Coffs Harbour crush - there’s even traffic control at Dan Murphy’s

Some lost their cool and blared the horn while others showed their patience game was strong as Coffs Harbour was gripped in Christmas Eve fever.

Traffic controllers have had their hands full all week in the Dan Murphy's carpark at Coffs Harbour.

Motorway mayhem - or highway parking lot - Coffs has transformed to “Choked Harbour” as shoppers hit overdrive in the final hours of Christmas Eve.

From the notorious Pacific Highway crawl through the heart of the city to the major retail centres - it’s been go slow since early on Friday morning.

Things have been so hectic at liquor retailer Dan Murphy’s that they’ve had traffic controllers slogging it out in their smallish carpark where lumpy four-wheel-drives have been nose-to-bumper.

“It’s insane, you just try to stay off the highway,” Coffs Harbour local Ben Gately said.

It was a case of the quick and the eagle-eyed to find a spot at the Park Beach Plaza shopping centre at Coffs Harbour on Christmas Eve.

It was a sentiment echoed by fellow resident Robyn who labelled the traffic “horrendous”.

“I’m just looking forward to the bypass (of Coffs) and life getting back to normal (pre-pandemic),” she said.

“People (tourist traffic) have been locked out of Queensland for so long they are desperate.”

But Coffs Harbour residents Alex Burt and David Ellis just shrugged their shoulders as they eventually got across the highway on foot at a set of traffic lights.

“It doesn’t seem much different,” Mr Burt said, while Mr Ellis, who works in town, added: “This is normal to us, it’s just a bottleneck”.

Ben Gately of Coffs Harbour reckons the best bet at Christmas is to stay clear of the Pacific Highway if at all possible.

Finding a parking spot at the major shopping centres at Park Beach and Toormina was four-leaf clover country, while there was an orderly contented line-up at the Fishermen’s Co-op at the Jetty.

Highway patrol cars appeared to be thin on the tar in town, but they will be about with a major police operation under way.

It will target drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving in the blitz which will run through to midnight on Monday, January 3.

Double demerit points will apply for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.

People queue to collect their orders at the Coffs Harbour Fishermen's Co-operative on Christmas Eve.

New police minister Paul Toole said officers would have a strong presence in the regions, with more people than usual leaving Sydney to reunite with family and friends.

“For many, it will be the first time they’ve hit the road since Covid restrictions eased, so please plan ahead, take your time and be patient,” Mr Toole said.

“No one wants to get a fine or worse still, lose their licence at Christmas, but we make no apologies for taking a tough stance so everyone can be reunited with their loved ones safely.”

Motorists themselves can pot other drivers behaving badly through Crime Stoppers:

* Use a passenger to record the time of the incident and the registration of the driver’s vehicle.

* If possible, keep dashcam vision of the incident and provide it to Crime Stoppers or police.

* If it’s an emergency – where there is a threat to life or someone’s safety – call Triple Zero (000) through a passenger, hands-free, or pull over somewhere safe.

* If it’s not an emergency, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.