Pro surfer Harley Ingleby has lived in Emerald Beach, just north of Coffs Harbour, all his life. Harley surfs professionally on the Australian and world longboard circuits and has placed first on the Australian Longboard Circuit (ALC) the last 3 years in a row. He was the third best longboarder in the world in 2006, and is currently ranked fifth in the world ratings.
Harley also travels around doing film and photo shoots for sponsors on long and shortboards throughout the year. When he’s not competing and travelling, he works at the Logshack in Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga, selling surfboards.
We asked him to tell us about his favourite spots on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite café on the Coffs Coast?
Split Café, First Avenue, Sawtell.
What I love about Split Café is that it has a great menu and the food is always really good. The staff are also always really nice and the whole café just has a great feel to it.
What is your favourite restaurant on the Coffs Coast?
Aloy Dee, Beach Street, Woolgoolga.
I worked in a Thai restaurant for years when I was at school and I’ve always loved Thai food. I think Aloy Dee’s got the nicest Thai food on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite nightspot on the Coffs Coast?
The Coast Hotel, Grafton Street, Coffs Harbour.
I really like the Coast Hotel because on any given weekend I can find a bunch of my friends there and it has a great feel to it. Plus it has table tennis tables instead of pool tables. I’d much rather play a good game of pong!
What are your three favourite things to do & see on the Coffs Coast?
Surfing all over the Coffs Coast
My absolute favourite thing to do on the Coffs Coast is surf. I’m constantly heading up and down the whole Coffs Coast looking for the best waves around. There are just so many good spots and different types of waves here so it’s great to mix it up on the points and beaches depending on the conditions.
Playing golf at Safety Beach
On those rare days that it’s unsurfable, I’ve always loved playing a round of golf. It’s good to get out there every now and then with a couple of friends and hit a few balls. I like the Safety Beach Golf Course, just north of Woolgoolga, because it’s not too expensive and there are always lots of kangaroos around the course.
Snorkelling around any of our headlands
Snorkelling is mostly a summer activity for me and definitely when the swell is small. But it’s great to be able to just kick off the beach out around the headlands and see what you can find, making the most of our clean water and beautiful beaches.
You obviously love your surfing. What is your favourite spot to go for a surf?
That would have to be Emerald Beach, just because it’s home to me. I love Emerald; I’ve grown up hanging on its beaches. There’s almost always a little something I can paddle out on, on either side of the headlands and it’s such a short walk down there from the village.
Where would you definitely take out-of-town visitors?
To Bruxner Park lookout. It’s the best location to show off our whole coast. It gives a great perspective of where everything is – whether it be the city or the harbour or the beautiful beaches and headlands to the north and south of it.
What do you like most about living on the Coffs Coast?
What I’ve always loved about Coffs is its beaches and its size. We have so many beautiful uncrowded beaches but Coffs is still a big enough place to offer you almost anything you might want to do.
Athlete Jenna Tristram is a member of the Matildas, the Australian Women’s Football (Soccer) team, and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Primary Education at Southern Cross University in Coffs Harbour.
She has lived in Repton her entire life, but spent one year (2006) in Newcastle for football training. Repton is located on the Coffs Coast, roughly between Sawtell and Urunga.
Having played for the Young Matildas, Jenna made her debut for the Matildas in front of a very appreciative home crowd in April 2007, when Australia beat Hong Kong in an Olympic qualifying match in Coffs Harbour. She unfortunately injured her knee and will be out of action for many months. Besides playing football, Jenna also enjoys surfing.
We asked Jenna to tell us about her favourite spots on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite café on the Coffs Coast?
Split Café, First Avenue, Sawtell.
I like Split Café because their food is always fresh and their service always friendly, and Sawtell’s First Avenue has a great atmosphere.
What is your favourite restaurant on the Coffs Coast?
Rivers in Mylestom.
Rivers Restaurant, on River Street in the tiny town of Mylestom, has an amazing view of the Bellinger River and surrounds and it has delicious, interesting food. The view and food are definitely my favourite on the Coffs Coast!
What is your favourite nightspot on the Coffs Coast?
Sawtell Hotel, First Avenue, Sawtell.
I really enjoy the casual setting of the Sawtell Hotel, and it’s great catching up with all the locals there.
What are your three favourite things to do & see on the Coffs Coast?
