Coffs Harbour, New South wales, Australia

Coffs Harbour Overview

Coffs Harbour is on the north east coast of New South Wales, approx 540Km and around 6-7 hours drive north of Sydney.

The region has a sub tropical climate perfect for bannana and pineapple cultivation. Bananas are still very much part of life in the region and this is celebrated by the Big Bannana Complex; Coffs Harbour is known in Australia as 'The Big Bannana".

As it is just over half way on the Sydney to Brisbane route via The Pacific Highway, it makes the ideal stop over point. See Route and Distance Calculator. However, it is also a popular holiday destination in its own right thanks to the sub tropical climate, great beaches, the lush hinterland and the good selection of resorts and holiday accommodation.

The highly regarded Southern Cross University also has a campus at Coffs Harbour.

The Big Banana

Coffs Harbour is known as 'The Big Banana' as the yellow fruit is heavily cultivated here - the hillsides surrounding the region are covered in banana plantations which thrive in the sub tropical climate.

A visitor centre and fun park, dedicated to the fruit ( easily identified by the big banana!) is a must if you are visiting the area.

The Big Banana includes a Sky Walk over the plantation, a toboggan ride over half a kilometre long, The World of Bananas an entertaining and vivid multi media presentation on the hsitory of the fruit, the worlds largest inflatable waterslide and an ice skating rink.

Although Queensland accounts for around 80% of Australia's banana cultivation, the Coffs Harbour region still accounts for a significant proportion of the total country's production.

Celebrity Retreat

Coffs Harbour in recent years has become something of a celebratory retreat with several famous Hollywood stars making the area their home here.

The most well known is the towns own Russell Crowe but there are also several other international and Australian stars living in the area including Jack Thompson, Rachel Ward, Bryan Brown, Peta Wilson and Wendy Mathews.

Mutton Bird Island

Coffs Harbour has the unique Mutton Bird Island. This is a protected reserve and home to the peculiar Mutton Bird, the Wedge Tailed Shearwater, which breed and nest in small burrows after migrating from warmer climes each August.

The birds are known as Mutton Birds after the first settlers to the area sought the birds because their meat was likened to lamb or mutton.

A board walk has been constructed on the island to protect the fragile mutton bird burrows whilst allowing it to be viewed in its natural habitat. .

Mutton Bird Island is reached from a harbour walk from Coffs Harbour Jetty. The walk way around the island is about 1 km in length and has informational stations positioned along its course.

The island was known to the Aboriginal people as Gittain Mirera and legend had it that a Moon Guardian tenderd the mutton birds as food for the local people.