Local Guide: top 5 coffs harbour nature escapes

Love the outdoors? Here are some of our favourite ideas for experiencing the natural wonders in and around Coffs Harbour…

1. Walk Muttonbird Island

Stroll along the northern break wall to Muttonbird Island, keeping an eye on the water to spot turtles and dolphins along the way. Then, take the steep walk over the island to the eastern lookout for unique views back over Coffs Harbour before visiting the island’s fascinating outdoor learning centre.

Muttonbird Island Reserve

2. Peace out in the Botanic Gardens

Located in the heart of the city, the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden is perfect for a picnic and relaxing walk. Set among 20 acres of lush plant life, you’ll find exotic and native species, and glasshouses containing rare displays of tropical plants.

North Coast Regional Botanic Gardens – Japanese Garden

3. Change your viewpoint at the Forest Sky Pier

No holiday in Coffs Harbour is complete without a visit to Forest Sky Pier and the award-winning Sealy Lookout. Stretching out from an escarpment 310m above Coffs Harbour city, this spectacular structure offers unparalleled coastal views of up to 100km to the south on a clear day. Adjacent to the lookout is a fully-accessible picnic shelter so you can sit, have a cuppa and enjoy the view.

Forest Sky Pier Lookout View

4. Hang out at the Historical Jetty

A Coffs Harbour icon, ‘The Jetty’ was built in 1890 from local timber to accommodate cargo vessels. Now it’s where locals congregate to fish, swim, stroll, watch the sunrise or dine on fish ‘n’ chips. With an accessible picnic area and cycling paths nearby, this area is a great place to enjoy a BBQ while the kids ride their scooters or play on the beach.

Coffs Harbour Jetty

5. Make a splash in Coffs Creek

Just five minutes from the city, Coffs Creek is an oasis for families who can safely paddle in its shallow turquoise waters. The creek and its mangrove forests can be easily accessed at several points, and are begging to be explored on a paddleboard or kayak

Coffs Creek

Follow the TAKE3 rule! Take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach and you have made a difference. www.take3.org