Tell most Sydneysiders you’re heading to Coffs Harbour and you’re often met with ‘what for?’. And our answer is: ‘to swim under pristine waterfalls, watch turtles right from the cliff tops, kayak through emerald waters and to relax on wild and unspoilt beaches’.
And this list doesn’t even include a few spots that I thought had the makings of star attractions (sadly there were road closures to some of the more remote spots due to the recent rains).
As well as incredible outdoor activities we also have you covered on a few rainy day things to do too.
Here are the best things to do in Coffs Harbour and that’s right, there’s not a Big Banana in sight!
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1.Swim under a gorgeous waterfall
2.Watch for wildlife at Muttonbird Island
3.Kayak through the emerald creek
4.Meet the locals at Look At Me Now Headland
5.Admire the view from Sealy Lookout
6.Explore where the rainforest meets the beach
7.
8.Stroll around the Botanic Gardens
9.Check out the cartoons in a WWII Bunker
10.Have a picnic with an epic view
11.Enjoy a Melbournian style coffee at the Dark Arts Cafe
12.Take a day trip to Bellingen
13.Walk through ancient Gondwana Rainforest
14.Drive the famous Waterfall Way
The best things to do in Coffs Harbour
1. Swim underneath a gorgeous waterfall
If you’re up for a little bit of an adventure then Scouts Falls is one of the most gorgeous waterfalls I’ve swum under in NSW! The falls cascade into a deep swimming hole and the setting feels secluded and wild.
The walk to get there is very short at just 1.6km return, but on fairly rough terrain, and there’s no set path for the majority of the way. Climbing over rocks and along ledges can get slippery after rain, but with good boots it’s definitely manageable.
There’s another fab swimming hole at the foot of some cascades just a few hundred metres in to the walk if you’re not enjoying the path.
The track is not signposted so we’ve put the directions in this post.
2. Watch for wildlife from Muttonbird Island
Muttonbird Island has fabulous views out to sea and the lookout platform perched just above the water is the perfect wildlife watching spot. We couldn’t believe it when we saw a huge turtle right from the lookout and were able to stand and watch it for over half an hour!
They are frequent visitors, along with stingrays, dolphins and Humpback whales (in season, May to October).
Although Muttonbirds roost on the island between August and late April we only saw a handful on our visit. It was more about the marine life and the incredible ocean views which more than made up for the elusive birds!
The walk to the furthest lookout on the island (where we saw the turtle) from the nearest car park is 2.2km return. It does have a couple of steep sections, but it’s paved and there is a bench if you need to stop for a break.
3. Kayak through the emerald creek
There are quite a few kayaking routes you can take around Coffs, including guided tours, but we opted for self hire with C-Change Adventures.
The owner Matt dropped us off at the start of the route and then we paddled back to the kayak hire area. We’ll always opt for a one way paddle if we can, so we can see more of the area without going back on ourselves. The scenery is really pretty and it’s incredibly peaceful.
You go with the tide so it’s really easy and relaxing with no experience required. You’ll start in a mangrove area where the water is a bit darker before you reach the most beautiful emerald water, which was clear enough to spot stingray and lots of fish.
There’s a little beach part way through where you can stop for a dip. The whole route is around 4km and takes 1.5-2 hours at a very leisurely pace.
We paid $60 for a double kayak for two hours and we were told we could take 30 minutes longer if needed for no extra charge. This made it so much more relaxing than it is when you’re desperately rushing to get back so you don’t cop an extra hours fee!
4. Meet the locals at Look At Me Now Headland
The local kangaroos at Look At Me Now Headland have a penchant for living dangerously and you’ll often find them hanging out right beside the edge of the cliffs.
They are not shy, so rather than run off as most wild roos will do, they continue lazing around as if you aren’t there (obviously don’t touch or feed them though!).
