One of the Australian east coast's most popular resort towns, Coffs Harbour is as famous for its relaxed lifestyle and fishing as it is for its bananas and tourism industry. Situated 350km south of Brisbane and 530km north of Sydney, Coffs Harbour is renowned as the coastal holiday town where the mountains meet the sea. Home to a number of iconic landmarks, natural attractions, water activities and markets, there are a range of Coffs Harbour attractions to suit even the most leisurely or adventurous visitors.
A must-see on any Coffs Harbour holiday and a popular family tourist attraction, The Big Banana is an original Australian 'Big Thing' and has been an icon on the Pacific Highway on your way to Coffs Harbour for more than 40 years. A kitschy tourist attraction, it is one of Australia's famous landmarks and offers all kinds of banana-infused food and drink as well as a huge range of banana themed merchandise. The neighboring complex also offers tours of the banana plantations, fun rides, ice skating and even a real indoor snow slope.
Renowned for its natural attractions, Coffs Harbour is also home to Dolphin Marine Magic and the Pet Porpoise Pool, a local institution that has also been operating for 40 years. Offering the chance to get up close and personal with seals and dolphins, there are a number of daily shows as well as a unique dolphin encounter for an additional fee. The Butterfly House is also a popular Coffs Harbour attraction that offers an indoor rainforest teeming with butterflies. A great place for photos, you can walk right among the butterflies, with some even landing on you. There is also a café and maze as part of this attraction.
Of course the beautiful marine environment of Coffs Harbour is also one of its biggest drawcards and there are a number of lovely beaches for swimming including Park Beach, the main beach of Coffs Harbour, as well as a small sheltered beach just off Coffs Creek and a popular swimming spot between the wharf and jetty where conditions are calm. Just off the coast of Coffs, the Solitary Islands offer the perfect scuba diving spot with day trips available including all dive gear and even the option to undertake a dive course. If you're visiting between June to November, you simply can't miss the dolphin and whale watching opportunities, with a number of charters and cruises available daily.
There are also a number of local markets in and around Coffs Harbour offering local handmade art and craft as well as fresh local produce and delicious foods. Some of the most popular markets include the Coffs Harbour Jetty Markets every Sunday, Coffs Car Market at the showgrounds every Saturday, Dorrigo Country Markets on the first Saturday of every month, Woolgoolga Markets every second Saturday, Bellingen Community Markets every third Saturday and Sawtell Market Grounds on the last Saturday of every month.
