If you're visiting Coffs soon, we can tip you off on a fabulous new beachside restaurant where you can enjoy a beautiful breakfast, casual coffee or leisurely lunch, accompanied by amazing ocean views.
And if you're a local and think you know all the good places to go for a meal, we may have a surprise in store for you too.
The café at the Park Beach Surf Club, having recently changed hands, has been given a modern new look thanks to a thorough interior renovation and a completely new kitchen and service counter fit-out. It's been renamed Surf Club Restaurant & Bar.
New owners Matt Donovan (chef) and Nicole Manley (function coordinator) jumped at the opportunity to take over the Surf Club café, after having successfully managed Coffs Harbour’s Oceanfront Brasserie for many years.
Although you might not know what to expect from the outside, we strongly suggest you walk through that door, make it up the stairs and have a look around.
If the great views don’t tempt you to sit down, we’re sure the aromas coming from the new kitchen, wafts of freshly ground Lavazza coffee coming from the espresso machines or a look at the homemade desserts in the display counter will make you decide to stick around.
With large windows all along the building and a big open balcony, you won’t miss a thing of what’s happening on the beach or in the surf.
Family groups enjoy coming in for a Big Brekkie ($9.50) on weekends and treating their kids to a fun and affordable Nippers’ Cereal Buffet ($5).
Business people love to escape the office for a quick beachside coffee or lunch, while surfers and swimmers stroll in straight off the beach for a homemade Surfer’s Beef Burger ($8.50) and a cool drink or freshly made smoothie.
The new & improved Surf Club Restaurant & Bar opened its doors mid November 2008. Because it’s a club (with full bar facilities), you’ll need to sign in as a guest or be a member if you live within a 5km radius. Membership is quick & easy and only costs $10.
It's also a fabulous location for private functions in the evening – you can hire the entire venue for just a $150 donation to the Surf Club.
The restaurant is open 7 days from 7am to 3pm. It is located right on Park Beach, off Ocean Parade, near the mouth of Coffs Creek and overlooking the section of the beach that’s patrolled on weekends and school holidays.
Pampered Pooches - A Dog’s Life Is The High Life At Pacific Bay Resort
Novotel Coffs Harbour Pacific Bay Resort and Pettina Park Pet Care Centre have created a Pampered Pooch Package that allows holidaying families to take their beloved wet-nosed and furry-faced family members along with them.
The price of the package is $287 per room per night, based on a minimum 2 night stay.
As part of the package humans are treated to a night’s accommodation in a fully self contained, luxury one bedroom spa suite for 2 adults and up to 2 children including full buffet breakfast.
Pooches are treated to their own luxurious spa and accommodation equivalent at Pettina Park Pet Care Centre located just 5 minutes driving distance from the Resort.
Your pet will be spoilt with daily grooming, a hydro-bath for fleas and ticks on arrival, daily health check, nutritious meals, as well as regular exercise sessions throughout the day.
Meanwhile, Novotel’s family-friendly policy offers a range of benefits for families including complimentary accommodation and breakfast for up to two children under 16 years of age when sharing their parent’s room. Families are further rewarded with special benefits such as extended 2pm check out on Sunday, complimentary Nickelodeon cartoon network and welcome gift for children.
Facilities include 3 heated swimming pools, 4 tennis courts, extensive walking and jogging trails, golf course, day spa and gymnasium. There’s also an award-winning restaurant and bar overlooking the boardwalk and lagoon.
Owners can collect their dogs from Pettina Pet Park during their stay to take them on walks and adventures at the many dog-friendly leash-free Coffs Coast areas including Park Beach South, Thompson road and Boambee Beach.
The package is available until 22 December 2008 excluding school and public holidays subject to availability. Dog owners must provide proof/documentation of their pet’s annual C5 vaccination prior to checking their pet in.
For further information or to book call Coffs Coast Visitor Information Centre on 1300 369 070.
Beach to Bush Buggy Tours is the new, fun way to explore Coffs Coast on four wheels.
Guides operate a range of exciting tours which take you off-road along the shores of Boambee Beach, deep into lush rainforest and bushland, cruising along country roads, making stops along the way at lookouts and popular cafes, restaurants, gift shops and attractions.