The 1.6km walk around the headland is glorious, with wonderful views of the ocean and two beaches (including one of Coffs best, Moonee Beach). There are a couple of very short uphill sections, but it’s generally very easy. A short detour will take you down on to Moonee or Shelly Beach if you fancy a dip.
The roos were all over the track on our visit and even in the gardens of the houses nearby, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding them.
To access the walking track, park at either Signal Street or Dammerel Crescent (which has a car park specifically for the walk).
5. Admire the view from Sealy Lookout
The Forest Sky Pier at Sealy Lookout offers an incredible view over Coffs, the Solitary Islands Marine Park, various beaches, and the distant mountain ranges. It also sits above an abundance of giant ferns which you can enjoy a birds eye view of.
We visited at sunset for some lovely soft light - although sunset is technically in the opposite direction - if you get a good one the colour creeps round. It would be perfect at sunrise but alas the gates don’t open in time (the sign said it’s open from 8am to dusk).
You can park right beside the lookout so it’s great for an end of the day activity when you don’t want to exert too much energy. The 20 minute drive from Coffs winds up the mountain and is very scenic, passing banana plantations and dense forest.
There is no cost to access the lookout.
6. Explore where the rainforest meets the beach
We originally ventured to Bongil Bongil National Park because it has one of the biggest populations of wild koalas in NSW. Whilst we sadly didn’t get lucky spotting one, we didn’t even mind when we realised it had led us to find one of the most beautiful beaches in NSW!
You can either head straight from the car park to the beach which takes just a minute, or take the 6km flat circuit walk (the Bundagaree Rainforest Walk) which takes you first through rainforest and then back along the sensational Bongil Beach. The walk is very easy and even heading along the sand is a breeze because it’s very compact.
The beach itself is an absolute delight with over 7km of pristine sand to explore. What’s even more staggering is that we only saw one other person on it during the busy school holidays!
Bongil Beach is just a 24km (25 minute) drive from Coffs.
7. Wine and dine at Two Tails Winery
Two Tails Wine is a family owned boutique winery located in the gorgeous Orana Valley, just a 20 minute drive from Coffs. The restaurant has a gorgeous balcony overlooking the vines and it gets rave reviews.
It was fully booked on our visit but we did manage to squeeze in for a wine tasting. As well as your standard reds, whites, rose and sparkling, there is also an array of slightly more unusual wines on offer, including blueberry, chocolate chilli and ginger!
The tastings are $10 per person and you can choose four wines from the menu. I went for a white, red, rose and the ginger one because I don’t think I’ve ever tried ginger wine before. It was actually ok, although I don’t think I’d order a whole glass, which was why it was nice to have it included in a tasting.
The tasting wasn’t guided but that may be because we visited on Easter Sunday which was incredibly busy. If you can, I‘d recommend trying to get into the restaurant because the menu looked fab!
If no one volunteers to be designated driver they have a B&B onsite too.
8.Stroll the gorgeous Botanic Garden
The North Coast Regional Botanic Garden is located in the heart of Coffs and offers several kilometres of well maintained walking paths. There are many native trees and plants as well as lots from different countries around the world.
It is mainly trees as opposed to flowers, although we were visiting in autumn so it may be very different in spring!
Either way, it’s a wonderfully relaxing place to go for a stroll and you might even spot a koala along the Creek Walk. Whatever you do though, don’t miss the short Paperbark Boardwalk which was absolutely beautiful. We loved it so much we walked through a few times and I would have enjoyed visiting the garden for that alone!
Entry to the gardens is free and it’s open daily between 9am and 5pm.
9. Check out the cartoons in an old WWII Bunker
The Cartoon Gallery is a fun museum which wouldn’t look out of place in Sydney or Melbourne. It’s partially located in an old WWII bunker and displays a variety of excellent cartoons based on events in Australia and around the world.
A lot of them are political and they don’t shy away from controversy, but there are also a lot that relate to world news, think COVID-19, climate change and Prince Harry stepping back from the Royal Family.