Surfing and swimming at Bonville Head & Creek, Sawtell
I love going for a surf at Bonville Head – the headland on the southside of Sawtell Beach – and for a swim in Bonville Creek, which flows into the ocean just south of the headland. It’s lovely there because of the picturesque view and the tranquillity, especially when the water is crystal clear and snorkels are not needed!
Relaxing at the rock pools in Never Never Creek, Promised Land
Promised Land creates the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and appreciating the beautiful natural environments Australia has to offer. It’s just a short drive north of Bellingen.
Waterskiing in the Bellinger River, Mylestom
Waterskiing is a great activity to involve all your family and friends in and spend the whole day on a lovely and quiet river, in a rural coastal town.
You like surfing. What is your favourite spot to go for a surf?
I like surfing in Scotts Head, just south of Macksville, because it has the best breaks and Scotts Head boasts the perfect settings for camping.
Where would you definitely take out-of-town visitors?
I would take them for a visit to Sawtell. Sawtell is simply a lovely small coastal town that has a lot of character. The beaches are great, with views in all directions.
What do you like most about living on the Coffs Coast?
I love the beaches on the Coffs Coast, especially Sawtell’s beaches, and the casual lifestyle.
Cellist Trish O’Brien has travelled the world many times, played concertos with major Australian orchestras and for 10 years was principal cellist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Born and raised in Hobart, Trish has also lived in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. In 2002 she moved to the Coffs Coast to give her young family a less rushed lifestyle and one closer to the natural environment in which she grew up.
Living in Coffs Harbour’s Jetty area, she regularly tours Australia as a soloist and chamber musician, and is Artistic Director for the Camden Haven Music Festival.
We asked her to tell us about her favourite spots on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite café on the Coffs Coast?
The Plateau Cafe in Dorrigo.
This place is a gem – I often go there on my way to Armidale and beyond. Juan, the owner, is a genuine Argentinean and loves vintage motorbikes and tango. When you enter the shop you are greeted by the smell of good coffee, great history, fantastic music, and a very friendly face. It’s not metro, but it has great character.
What is your favourite restaurant on the Coffs Coast?
Vibes at The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour.
Vibes has a great cosmopolitan feel, very relaxed and stylish, and the food is excellent, especially the nightly specials. It’s a great place to go and unwind after a long hard tour, and the kids love sitting in the big red booths at the back. They’ve also brought the occasional live musician in and have always chosen quality acts, which creates a great ambience.
What is your favourite nightspot on the Coffs Coast?
The Federal Hotel in Bellingen.
Not only for nightlife, this recently renovated place has a gorgeous décor, a good selection of fine wines and sensational food. I love going there any time of the day, but it is a good spot for a night out. If anything like the Federal Hotel should open up in Coffs Harbour, I’ll definitely be there.
What are your three favourite things to do & see on the Coffs Coast?
Visiting Muttonbird Island at night
Muttonbird Island is a beautiful place to go in the daytime, but at night it is very exciting. The harbour lights create an incredible backdrop to the sound of thousands of crying muttonbirds in spring and summer. Not something for the fainthearted as the birds can sound quite creepy when they really get going, but definitely a memorable experience.
Hanging out at Sawtell Beach
The southernmost end of Sawtell Beach is lovely. There is an island just off shore, and if you walk there at low tide you can explore all the marine and bird life. The bay to the right of the island is safe for children with no surf, and has incredible rock pools that they love to play in. Halfway up the beach at the Surf Club there’s a great café, which serves breakfast that you can enjoy on your weekend while the kids play together on the grassy area in front of the surf. Magic.
Bike riding along Coffs Creek
My family and I ride our bikes along the beautiful bush track along Coffs Creek in the centre of Coffs Harbour regularly, and we’re lucky enough to live on the edge of it. It’s an easy ride for anyone. The vista changes from leafy mangroves full of sand crabs, to fish-filled deep water stretches, to natural bush paths, and is a constant source of delight. If you cross the road at Orlando Street you can also ride to the beach and up to the base of Muttonbird Island, encompassing the very best that Coffs Coast has to offer.
You like picnicking. What is your favourite spot to go for a picnic?
There are some really gorgeous places to picnic here, and I can’t pick just one favourite so will mention a few. Bongil Bongil National Park in Bonville is great and very safe for the kids. If you drive from Coffs Harbour to Coramba and turn right straight after the bridge, there is the most fantastic spot for a picnic where the kids can paddle in shallow running water all day. The Never Never Creek at the Promised Land is magic, and makes me think of early Australian history with its huge boulders, cool clear water, incredibly green vegetation and pure peace.