Beach to Bush Buggy Tours is a popular activity for those wanting a guided tour with a difference. You can choose from;
• 15 minute ‘Quickie’ ride from the beach to the city centre
• thrilling ride along Boambee Beach
• an early morning beach ride before being delivered to a café or restaurant of your choice for breakfast
• scenic tour of the quaint township of Sawtell
• scenic tour through rainforests of the Bruxner Park Flora Reserve and up to Sealy Point Lookout with 360 degree views over Coffs Harbour
• drive along country roads to Nana Glen in the Orara Valley, returning through forestlands of Bruxner Park Flora Reserve
• tour the Waterfall Way, though rural farmland to the beautiful Bellinger Valley. Stop for refreshments and gift shopping at the historic Old Butter Factory
Custom tours can be designed to suit your requirements by prior arrangement.
All buggies have seatbelts fitted and are registered for safe on-road and off-road travel.
Rides can take up to three people, with a minimum of 2 persons for all rides and tours. Young children are welcome and a booster seat is available.
You will find the colourful buggies parked at the popular Jetty area most days, which is where most of the tours start from, or you can arrange to be collected from your accommodation.
For more information or to book your ride or tour with Beach to Bush Buggy Tours contact the staff at Coffs Coast Visitor Information Centre on 1300 369 070 or email tourism@coffscoast.com.au
Explore Australia by motorbike with Motorcycle Holidays
Local motorbike enthusiasts already know what many other bikers may soon discover too: that the roads through Coffs Coast’s beautiful hinterland and the wider North Coast and Mid North Coast region of NSW are ideal to be explored by motorcycle!
Motorcycle Holidays Australia, an exciting new venture that opened for business on the Coffs Coast in October 2008, don’t want to keep this a secret any longer. Their aim is to show visiting bikers what a bike-riding mecca our region really is.
The business offers tailored motorbike tours and experiences using their sports bikes or touring bikes, ranging from daily hire to monthly trips, and from local rides to Australia-wide tours. There are guided as well as self-guided tours, while full travel support is provided for both.
All tours have been specially designed with the motorcyclist in mind. You can choose from spectacular rides in the local Coffs Coast and Mid North Coast region to interstate destinations including The Great Ocean Road, Ayers Rock, Darwin and Cairns.
Bill and Gina Dunlop are the couple behind Motorcycle Holidays Australia. After moving to Dorrigo, in Coffs Coast’s hinterland, they noticed the steady number of motorbikes passing their new home on The Waterfall Way. It didn’t take long before they identified a gap in the local market for bike hire and, with their passion for motorbikes and great bike rides, they decided to set up Motorcycle Holidays Australia.
Overseas bikers in particular are looking for opportunities to explore the stunning beauty of our country on two wheels on a hired motorcycle, as they can’t simply ride over and keep going. Motorcycle Holidays Australia provides this opportunity not just for overseas visitors but local, regional and interstate biking enthusiasts as well.
So go on, select your favourite bike, choose one of the tours on offer, set a date and start daydreaming about your upcoming ride of a lifetime.
There’s an extra good reason to visit the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre at Dorrigo National Park, with the renewed Canopy Café opening its doors in August 2008.
The Canopy Café, attached to the educational Rainforest Centre and shop, offers superb meals enjoyed indoors or outside on the terrace, overlooking the World Heritage-listed rainforest.
Enjoy all-day breakfast, a leisurely lunch, morning or afternoon tea or just a coffee, cake or a snack while breathing in the pure mountain air and listening to the sounds of the birds and the rustling of the leaves.
Catherine McDonald and Wolfgang Zichy, who have taken over the management of the café, are offering tasty, fresh, local cuisine in this beautiful setting. The future looks bright for the café, with the pair having won NSW Awards for Excellence at their previous two restaurants.
You can now enjoy a lunch of high quality at the Canopy Café, prepared in a traditional way using the freshest ingredients and beautifully presented.
After you’ve explored the rainforest and perhaps completed one of Dorrigo National Park’s excellent walking trails, what better way to rest up than with a meal at the new Canopy Café? There are light and healthy options as well as good old-fashioned hearty meals for the hungry and a special kids’ menu.
