Caravanning Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour grew its economy off the trunk of the banana tree. Plantations, tourists traps and gimmicks, each centring on that long, yellow fruit, are synonymous with this mid-north coast holiday haven. But Coffs Harbour is a town of many flavours. Banana, you see, is just the start.

MOONEE BEACH

Being such a popular spot, Coffs has no shortage of holiday parks. Our pick, however, is Moonee Beach Holiday Park, about 10km north of town, just off the Pacific Highway.

With decent powered sites, each with water and sullage, as well as a green field of unpowered sites, not to mention a tennis court, a couple of well-kept amenities blocks and a large camp kitchen, this holiday park has all the bases covered.

But the best thing about it is its location. Directly adjacent Moonee Creek, a tidal estuary that separates the holiday park from the Pacific Ocean, Moonee Beach Holiday Park is incredibly family friendly.

This safe swimming hole, a paradise at low tide, is reason enough to visit Coffs Harbour. With sandbars poking up through the water, the depth of the estuary varies. Parents laze about in the sun, watching as their kids splash in the warm pools – that’s the beauty of this destination.

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Admittedly, the ocean rushes in at high tide and the creek can become unsafe for youngsters. Fishermen and kayakers, however, rush to take advantage.

The estuary is part of the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, which is home to endangered bats, pandanus trees and coastal rainforest. Exploring it by kayak or canoe, or wetting a line in search of a bream or flathead, are just two more ways to enjoy this patch of Coffs.

The Green Bluff headland, to one side of the estuary, is a grassy mountain affording an expansive view of the ocean, dotted here and there by the Split Solitary islands. It’s a short walk through a scrub-lined path, but it’s worth it. If beach walks are your thing, take off your thongs and hike it Emerald Beach, north of Moonee. It’s a fair distance, though, so take snacks and water.

Otherwise, you could do a lot worse than setting up your beach chair on one of those sandbars, putting your nose in a good book, your feet in the water, and forgetting that the rest of the world exists. Moonee Beach does that to you.

COFFS’ ATTRACTIONS

Eventually, the rest of Coffs will call. And there’s plenty to do. Sure, the Big Banana, with its banana-themed everything, is worth a look. A mini-golf course, ice-skating rink, toboggan ride and even laser tag are on offer at this attraction. The Big Banana water park, however, is the one the kids will be drawn to most.

Dolphin Marine Magic is another must-do attraction, whether you want to swim with the dolphins, watch one of the choreographed shows in which they leap through hoops and obey their keepers’ commands, or even be ‘kissed’ by a dolphin or seal. Dolphin Marine Magic aims to educate visitors about marine conservation and, as such, there are other exhibits to enjoy, including little penguins and Plugga the green sea turtle.

Be sure to also visit the timber jetty at the harbour itself. Here, you can fish, watch seabirds and kayakers, book a fishing tour or even a whale-watching cruise. For lunch, visit the Fishermen’s Co-op for fish and chips, or buy some affordable fresh fish for an evening barbecue.

The breakwall at the marina joins the mainland to Muttonbird Island, which has viewing platforms at the top and eastern side of the island. These platforms provide diverse views of the Coffs and surrounding regions, from the harbour entrance to the Solitary islands and the never-ending coastline.

Coffs has a number of 4WD-friendly beaches, too. Our favourite, however, is Boambee Beach – the entrance is close to the harbour jetty. The beach runs for a kilometre or two south to the inlet at Sawtell. Obviously, avoid driving on the beach (or any) at high tide but, when the tide is out why not pack a picnic and take a leisurely drive in search of the perfect spot, back your vehicle up near the dunes, and make a day of it? If nothing else, the kids will love the novelty of taking the car onto the beach and it’s a completely free way of enjoying another aspect of this amazing part of the world.

Inspired? Here’s a comprehensive list of the ‘100 best things to do in Australia’!