An iconic 'Big Thing'

For generations, Coffs Harbour has been defined by something big, yellow and very kitsch – the beloved Big Banana. Located on a working banana plantation, the walk-through banana was built in 1964, the first of Australia's Big Things. Today, it's the centrepiece of a fully-fledged fun park, with a toboggan ride, alpine coaster, huge water parks, mini-golf, ice skating, laser tag and axe throwing. Wander through the plantation on a guided tour snap a selfie then refuel with a chocolate-coated banana from Junee Chocolate.

The Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour

On the water

The beautiful beaches of the Coffs Coast beckon, with more than 30 dotted along an 80-kilometre stretch. The wheelchair-accessible Jetty Beach is a popular place to soak up the sun. Walk the breakwall at the north end out to Muttonbird Island, a nature reserve that protects a colony of wedge-tailed shearwaters and is a prime whale-watching spot in winter. Grab a board and join the locals at one of the region's best breaks – Diggers Beach, Sawtell and Emerald Beach are favourites for surfers of all levels. If you’re new to the waves, book a lesson with Solitary Island Surf School.

Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort, Coffs Harbour

Offshore, the Solitary Islands Marine Park is a haven for a huge diversity of marine life. Go snorkelling or scuba diving with Jetty Dive Centre to come face to face with the underwater world. They also operate whale swims in August and September, an unforgettable experience that puts you in the water alongside migrating humpbacks. For a gentler pace on the water, book a guided tour with C-Change Adventures and kayak or stand-up paddleboard through the estuaries of Boambee and Bonville creeks. You’ll spot stingrays, crabs, ospreys, sea eagles and much more.

Jetty Dive Centre, Coffs Harbour

Outdoor adventures

Just a short drive from Coffs Harbour is Niigi Niigi – Sealy Lookout, an eco-certified hub in the Orara East State Forest where the Forest Sky Pier offers a sensational, elevated view over the coastline. Right next door, get your adrenaline pumping at Treetops Adventure Coffs Harbour, a canopy ropes course strung high through the native forest. With courses to suit everyone from wobbly-legged three-year-olds to thrill-seeking adults, you can pick your level of challenge across dozens of aerial obstacles and zipline through the treetops, all while kookaburras call somewhere in the canopy below.

Treetops Adventure Coffs Harbour, Coffs Harbour

Nearby, the Gumgali Track tells the story of Gumgali the black goanna through interpretive signage and sculpture. For a longer walk, tackle a stretch of the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk, a 60-kilometre trail linking Sawtell to Red Rock via beaches, headlands and rainforest, with plenty of dolphin sightings and whale-watching vantage points along the way. Just north of town, the Look At Me Headland Walk at Emerald Beach is famous for its resident kangaroos, makes a great whale-watching spot in winter and has a deep Aboriginal significance.

Look At Me Now Headland Walk, Emerald Beach

For more local wildlife, walk among hundreds of native butterflies at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House and learn about local marine species at the hands-on Solitary Islands Aquarium. The Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary has thrilled visitors for generations, letting you get up close to dolphins, seals and penguins. For those interested in flora as well as fauna, check out the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, an eco-accredited green oasis in the heart of town where you can amble along discovery walks through coastal forests, rainforests, rare native plants, mangrove forests and a tropical glasshouse.

Solitary Islands Aquarium, Coffs Harbour

Guided tours

Get to know the region's Gumbaynggirr culture on a Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience, an award-winning tour at Niigi Niigi – Sealy Lookout featuring storytelling, language and traditional song against a backdrop of sweeping forest views. On the water, Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours shares stories of Country on a guided stand-up paddleboard tour across Red Rock, Moonee Creek or Coffs Creek, with profits supporting local language revitalisation and community programs. For something different, cruise the coastline and hinterland or visit a local winery in style on the back of a custom machine with Coffs Harbour Trike Tours.

Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours, Coffs Harbour

Eat & drink

From pub grub to fresh seafood or sushi, you'll find it at Coffs Harbour's 'eat street', the Jetty Strip, lined more than 20 cafes and restaurants. Pop into the retail fish shop of the Coffs Harbour Fisherman's Co-op for the catch of the day. There’s everything from that first coffee fix and delicious pastries to authentic Italian and pizza at the waterfront Stef & Co. Check out the stylish Jetty Beach House for modern Australian, Latitude 30 for a seafood menu with sweeping ocean views, and its sister venue Mie Mie's for Asian fusion fare with the same knockout coastal outlook.

Stef & Co, Coffs Harbour

Element Bar serves up a little bit of everything – craft beer, wine, live music and comfort food such as burgers, pizzas and tacos – while Bistro Vue brings art deco-inspired charm and modern European cooking to the Jetty Strip, perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch. For sun, salt and poolside plates, head to Aanuka Beach House at Diggers Beach, a resort-style spot serving up sunrise-to-sunset dining in a tropical, beachfront setting.

Aanuka Beach House, Coffs Harbour

Shopping & markets

Shop local at the bustling Harbourside Markets, held in the reserve behind the jetty every Sunday and piled high with fresh regional produce and gourmet food stalls. Come Thursday, City Square is transformed by the Coffs Coast Growers Markets, where you can meet the farmers behind your fruit and veg, along with local honey, free-range eggs, artisan sourdough and handmade goods – a great way to bring a taste of the Coffs Coast home with you. Find local fashion label Amilita plus more clothing, jewellery and homewares at Tallow & Tide Conscious Collective or luxe international brands at Uptown Local.

Coffs Coast Growers Markets, Coffs Harbour - Credit: Coffs Coast Growers Markets

Exciting events

Time your visit for the All One Under the Sun Festival in November, a joyful celebration of Coffs Harbour's multicultural community. Expect live performances spanning Gumbaynggirr, Filipino and Indonesian traditions, cultural food and coffee demonstrations, activities for the kids and a lantern parade to finish the night in style. Other popular events throughout the year include the spicy Sawtell Chillifest in July, the Coffs Harbour Running Festival in August and the Coffs Coast Country Music Festival in October.

Coffs Coast Country Music Festival, Moonee Beach - Credit: Welcome Hospitality

Head to the Hinterland

Coffs Harbour is also the gateway to the Waterfall Way, a spectacular 185-kilometre scenic drive that winds inland from the coast, crossing five national parks and passing waterfalls, lookouts and rolling green hills along the way. A little over an hour from Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, home to ancient rainforest, cascading waterfalls and a rich array of birdlife. Don't miss the Skywalk at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, an elevated boardwalk that lets you look out across the rainforest canopy to the coast beyond, before browsing the on-site shop or picking up a trail map for one of the park's many walking tracks.

Dangar Falls, Dorrigo

Where to stay

There’s an abundance of accommodation around Coffs, including plenty of budget-friendly motels and family-friendly holiday parks. Travelling with a group? Look no further than Barellen Beach House. This incredibly stylish oceanfront property sleeps 10 and sits above Safety Beach, in a peaceful location, with sweeping views of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Both Opal Cove Resort and Korora Bay Village Resort are located a few minutes' walk from Korora Beach, meaning a refreshing dip is never far away.

Barellen Beach House, Safety Beach - Credit: Barellen Beach House

Friday Creek Retreat is an exclusive hideaway set in a beautiful valley, with nine individually styled spacious cottages. With views of rolling hills and the gorgeous countryside of the hinterland, you can get away from it all, while still only being a 15-minute drive from Coffs Harbour. For accommodation with a great atmosphere, try Pier Hotel. The pub-style accommodation has boutique en suite rooms, as well as more affordable standard rooms with shared bathrooms in the heart of town.

Friday Creek Retreat, Orara - Credit: Friday Creek Retreat

Getting there 

By car, Coffs Harbour is a five less than six hours north of Sydney and just over four hours south from Brisbane. Or take things slow and make this a memorable stop on the Legendary Pacific Coast road trip, as you explore the spectacular NSW North Coast. You can also catch the train from Sydney and the journey takes around nine hours. There are regular direct flight to Coffs Harbour Airport from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and it’s less than 10 minutes from the town centre. If you don’t drive here, hiring a car is the best way to explore the Coffs Coast region and its many scenic drives, including the Waterfall Way.