If you’re planning a holiday this year packed with family activities and adventure, you’ll find the best family fun in Coffs Harbour! Situated on the mid-north coast of NSW, Coffs and its surrounding areas definitely cater for a sand, sun, and fun family getaway. From pristine beaches to a gorgeous rainforest, and plenty of entertainment for the kids. It ticked all our boxes, that’s for sure!
The drive will take you around 4 1/2 hours from Lake Macquarie, depending on your stops along the way. We stopped for lunch, as most check-in time is around 2 pm. With a bit of research, we planned all our activities in advance. I made a few phone calls the week before we left, checked the weather forecast, and this is how we made the most of our holiday adventure on the Coffs Coast.
Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
Meet the local team that engages and inspires locals and visitors to protect local marine animals and their environment. The sanctuary opens at 9 am with a full schedule including a penguin parade, fish feeding, turtle triage, dolphins, seal lions, seals, and much more.
Book here: Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
With more than 40 marine and terrestrial animals who call the sanctuary their ‘forever home’, we care for animals that have been brought to us as a result of injury or illness that prevents them from being released back into the wild.Â
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Coffs Harbour Marina & Jetty
Fancy a slower-paced afternoon out? Then a visit to Coffs Jetty is the perfect location. The massive timber jetty in the harbour is the ideal place to go for a walk, wet a fishing line, snap a sunrise or simply sit and watch swimmers. You’ll also see seabirds, boats, paddleboards, and yachts come and go from the harbour.
Take a walk out to Mutton Island, now connected by the break wall. Definitely stop and marvel at the Mk8 torpedo at the foot of the jetty. Let the kids ride their bike or scooter along the paths, or sit at one of the picnic tables have some lunch and enjoy the atmosphere.
Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
This is such a gorgeous experience for the whole family. The Butterfly House is only about 15 minutes back down the coast from the centre of Coffs Harbour. It’s good to know in advance that butterflies need a warm, humid temperature to fly. This means you need to wear light clothes as you’re going to get hot. Another tip is to wear bright clothes. The more you look like a flower, the greater the chance a butterfly will land on you.
Be sure to ask questions and learn about the different species you’ll see on your visit.
Did someone say dinosaurs?
You’ll find plenty of mechanical dinosaurs in a hidden valley on the opposite side of the car park. They also do a LIVE show for the kids. A few big Tyrannosaurus rex heads might startle the kids, so just warn them in advance. Stop and get a photo in a dinosaur egg as you enter the trail.
There’s also a café for a quick bite and a coffee.
Check out more here: Coffs Harbour Butterfly House Â
Sawtell
It’s known for its pristine waterways, gorgeous national park, and trendy cafes.Â
For us, Bonville Headland was an absolute standout, especially the ocean pool. You’ll discover Bonville Creek and where it meets the headland and flows into the sea. The water here is so clean and perfect for swimming. This pretty creek flows through the Bongil Bongil National Park. Further up the creek, you’ll find the best spots for fishing, kayaking, and bushwalking.Â
Sawtell Beach, with its endless stretch of sand, is ideal for swimming with the family.
There’s a BIG 4 at Sawtell which looks amazing for an affordable family holiday.Â
Check out Sawtell here: Visiting Sawtell
The Big Banana Fun Park
When I was young, the Big Banana was huge! Set among a banana plantation, it looked a whole lot bigger than it does now. It’s been dwarfed by the size of the buildings and fun park, which now dominates the kid’s attention.
There are so many things to do at the Big Banana, and my husband says ‘The Ultimate Banana Smoothie’ is a must. He went back for a second one!
Pricing is based on each activity, so I can’t give you a general price. They usually have a School Holiday Special on, so make sure you ask.Â
Activities you can do include:
- Laser Tag
- Fun Zone (gaming)
- Theatre & Tour
- Water Park (kids loved this)
- Toboggan
- Mini Golf (great course)
- 4D Ride (this was awesome, much better than Movie World)
- Ice Skating
- Giant Slide (I got air)
You’ll also find a cafe and ice creamery, a gift shop, a Reptile World, a Cheese Making Workshop, The Opal Centre, and a Candy Making Kitchen.Â
Find out more here: The Big Banana Coffs Harbour
Sealy Lookout
This was a gorgeous view of Coffs Harbour from high up on the mountain. Sealy Lookout is located within the ecotourism-accredited Bruxner Park Flora Reserve in Orara East State Forest. It’s not signposted from the highway. All you’ll see is a brown sign ‘Sealy Lookout’. It’s home to the award-winning Forest Sky Pier, which we discovered by accident.
It’s a hairy drive up the mountain, with the edge not far from your tyre. I’m not good with heights, so this was quite challenging. However, every good adventure has a reward, and the view from the top was outstanding.Â
You’ll discover a stunning picnic area, some table settings were undercover, and plenty of room to stretch out a blanket for a picnic lunch.Â
It’s a must-see on your Coffs Coast adventure, check it out here: Sealy Lookout
Never Never Creek
For a swim in crystal clear water, or just to see nature at its finest, head to the picturesque town of Bellingen. You’ll find Never Never Creek about 10 minutes off Waterfall Way in the main street, and it’s worth the detour.
Never Never Creek is located in Promise Lands, which just adds to its mystique and beauty. The local residents worked very hard many years ago to transform this creek into a crystal clear oasis, so please respect the area.Â
Park in the designated off-road area on the right and walk up the stone bank to the deeper sections suitable for swimming. The swimming holes are likely to be deserted apart from the bass and kingfishers.Â
Take note of the paths up through the trees that lead to the wider and deeper swimming holes. You’ll find rope swings scattered amongst the trees for those game enough to jump off.Â
For a bit of natural adventure in flowing fresh water, add Never Never Creek to your activity list.
Dorrigo National Park
Continue along Waterfall Way and immerse yourself in the Dorrigo rainforest. From Coffs Harbour, it will take you 1 hour to get there. Maybe plan a trip to Never Never Creek on the same day.Â
Head to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre as a starting point, where you can pick which walk you’d love to experience with your family. Enjoy the Skywalk, which is at the Centre, or take one of many walking trails through the rainforest to see waterfalls, giant trees, listen to the birds and just breathe in the clean air.
We took the trail to Crystal Shower Falls, which was about the limit for my kids. It wasn’t so much the distance more the incline on the way back up. This walk was about 1 hour in total, and some families took 3-wheel prams. Factor in some time at the waterfall, because it’s breathtaking.
Such an amazing feeling being dwarfed in nature.
You don’t have to decide on your walking trail before you arrive; just come prepared with good shoes and bring water. The staff at the centre will guide you through your options.
The Coffs Coast is a place to create family memories, or you can simply relax on the beach and sip cocktails. There’s a wide range of accommodation options, including a BIG 4 right on the beach. They’ve got an amazing splash park from the look of it. You can luxe it up and choose a resort or villa, or a holiday unit might be more your thing. Â
We rate Coffs Harbour 10/10 for family fun, and highly recommend the Coffs Coast for a beach holiday with loads of activities.Â
Looking for more family holidays. Check out our holiday section.
