Coffs Harbour is a small but active beach town on the Mid North Coast. Awarded ‘Town of the Year’ for 2020 by Wotif, and only 30 minutes’ drive from beautiful Bellingen, the small city of Coffs Harbour offers a more suburban, family-style atmosphere, with larger stores for furniture etc, as well as a Woolworths Supermarket. Further detailed facts on the area can be found here. It’s worth a trip just to see some of the beauty; accommodations will no doubt improve in time.
The Coffs Coast offers lots of things to do. Mostly a family destination, the holiday accommodation in Coffs Harbour is in abundance, and is being continually developed – though yet to be five star. Air B&B may be the safest bet for a local family-style stay. As a more selective couple or pair of couples, you have the option of staying at Hermitage Estate, our luxury private retreat in Gleniffer, just outside Coffs Harbour, or one of the many other lovely little retreats and villas in the surrounding Coffs Harbour area or Bellingen Shire.
As a beach-enthusiast with modest expectations, hopefully you won’t be indoors long enough to care about anything but the views. Get out into the fresh air, and absorb the coastal town of Coffs Harbour, affectionately known as ‘Coffs’ by locals. The biggest attraction of course is the stunning beaches.
From beautiful sheltered coves to more challenging breaks for surfing, the Coffs Harbour region offers beaches to suit both families and adrenaline junkies. The Jetty and Marina are popular attractions, and a decent meal can be enjoyed at Latitude 30 restaurant.
Walk out to Mutton Bird Island and trek up the mini-mountain. It’s a pleasant walk, a lovely atmosphere, and the views are to die for, unable to be seen from those angles anywhere else along the Coffs Coast. At the right time of year, you can even do some amazing whale watching! What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
Visit the Windmill Restaurant for something different, (also offering accommodation) ,and stop by the ‘Big Banana’ for a touristic fun experience. Take a lovely day trip up the big mountain to gorgeous Dorrigo when you’re done looking around Coffs Harbour. You can enjoy a picnic at one of the local Dorrigo rain forest walks, or venture out further to the Never Never Picnic area, and enjoy the day in mostly total seclusion. Do watch out for sneaky Goannas who will try to steal your picnic food!
There are several tracks to follow for a rain forest walk in Dorrigo. Absorb the peace and healing energy, let all the toxic energy flow out of you to be absorbed and converted by the trees. Maybe cook some bbq over an open fire (not permitted in Summer between November to April) – bring supplies and please tidy after yourself before leaving.
Urunga and Sawtell are other local visiting options, offering established communities, beautiful beaches and rugged coast line. Coramba and Nana Glen will give you that farm experience, if you seek a more casual or agricultural environment. These locations are also wonderfully serene and relaxing in different ways. In the other direction you can find Aanuka Bay, Emerald Beach, Sapphire Beach and many other little coves.
If you’re a fan of tropical atmospheres and consider yourself a beach person, the Coffs Harbour area will be a most interesting and fulfilling experience for you. For those who seek luxury on the other hand, perhaps you might keep Coffs Harbour for a day trip experiences, and maintain your accommodation elsewhere nearby. It’s a brief drive to anywhere along the Coffs Coast.
To summarize the surrounding wonderful areas to explore, with their own interesting attractions:
Venturing West will lead you to wonderful unspoiled Dorrigo, with its quaint and friendly township & history museum, stunning mountains and breathtaking waterfalls. Further on from there are the Ebor falls and Armidale, gorgeous in Autumn. Heading East brings you to Urunga, Mylestom, North Beach, Tuckers Rock, Repton and Raleigh. Venture North to Nana Glen, Coramba, or Diggers Beach, Sapphire Beach, Emerald Beach and Avoca beach. All along the beautiful untouched coastline there are things to enjoy, beauty to behold, and wildlife to observe.
If you’re looking for things to do, simply refer to the welcome manual on your coffee table in Hermitage Estate villa, or contact us.
There are some absolutely gorgeous experiences to enjoy. Just enquire with us, and plan activities to make your visit sensational!