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Coffs Harbour is a town on the north coast of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately two thirds of the way from Sydney to Brisbane. Coffs is largely a family destination, but also attracts some backpackers travelling between Sydney and Brisbane.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By Car
Coffs Harbour is a 570 kilometers drive north of Sydney and 350 kilometers south of Brisbane on the Pacific Highway.
[edit] By Train
Coffs Harbour is a nine-hour train ride on Countrylink (ph 132232) from Sydney via the Central Coast, Newcastle and the north coast. It is a six hour trip from Brisbane. The train station is in the south of the town near the Jetty area and there is also a railway station in the Suburb of Sawtell that is in the vacinty of Coffs harbour
[edit] By Plane
You can fly to Coffs Harbour
- on Qantas (ph 131313) from Sydney or Lord Howe Island
- on Virgin Blue (ph 136789) from Sydney or Melbourne
- on Sunshine Express (ph Qantas) from Brisbane.
The airport is usually referred to by airlines as Coffs Coast and is located about a five minute drive outside the town. There is no transport into town aside from cars and taxis. The taxi fare is $10-$15.
[edit] Get around
- Pet Porpoise Pool [1], Orlando Street (near the jetty end). tel 02 6652 2164. fax 02 6650 0264. email info@petporpoisepool.com. Visitors to the pet porpoise pool can touch and interact with dolphins and seals; if you book in advance you may be able to swim with them. Open 9am - 4pm every day, adults $25, children $12.50.
- The Big Banana [2], Pacific Highway, north of Coffs Harbour - Australia's original "Big Thing", over 40 years old, marking the approximate half way point between Sydney and Brisbane - includes fun rides, ice skating, a real snow slope, recreational activities, a variety of food experiences and retail outlets.
- There is a Creek-side Boardwalk through mangroves near the jetty area and a quite extensive Botanical Garden nearby.
- Shearwater nesting on Muttonbird Island. Muttonbird Island is a penisula extending out from the marina area. It is completely treeless, but is a nesting site for the migratory birds call wedge-tailed shearwaters, or muttonbirds. Birds complete their courtship in November and the eggs hatch towards the end of summer. On the eastern side of Muttonbird Island, there is a great view out to sea and whales can also be seen at some parts of the year. Walking over Muttonbird Island is a short walk (10-20 minutes), but it's also steep and there is no shade. Wear a hat, cover your shoulders, and take a bottle of water with you.
- Swim at Coffs' beaches.
- Park Beach is the main beach in Coffs, and is just to the north of the mouth of Coffs Creek. It is a surf beach and the swimming can be a little rough.
- Just inside the mouth of Coffs Creek is a small sheltered beach. Families with small children swim here and there are lots of fishermen.
- There is another calm beach between the jetty and the wharf area that is popular with families.
- Scuba dive in the Solitary Islands marine park off the coast of Coffs. Jetty Dive [3], 398 High Street. ph 02 6651 1611. A day trip to the islands with two dives is $99, gear hire is $30. Full openwater courses start at $195. In non-peak season Jetty Dive conducts some $55 single dive trips, mainly for night dives.
- Go on a dolphin or whale watching cruise. Whale season is June to November each year, and dolphins are seen in the area year round. Spirit Cruises takes a large day boat of whale or dolphin watchers out daily at 9:30am. On weekends and holidays there is also a luncheon cruise at 1pm. The boat has a bar and, for the more active participants, there is a waterslide and pool set up in the ocean. Cruises are popular so book in advance, phone bookings are preferred. Spirit Cruises [4], Coffs Harbour International Marina, Marina Drive. tel and fax 02 6650 0155. email spiritcruises@westnet.com.au
- Park Beach Plaza, intersection of Pacific Highway and Park Beach Road. The Park Beach Plaza is a giant shopping centre with the usual assortment of useful shops including a Woolworths supermarket and pharmacies.
- Jetty Village Shopping Centre, 361 Harbour Drive. The Jetty Village Shopping Centre is a small shopping centre with a bakery and a small IGA supermarket.
- Jetty Markets. The Jetty Markets are a craft and produce market held under the Jetty Village Shopping Centre every Sunday.
There is a group of eateries in the Jetty area, mostly on Harbour Drive. This area is known as having the best eating in Coffs.
- SSS BBQ Barns, Great Steaks, Ribs, shanks. Service is fabulous, a wonderful country atmosphere. winner of tourism award for coffs harbour.
- Scoffs Restaurant, 386 Harbour Drive. tel 02 6651 1516. Scoffs has good grilled seafood and steaks (beef and kangaroo), but is somewhat drastically understaffed, at least in peak times. Mains $20-$30.
- Foreshores, 394 Harbour Drive. tel 02 6652 3127. Foreshores is a hugely popular breakfast and brunch cafe (it closes at 3pm), with a menu ranging from toast with Vegemite through to a big brekkie with sausages, egg and bacon.
- Granma's Restaurant, 92 Park Beach Road. tel 02 6651 4777. Granma's is a small German restaurant tucked away in a residential area near Park Beach Plaza. Large serves and really tempting desserts.
- Cafe Aqua, 57 Ocean Parade. tel 02 6652 5566. Cafe Aqua is a small breakfast and brunch cafe behind Park Beach, locally famed for its coffee.
- Jetty Village Cafe & Juice Bar, Shop 7, Jetty Village Shopping Centre, 361 Harbour Drive. tel 02 6651 2287. The Jetty Village Cafe is a counter service sandwich shop with a small amount of hot food. Its main advantage is that it is open in the late afternoons when most of the other eateries in the Jetty area are closed.
- Park Beach Bowling Club Park Beach Road. For great wholsome food homecooked food at cheap prices. Get there early though as it does get quite busy.
The high season in Coffs Harbour is the summer school holidays for school children, from late December until the end of January each year. Some accommodation on the spot is likely to be available even at those times.
In addition to the usual hostel/motel/hotel accommodation, Coffs has a large number of motel-like facilities that call themselves 'holiday apartments'. These are typically large motel like flats with 2 or 3 bedrooms and some cooking facilities. They are designed to be booked on a week-to-week basis but are often available for shorter bookings.
- Dolphin Sands Holiday Villas,
: 16 Prince Street, 
: +61 2 6652 9550, 
: info@dolphinsands.dnet.tv, Website: http://www.dolphin.dnet.tv. Dolphin Sands has seven freestanding cabins one block back from Park Beach. The cabins are 2 bedroom and sleep up to five people. The cabins share a pool, spa and barbecue area. The standard rate is $150 per night per cabin, some discounts might be available if booking in advance.
[edit] Get out
WikiPedia:Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
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