Canopy Café and the adjoining Dorrigo Rainforest Centre in Dorrigo National Park are open every day from 9.00am to 4.30pm. The Rainforest Centre is located 4km east of Dorrigo.
For more information or to make a group booking, call (02) 6657 2309.
Head Chef Josh Beddows and his team make use of the freshest local produce available to create tasty meals which by far exceed the quality expected when ordering regular ‘pub grub’ at Relish Bistro in Bellingen.
Specialising in seafood sourced from local suppliers and country home-style cooking with a touch of modern flair, Relish presents a fresh and diverse menu catering to all tastes and dietary requirements. Some of the popular dishes on offer at Relish include;
* Federal Salad - Roasted sweet potato, pine nuts, Spanish onion, cherry tomato, bocconcini cheese, ginger poached pears, mixed leaves and herb infused prawns, finished with a balsamic glaze
* Tuscan Style Pork Cutlets – Lightly spiced pork cutlets presented on a bed of warm five bean and wilted baby spinach salad and topped with a smooth coriander, cumin and tomato concasse
* Duxelle Chicken – Oven baked hormone free chicken breast with a cashew and mushroom duxelle filling, set on sage baked kipfler potatoes and drizzled with a port wine jus
The specials board includes a good selection of dishes to choose from including steak, pasta, salad, seafood and everything else that you would expect from any cosmopolitan-style café.
Relish Bistro has received the award for ‘Best Pub Bistro in Country NSW’ by Australian Hotels Association AHA in 2006, as well as ‘Best Bistro in Australia’ at the AHA National awards in 2007.
The Federal Hotel was revamped in 2005. Although it has kept the charm of the original 1900 building, the re-opening of the Pub saw presented stylish modern décor and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Bellingen is about a 20 minute drive off the Pacific Highway at Urunga, along the Waterfall Way. With plenty of quaint gift stores, cafes, organic produce markets, and home to some major festivals including the annual Bellingen Jazz & Blues Festival (August) and Bellingen Global Carnival (October), Bellingen offers an interesting combination of cultural experiences.
You can find The Federal Hotel and Relish Bistro in Bellingen’s main street (77 Hyde Street). They are open 7 days a week for lunch, 12-2.30pm and dinner, 6-8.30pm.
Bringing an authentic Italian dining experience to the Coffs Coast, Caffe Fiasco combines an extensive menu and international wine and beer list with a relaxed atmosphere.
Owned and operated by the Hawkins family together with son in law Stefano Mazzina, from the Lake Como area of northern Italy, the ever-changing menu offers a simple, yet traditional cuisine using the freshest and highest quality local and imported ingredients.
To begin your meal, try a platter of mixed cured meats, cheese, cannelini bean salad, and mixed olives, served with foccacia romana from the wood fired oven as a starter to share amongst friends, whilst making your main meal selection for dinner.
Options include fresh pear, prosciutto, gorgonzola and rocket salad finished with a walnut dressing or the traditional Tuscan pasta with slow cooked duck in tomato sauce finished with a drizzle of white truffle honey.
And of course, like all good Italian restaurants you can get traditional style pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven, hand-stretched to order.
All pastas served in the restaurant are artisan or home-made, so you can be sure that it is all fresh and will melt in your mouth.
The newly opened Fiasco Wine Bar has an extensive list of international wines and beers. There is a great choice of wines by the glass or bottle and also a good selection of both imported and Australian beers. You can enjoy having a drink on its own, or choose some light snacks from the Fiasco Bar menu. Fiasco Bar is the perfect place to meet your friends before an evening out.
Caffe Fiasco is open for dinner on Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm. Fiasco Bar is open Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm. You will find the restaurant at 22 Orlando St in Coffs Harbour, opposite Jetty Village Shopping Centre.
One of the Coffs Coast’s newest day spas, Tree Of Life Wellness Centre and Day Spa, offers a variety of treatments to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.
Tree Of Life offers a comprehensive list of treatments, more than you would expect from a modern day spa with its sauna, spa and beauty therapy as well as complimentary services such as holistic healing, acupuncture, homeopathy, kinesiology, massage and traditional Chinese medicines.
The spa applies Elemis products – a range of quality skincare products made from pure and natural ingredients such as organically grown herbs and plants.
