Coffs Harbour as a family of 5!

A Family-Friendly Holiday in Coffs Harbour: Our Honest Review

On our recent family road trip down south, we stopped in Coffs Harbour on the way down and again about 20 minutes north of Coffs Harbour on the way back to Brisbane. One thing became very clear very quickly, we absolutely rate this area.

Coffs Harbour is beautiful, calm, and packed with things to do, making it an ideal destination for families travelling with kids.

Why We Love Family Holidays with a Mix of Adventure and Downtime

When we go away as a family, we love to get out and do as much as we can. Giving the kids different experiences and letting them explore new places is important to us, especially during those short school holiday weeks.

That said, we also love slow, lazy days at camp, because let’s be honest, everyone needs them too!

Where We Stayed: BIG4 Park Beach Holiday Park (Coffs Harbour)

On the way down, we stayed at BIG4 Park Beach Holiday Park in Coffs Harbour, and it was a great choice.

• Powered concrete slab site

• Clean and well-maintained amenities

• Excellent location close to the beach

The pool was a great size and surprisingly not too crowded for that time of year. It had separate sections for different ages, so the bigger kids could swim freely while the little one splashed around safely.

New Year’s Eve at Park Beach

One of the highlights was being there over New Year’s Eve. Across the road at the beach, there were:

• Food trucks

• Fireworks

• Live music

There was plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the evening. We would 100% stay here again.

Things to Do in Coffs Harbour with Kids

The Big Banana Fun Park

Of course, we had to visit The Big Banana. What I didn’t realise before going was that it’s actually a full theme park, not just a giant banana photo stop!

We spent half the day:

• Riding attractions

• Eating banana splits

• Taking way too many banana photos

Tip: You can buy tickets for individual activities at each ride. The only benefit of buying a full park pass is the discount at the main entrance, which didn’t suit us, so paying as we went worked perfectly.

The kids loved it!

Waterfall Way & Dangar Falls: A Must-Do Day Trip

The next day, we drove along Waterfall Way and stopped at Dangar Falls near Dorrigo for a swim. This is an absolute must-do and a 10/10 recommendation.

• Around a 10-minute walk from the car park

• A bit steep in sections, but manageable

• We did it with a 6, 4, and 1 year-old

The water was ice cold but incredibly refreshing, and the waterfall was flowing strongly thanks to rain in the weeks prior. The kids found the rocks a little tricky, but we took turns supervising them in the shallow areas.

Tip: Arrive early. By the time we left around lunchtime, it was filling up fast.

Dorrigo Mountain & Promised Land Loop

We also stopped at Dorrigo Mountain Lookout, which has stunning views. We drove the Promised Land loop, and while there were more swimming spots along the way, we skipped them as our youngest needed a sleep.

On the way back, we stopped in the town of Dorrigo for gelato, a cute, lively little town worth visiting.

Darlington Stopover: NRMA Holiday Park Review

On our way back to Brisbane, we stayed at Darlington NRMA Holiday Park, and it was another fantastic experience.

• Easy-to-access angled sites

• Kangaroos everywhere

• One of the best school holiday programs we’ve seen

And trust me — we’ve stayed in a lot of parks!

Because this was our final stop, we slowed the pace right down and focused on relaxing.

Moonee Beach Nature Reserve & Woolgoolga

One morning, we visited Moonee Beach Nature Reserve. The lookout was beautiful, and there were kangaroos around again. The walk was manageable, but it’s worth noting that the cliffs drop straight into the ocean.

Safety note: If you have a child who’s a runner, you’ll want to be extra cautious here.

After that, we headed to Woolgoolga Beach, which turned out to be a great choice for families.

• Playground

• Safe swimming beach

• Plenty of food options

We had lunch at Sea Salt Fish & Chips, and it was absolutely delicious. A solid 10/10 recommendation.

Final Day at Darlington NRMA Holiday Park

For our last day, we stayed close to camp and made the most of the facilities:

• Yoga

• Colouring-in competitions

• Pool and water slide park

• Mini golf

• Carts

There is a beach accessible from the park, but it was quite rocky, so we opted for the pool instead.

Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting with Kids?

Absolutely.

The Coffs Harbour region is a winner for families, especially those with active kids. It offers the perfect balance of:

• Adventure

• Nature

• Kid-friendly attractions

• Relaxation

It’s a destination we’d happily return to — and one we’d confidently recommend to other families planning a coastal NSW holiday.