Where would you definitely take out-of-town visitors?
To Muttonbird Island or to Sealy Point Lookout. If they’re fit and happy to walk up the hill, I take them to Muttonbird Island. I also like to drive them to Sealy Point Lookout at Bruxner Park. You not only get a great view and perspective of the area from the top, but the drive there is brilliant, and you can pick up bananas, avocados, paw paws and sweet potatoes from the roadside stalls.
What do you like most about living on the Coffs Coast?
The beaches are beautiful and unspoilt, the air is clean, the people are friendly, and it’s so easy to get from place to place. It’s a great place to be based, especially when living life as a touring musician – it’s always a relief to come home. Actually, taking the time to answer all these questions has made me realise just how wonderful this place is!
Alison Page is an interior designer, artist and planner, and is part of the judges’ panel of the ABC program The New Inventors. Born in Sydney, Alison moved to Moonee on the Coffs Coast when she was 9. After studying Interior Design and graduating from the University of Technology in Sydney, she joined Merrima Design, an architectural practice delivering culturally appropriate design services to Aboriginal communities in urban and rural areas throughout Australia.
In 2001, Alison moved her consultancy practice with Merrima Design to the Coffs Coast and she now lives in Korora. She travels weekly to either tape a show for The New Inventors or work on art and design projects in remote parts of New South Wales
We asked her to tell us about her favourite spots on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite café on the Coffs Coast?
Possums Café at Beach Road, Woolgoolga.
I love Possums Café in Woolgoolga for its unpretentious service, tasty food and the best homemade chutneys and jams on the NSW North Coast.
What is your favourite restaurant on the Coffs Coast?
Golden Chinese Restaurant at Woolgoolga.
I really like this restaurant because it has consistently good food, and fast and friendly service. I usually order take-away and get the Fried Shredded Beef and the Kung Po Prawns.
What is your favourite nightspot on the Coffs Coast?
This restaurant, close to Coffs Harbour’s city centre, is not only cosy, but it has awesome service and the most extensive tequila menu south of the equator.
What are your three favourite things to do & see on the Coffs Coast?
Going Op-Shopping in Coffs Harbour.
I love going Op-Shopping with my girlfriends at various second-hand shops. Coffs Harbour has one of the largest collection of second-hand shops with retro furniture, clothes, shoes, bags… I get a rush when I spot a beautiful piece of design.
Drinking cocktails by Woolgoolga Creek.
We take a thermos of margarita and head for a bush walk through the rainforest at Sherwood Nature Reserve to the waterfall at Woolgoolga Creek and have a little picnic.
Swimming, various Coffs Coast beaches.
I love going swimming in the ocean at either Emerald Beach, Sawtell, Moonee or Korora. It makes me ecstatic and I jump around in the waves like a 10 year old.
You like roller-skating. What is your favourite spot to roller skate?
I like roller skating on the pathways along Coffs Creek in Coffs Harbour. I have loved roller-skating since I was little and even though it’s fantastic under a mirror-ball, it’s also great to do outside in the open air.
Where would you definitely take out-of-town visitors?
I would take them to Look at me Now Headland at Emerald Beach. It’s a beautiful spot to go at sunset and watch the wallabies (not the rugby team!) that have made the headland their home.
What do you like most about living on the Coffs Coast?
I love living here because the landscape inspires me, I love cooking beautiful food, the ocean is stunning and flights are cheap. It’s great to be living at the base of the Great Divide right beside the ocean.
Lee Winkler is a professional surfer and, since late 2005, the owner of a new Coffs Coast-based surf school (Lee Winkler’s Surf School).
Born and raised in Coffs Harbour, Lee spent a huge part of his life as a professional surfer travelling around the world on the World Championship Tour.
He still lives in Coffs Harbour, just off Coffs Creek (not far from the beach), and continues to surf professionally while being heavily involved in the running of his new surf school and teaching people how to become a great surfer.
We asked him to tell us about his favourite spots on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite café on the Coffs Coast?
Mangrove Jack’s at The Promenade, Coffs Harbour.
Mangrove Jack’s has beautiful food, great service, and great breakfasts! I also like the place for its amazing outlook over Coffs Creek, you can watch the kids play and feed the fish while looking out over the creek.
What is your favourite restaurant on the Coffs Coast?
Bentley’s on Elizabeth, Elizabeth Street, Coffs Harbour.