The Detox Box Sauna is the perfect start to any treatment, as the warmth of the steam will help ease tired muscles, relax the mind and open the skin’s pores to begin the cleansing process.
Body therapy in the spa’s wet room, will give a healthy glow back to your body and have your skin feeling invigorated and replenished. With the use of exotic blends of herbs and oils combined to create fragrant scrubs which exfoliate and hydrate your skin, you’ll come out looking and feeling fresher and softer than ever!
The ‘massage menu’ shows four varieties, the most popular one being the Remedial Massage to ease tired or sore muscles. Or you may prefer the therapeutic full-body ‘Hahana’ Hot Stone treatment with warm oil and heated volcanic stones, a revitalising Well-being Massage or a Deep Tissue Muscle Massage for a vigorous deep pressure massage.
If you’re after some TLC for your face, an Elimis Facial is what you need. With a selection of packages available for both men and women, you can choose a powerful skin recharge, soothing moisture boost, anti-ageing or detox facial, using purifying facial products.
Or treat yourself with a tailor-made spa package for a complete escape including bridal packages which are designed to get the most of your pampering time. You can even design your own Escape package from the menu of services for an experience that is uniquely yours.
Other beauty treatments available include signature manicures, pedicures, waxing, brow and lash tinting.
Tree Of Life Wellness Centre & Day Spa, is at 32 First Avenue, Sawtell, just 10km south of Coffs Harbour. Opening hours are 9am-5.30pm from Monday to Thursday, 9am-9pm on Friday and 9am-3pm on Saturdays.
Ever dreamt of being a warrior, musketeer or medieval knight? The Ultimate Sword Experience in Coffs Harbour, offers a fun and educational activity for the whole family.
In a two hour session you will learn all about the history of swords and hear some fascinating stories of historic battles and bouts. You will get to see, feel and handle a variety of replica swords used all over the world. Examples include the Roman Gladius, the Norman single-handed sword, the Scottish Claymore, Spanish Rapier and modern day fencing swords.
You can have a laugh and take some happy snaps dressed in the armour of an 11th century English Crusader Knight or viking. Don’t forget to bring your camera along.
After learning all about the history of swords receive some basic sword instruction from a qualified and experienced instructor. The training will teach you how to fight and defend with a Boardsword using safe foam training swords. Then enjoy some action with Sabre training, mini competition bouts, tea games such as Star Wars, Longsword bouts and skirmishes.
All training and activities are tailored to suit the age, fitness and interest of those attending and only soft foam or latex weapons are used, making this a fun activity for all ages.
Approved safety gear is provided and correct historical styles of sword technique are demonstrated throughout the session. Strict safety requirements are maintained and no sharp weapons are used at any time for combat or training.
The Ultimate Sword Experience operates at the Coffs Harbour Showground right in the heart of Coffs Harbour City.
For bookings or enquiries contact The Ultimate Sword Experience on 02 6651 4059. Bookings are essential and a minimum of two people are required for a session to run.
The Old Butter Factory Café is a modern eatery within the now restored ‘factory’ of the same name, on the outskirts of Bellingen.
With its high ceilings, original beams and outside ‘veranda’ overlooking the golf course and mountain ranges of the Dorrigo escarpment, the cafe has a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
The smell of frying bacon and eggs or sweet pancake with bananas could entice you to a scrumptious breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee with baked scones or a selection of home-made cakes and tortes are temptations for morning and afternoon teas.
The lunch menu changes every three months offering a variety of salads and breads with toppings of locally smoked ham or smoked salmon croissants, anti-pesto platters, grilled Dory fillets, pork & prawn spring roles or seafood laksa filled with prawns & noodles.
Finish off the meal with a dessert of crepes and butterscotch sauce or cocoa éclair filled with bananas and topped with chocolate sauce.
The 100 year old Butter Factory is now a peaceful garden atmosphere and home to a range of quality arts, crafts and gifts stores, galleries, day spa, nursery and visitor information centre.
The cafe is open 7 days from 9am-5pm for sumptuous breakfasts, hearty lunches, light snacks and great coffee.
For more information contact the Butter Factory Café on 02 6655 2150.
