One of Australia’s quirks is its extensive list of big things. Ever heard of the Big Pineapple, the Big Prawn or Big Ned Kelly? At least 230 big or giant things are scattered around the country, enticing travellers to visit and take pics in front of them. Tourist trap? Possibly, but many of them have become beloved icons. Of course, Coffs Harbour is no different, given its well-known landmark, the Big Banana. Part of an amusement park set within a banana plantation, the Big Banana measures 49ft (15m) in length. It was built in 1964 and is one of Australia’s first Big Things. So important are the Big Things in the country’s culture that in 2007, Australia Post issued a series of Big Things postage stamps that included the Big Banana.
South of Coffs Harbour is the town of Sawtell, which runs the hottest food festival each July. Its focus is the Chilli Festival, where food vendors cook up a storm of spicy dishes. Are you game to join in on the chilli chicken wing eating competition? Sizzling and spicy. May need the fire hose to put out the fire. Maybe dial it down with a chili dog topped with onion, sauerkraut, mustard, pickles, cheese and a bit of hot sauce, or a lot.
Coffs, as it’s known locally, is the largest urban centre on NSW’s north coast, easily accessible by car or air from major cities. It has a beautiful, sheltered harbour with extensive walkways along the south break wall and the northern marina walkway that leads onto Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve. The island is a breeding ground for wedge-tailed shearwaters (aka. muttonbirds). Each year, the birds migrate to the Phillippines and then return to the same burrow in pairs and take responsibility for raising the chick.
Between the two walkways is the historic Coffs Harbour Jetty. It was once a timber wharf where ships moved timber from the hinterland. A nice walk along the 984ft (300m) long jetty offers great views of the surrounding harbour and nearby landscape.
Encircling the city are many national parks, each with its own wildlife and plant life. For instance, Ulidarra National Park, northwest of Coffs, is the place to see masked owls, wompoo fruit doves or the infamous dingo, preferably from a distance. South of Coffs is Bongil Bongil National Park, a migratory refuge where more than 160 bird species have been recorded. It is also home to the largest koala population in the state. Another example is the Cascade National Park, a hilly rainforest park popular with mountain bikers and hikers.
Coffs is wonderfully located as a base to explore the extensive verdant hinterland.
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