The perfect beachside getaway just got a whole lot more active.
Back in 1964, Coffs local John Landi had a problem. Travellers would whiz by his roadside banana stall. His solution wasn’t as much as the next big thing as the first big thing. And punters have been stopping by ever since. Today, the Big Banana has a water park, ice skating, escape rooms, laser tag, a toboggan, reptile world, bumper cars, bowling lanes and a giant slide. You can even buy yourself an opal or tour the original banana plantation.
We have a deadset soft spot for BGs and this one is stellar. It’s free to enter and cleverly divided into diverse trails such as the botanists walk, the rainforest walk, mangrove boardwalk, journey into the subtropics and Garlambirla walk with its emphasis on bushtucker. For a measly $10 you can do an evening nightlife wildlife tour.
Standup paddleboarding and kayaking is always fun but when it provides access to the striking Solitary Islands Marine Park, things are taken up a notch. Add insights from Gumbaynggirr culture, seasonal bush tucker and you’ve got enrichment on many levels. Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours are an especially fun way to lead kids to Aboriginal lore and a percentage of profits go to the Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation - which promotes both cultural identity and educational success.
This is one of those rare beaches that is an all-round pleaser. The eponymous jetty just begs for creative Instagrams, the enclosed bay means gentle waves for little ones and - big snaps to the local council here - the beach is accessible via the newly installed beach mat and wheelchairs. Make a day of it and hit up the nearby Fishermen’s Co-op for lunch.
There are 90 plus aerial challenges here including 20 zip lines that run anywhere from 1 to 12 metres above the ground. A quartet of junior courses mean the little ones don’t get left out.
This family-owned business can set you up with a steed to go exploring western hinterland rainforest trails. There are also pony rides for kids.
What’s more exhilarating than being strapped to a stranger at 15,000 feet then freefalling for 20 seconds before landing by the waves? Doing it for 70 seconds! Coffs Skydivers can sort you with either (or both) experiences.
The Coffs region is blessed with steady waves that are ideal for beginner or intermediate surfers. The Solitary Islands Surf School gets our nod for lessons that balance - gettit? - value for money with an excellent teacher to student ratio.
With a beautiful scalloped beach on its doorstep, the PBR is counting on the fact that you may not make it that far. There are just so many activities on offer: a nine-hole par-3 golf course, basketball and tennis courts, a day spa with float tank, games room, aquarium, three swimming pools… you see what we mean.
For a smallish city, Coffs has a very strong dessert game. The best ice-cream in town is Blue Cow Gelato. Its repertoire runs from solid cold classics like vanilla and pistachio through to more out-there combos such as hubba bubba, blueberry white chocolate and salted coconut peaflower. Get Whipped Cheescake Cones take the prize for originality with its take on lemon meringue a standout. If you’re one of those travellers who just has to hit up the best bakery in town, hotfoot it to K’Pane. It made its name with some of the best sourdoughs in the state but its apple crumble danish and pan au cinnamon are buttery brilliance.
Chef Marcus Blackwell grew up on the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall so he knows his seafood. On a pier with views for days, he serves oysters four ways, magnificent seafood platters and everything on the kids menus comes with a free serve of icecream. On a separate plate.
It seems that most every coastal town in Australia these days has its own micro brewery and we are absolutely here for it. King Tide is a brilliant example of attention shifting away from multinational suds to those crafted onsite with pride. If you like the old-school vibes of a hazy IPA, order a Leap Day. There is also a Pale Ale and Xpa but if you can no longer bring yourself to say the word ‘corona’ the Cerveza Mexican Lager is for you. For something a bit more fun we were very happy sipping the Look At My Hat Pineapple IPA.
See also:
• Foodie guide to the NSW Mid North Coast
• 17 incredible ocean pools in NSW
• This virtual flight over NSW is amazing
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