EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

COFFS HARBOUR - or "Coffs" - divides neatly into two separate parts. One half is a modern town snuggled close to the hills near the Pacific Highway - this is the centre of town, with the shopping mall, post office and all other facilities. The other part is the jetty area around the train station and the man-made harbour. For years the dramatic coastline managed to hold at bay the suburban sprawl, but retirement homes, holiday apartments, hotels and motels are gradually encroaching on the area's natural beauty. There is still a lot to admire, though: at this point on the coast the mountains and hills of the Great Dividing Range fall almost directly into the South Pacific Ocean, and glorious white, sandy beaches stretch endlessly, from the town shores of Boambee Beach and Jetty Beach through Park Beach and Diggers Beach, up to northern strands such as Emerald. There are several small islands offshore with fringing coral reefs designated as marine reserves; the plethora of fish around these makes diving a popular activity. In summer, the cool, rainforest-clad mountains with crystal-clear creeks and tumbling torrents offer a welcome respite from the heat and humidity of the coast.