station near the town centre.
Coffs Harbour Tourist Information
Coffs Harbour blends relaxed coastal shopping with vibrant community markets. You’ll find boutique fashion, surf stores, and homeware shops in Park Beach Plaza and Coffs Central, while weekend markets showcase the region’s creative and foodie spirit.
Harbourside Market:
Held at the Jetty Foreshore every Sunday, this weekly market features local produce, handmade crafts, street food, and live music by the sea.
Twilight Food Market (Fridays, October–April):
This market runs between the months of October to April on Fridays. The evening market offers global street eats, live entertainment, and sunset picnics by the water.
Harbourside Market:
Held at the Jetty Foreshore every Sunday, this weekly market features local produce, handmade crafts, street food, and live music by the sea.
Twilight Food Market (Fridays, October–April):
This market runs between the months of October to April on Fridays. The evening market offers global street eats, live entertainment, and sunset picnics by the water.