This restaurant just off the highway behind the Visitor Information Centre is a wonderful place to go for those special occasions. Expect upmarket service – there’s nothing else like it in Coffs, and the food is the best I have ever eaten. The setting is amazing, and it’s like a little secret location!
What is your favourite nightspot on the Coffs Coast?
Plantation Hotel, Grafton Street, Coffs Harbour.
The Planto has great, affordable food, plus the best live music there is in Coffs Harbour – from local to national to international acts. You’re always guaranteed a great night of live music, no matter what your taste is, as they cater to all music lovers.
What are your three favourite things to do & see on the Coffs Coast?
Going to the beach for surfing and swimming
We have some of the best beaches in the world here on the Coffs Coast, and beautiful temperatures all year around – a great experience.
Walking up Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour
It’s always a great feeling being up on Muttonbird Island and looking back on Coffs. It nearly brings a tear to my eye doing that again after a long trip away from home!
Playing golf at Bonville International Golf Resort
The Bonville International Golf Resort is just off the Highway, south of Coffs Harbour. They have a magnificent golf course that’s challenging, and it’s great to have a beer there after a round of golf with friends.
You like fishing. What is your favourite spot to go fishing?
I like to go deep-sea fishing off the Coffs Coast (exactly location is a secret!). It puts a smile on my face when I finally catch one and look back on the beautiful Coffs Coast.
Where would you definitely take out-of-town visitors?
I like to take visitors for a great meal along the Jetty strip of restaurants along Harbour Drive in Coffs Harbour. There is such a variety of restaurants to choose from, and you can find a great bottle of wine from nearby Porters Liquor to complement the meal at one of the BYO restaurants.
What do you like most about living on the Coffs Coast?
Professional swimmer Brooke Hanson, who retired from the competitive sport in 2007, was part of the very successful Australian Swim Team for many years.
She is an Olympic Gold and Silver medallist and six times World Short Course Champion.
The Melbourne-based champion also works as a public speaker, television presenter and consultant.
Originally from Sydney, Brooke has been visiting Coffs Harbour twice a year her whole life to spend quiet time with her grandparents and family, while enjoying what the Coffs Coast has to offer.
We asked her to tell us about her favourite spots on the Coffs Coast.
What is your favourite café on the Coffs Coast?
Mangrove Jack's, The Promenade, Coffs Harbour.
They make a great latte and if you are a bit peckish, the food is awesome. Add to this the view of the old butter factory and you could not get a better spot. It’s nice to sit on the deck and look out over Coffs Creek, where my grandfather used to train when he was in his prime.
What is your favourite restaurant on the Coffs Coast?
Anchors Wharf Café, Urunga.
Anchors Wharf is under the bridge on the river, just off the Pacific Highway. The food there is great and the hospitality is wonderful. It has a great country feel and the servings are huge, which is fantastic.
What is your favourite nightspot on the Coffs Coast?
The Greenhouse Tavern, Cnr Bray Street and Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour.
This place has a great atmosphere for the whole family. You can grab a meal, have a few drinks and watch some of Australia’s great bands play too.
What are your three favourite things to do & see on the Coffs Coast?
Spending time at the northern end of Park Beach.
The northern part of Park Beach near McAuleys Headland is my favourite beach in the whole world! The surf is great, you can bodysurf, sunbake or walk over McAuleys Headland to Diggers Beach. Keep an eye out for dolphins, as I have shared a few waves with them in the past.
Walking along and jumping from the Coffs Harbour Jetty.
One of my favourite places is the jetty, where you can enjoy a historic walk along one of the Coffs Coast’s great landmarks. For the thrill seekers, jumping off the jetty at high tide is a must.
Floating on Coffs Creek
I like floating in Coffs Creek towards where it meets the ocean at Park Beach Reserve – it’s fun and it’s free. You just lie on your back and float out towards the sea as the tide goes out (only for strong swimmers).
You like relaxing outdoors - what's your favourite spot for that?
I like going for a picnic at Moonee Beach, just north of Coffs Harbour. It’s a peaceful environment with the beach and the inlet for kids to play, as well as tracks to go bushwalking. You can also go fishing, and if you have a good eye you might still find a few fresh oysters. There is so much to do and you can make a day of it.
Where would you definitely take out-of-town visitors?
To the Promised Land near Bellingen. That is just such a beautiful part of Australia. I would suggest to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
What do you like most about visiting the Coffs Coast?
Everything! There is such a wide variety of activities to choose from. Wake up and do the tourist attractions or have a lazy day surfing and sunning yourself on the beach.