They really are brilliantly done and often very thought provoking.
I’ll admit that I visited initially because I thought it was important to have a variety of things to do in this blog, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.
At time of writing entry is $10 for adults.
10. Have a picnic with a view
When it comes to picnic spots with views you are spoilt for choice in Coffs, but the Boambee Headland Lookout has to be one of the best. You can drive right up to it, so there’s no need to hold back on how much you bring with you!
There are a number of picnic tables all facing the stunning Boambee Beach, as well as fab views in the other direction too.
Between May and October it also offers a fantastic lofty vantage point for watching the annual Humpback whale migration.
11. Enjoy Melbourne cafe vibes in the heart of Coffs
The Dark Arts Cafe and Bar wouldn’t look out of place in a Melbourne laneway. With eclectic furniture and graffiti style art on the walls, it’s probably the most unique venue in Coffs. It’s open during the day, every day, and the evenings on Friday and Saturday.
We popped in for brekkie and it was the best coffee we had in Coffs, but we thought the food was only average. I think next time I’d go in the evening as I think it would have a great night vibe. Or maybe late afternoon so you can make use of the excellent happy hour deals which are on between 4.58pm - 6.31pm.
The only downside for us was that we didn’t find the staff friendly, but it was Easter and very busy so we’d give it another go for sure!
12. Take a day trip to beautiful Bellingen
It takes less than 30 minutes to drive between Bellingen and Coffs and spending at least half a day over in the little bohemian town is an absolute must. We love Bellingen, with it’s fabulous cafes and laid back vibe. You could easily spend an afternoon cafe hopping and taking a look around the shops.
However, in our eyes the number one thing to do in Bellingen is to head the jaw dropping blue water of the Promised Land. Taking a dip in the crystal clear water surrounded by lush jungle has all the wow factor.
Although, that’s not to say that Coffs doesn’t have its own version of the Promised Land. We actually think it does but it’s along a 4WD track that gets treacherous after rain. We’re speaking from experience because we were so close to getting our 4WD stuck on this road as it’s all clay and has no grip when wet.
The area we were trying to reach was called Magic Pool and from the bit of water we saw before we could go no further it looked very similar to the Promised Land. Getting there is no joke though as we met police who had rescued three cars from there that morning. You’ll need a good sturdy 4WD and dry conditions.
We hope to get there one day!
13. Stroll through ancient Gondwana Rainforest
The wild and mysterious rainforest of Dorrigo National Park lies a little further away from Coffs at almost an hours drive, but the journey is oh so worth it. This is ancient rainforest that feels prehistoric.
It’s a truly captivating experience and if you’re lucky enough to get a misty day, it may just be one of the most memorable walks of your life, it was for us!
No matter which walk you opt for there will also be waterfalls.
It will probably be hard to choose just one trail, but we’ve written this guide on all of Dorrigo’s walks ranked in order of our favourites to help you out.
Stick around until the evening to meet the gorgeous little pademelons, or adventure into the night to find the secret glow worm colony. All the details on everything there is to do in Dorrigo are in this post.
14. Drive the spectacular Waterfall Way
Coffs Harbour is either the start or end of one of the greatest road trips in NSW. Some people make the trip in one long day, but it is a very long day. If that’s all you can spare it’s definitely worth it though. You don’t need to drive the whole route to Armidale to see the best of the waterfalls, you can stop at Wollomombi Falls.
Along the way you’ll pass Newell Falls which is viewed from the roadside, Dangar Falls (20 minute return walk, Ebor Falls (15 minute return walk for the lower and upper falls) and Wollomombi (between a few hundred metres and a few kilometres depending on which lookouts you visit).
You’ll also pass New England and Cathedral Rock National Parks. On a day trip you won’t have much time, but you could squeeze in a quick stop at Point Lookout in New England.
This itinerary assumes you have already seen a bit of Dorrigo National Park and Bellingen as fitting them in too would be a real struggle.
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