A Coffs Harbour camping holiday on the NSW mid-north coast is never boring. Beyond soaking up the sun on one of the many beautiful beaches, there’s thrills and spills riding river rapids and sea kayaking, learn to surf schools, whale watching and underwater coral reefs, as well as 4WD adventures and mountain biking in the rainforest clad hills that arch around the town. Of
Read more...A Coffs Harbour camping holiday on the NSW mid-north coast is never boring. Beyond soaking up the sun on one of the many beautiful beaches, there’s thrills and spills riding river rapids and sea kayaking, learn to surf schools, whale watching and underwater coral reefs, as well as 4WD adventures and mountain biking in the rainforest clad hills that arch around the town. Of course, no trip to Coffs Harbour is complete without a choc-coated frozen banana on a stick from the Big Banana, Australia’s oldest super-sized roadside attraction, which also has an ice-skating rink, toboggan rides, and a giant waterslide. Hipcampers have just as much choice when it comes to deciding where to stay–there are nine family-friendly holiday parks in and around Coffs Harbour and the Coffs Coast, as well as dozens of camping sites in the surrounding national parks.
Bellingen
Surrounded by rainforest and lush green farmlands in the Bellinger River valley, pretty Bellingen offers great shopping and restaurants–most serving free range and organic–in the many boutiques and art galleries that line its historic main street. The town hosts a number of music, arts and literary festivals throughout the year.
Dorrigo
Enjoy lush subtropical rainforest and thundering waterfalls in this mountaintop town 65km west of Coffs Harbour. There are several good walking tracks in Dorrigo National Park, which is also home to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre–the Skywalk canopy boardwalk has spectacular views of the coast and is a highlight of any visit.
The Waterfall Way
This 200km-long scenic driving route winds up over the Great Dividing Range from Bellingen through the rainforest to Dorrigo and across the New England high country to Armidale. It lives up to its name, with many stunning waterfalls along the route, and dozens of wilderness campsites and walking tracks in the national parks along the way.
Nymboida
Coffs Harbour is the main centre for white water rafting on the NSW north coast and some of the best white water in Australia. The main action is on the Nymboida River, which tumbles through the state forests and national parks west of Coffs.
When to Go
You’ll need to book your site in one of the caravan parks well ahead during summer and Easter school holidays, but the Coffs Coast is good to visit all year round, although the water might be a bit chilly for swimming in winter. Summer is the wettest time of year. Whale season is May through to November. The week-long Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival is held in late September-early October and is the biggest event of its type in Australia.
Know Before You Go
- The Jetty area is Coffs Harbour’s best eating precinct, with lots of restaurants and cafes. For good value fish and chips straight from the sea, head to the fish co-op beside the breakwall.
- For more information on the things to see and do in and around Coffs Harbour head to www.coffscoast.com.au
- Jetty Dive can organise Swimming with Humpback Whale tours during August and September, as well as dive and snorkelling trips out the Solitary Islands year round: https://jettydive.com.au/
- Explore the creeks and rivers of the Coffs Coast by kayak or stand-up paddleboard; join a guided tour or hire from http://www.cchangeadventures.com.au/
The best camping near Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.
Halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, Coffs Harbour offers family-friendly holiday parks flanked by rainforest-clad hills.
Bellingen
Surrounded by rainforest and lush green farmlands in the Bellinger River valley, pretty Bellingen offers great shopping and restaurants–most serving free range and organic–in the many boutiques and art galleries that line its historic main street. The town hosts a number of music, arts and literary festivals throughout the year.
Dorrigo
Enjoy lush subtropical rainforest and thundering waterfalls in this mountaintop town 65km west of Coffs Harbour. There are several good walking tracks in Dorrigo National Park, which is also home to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre–the Skywalk canopy boardwalk has spectacular views of the coast and is a highlight of any visit.
The Waterfall Way
This 200km-long scenic driving route winds up over the Great Dividing Range from Bellingen through the rainforest to Dorrigo and across the New England high country to Armidale. It lives up to its name, with many stunning waterfalls along the route, and dozens of wilderness campsites and walking tracks in the national parks along the way.
Nymboida
Coffs Harbour is the main centre for white water rafting on the NSW north coast and some of the best white water in Australia. The main action is on the Nymboida River, which tumbles through the state forests and national parks west of Coffs.
When to Go
You’ll need to book your site in one of the caravan parks well ahead during summer and Easter school holidays, but the Coffs Coast is good to visit all year round, although the water might be a bit chilly for swimming in winter. Summer is the wettest time of year. Whale season is May through to November. The week-long Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival is held in late September-early October and is the biggest event of its type in Australia.
Know Before You Go