This coastal city on the mid North Coast of NSW is famous for its gorgeous beaches, water sports, adventure sports including skydiving, scuba diving and game fishing, and friendly encounters with animals.

You'll find plenty of accommodation options, many near a beach. While you are here you can amble along the Jetty Strip at the bottom of Harbour Drive and choose from a delicious range of restaurants and cafes. You can walk across a marina breakwater to Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve for spectacular views.

From Coffs Harbour, home to the iconic Big Banana, follow the Pacific Highway 25km south before turning inland toward Bellingen.

This charming town is on the banks of the idyllic Bellinger River, a popular waterway for kayaking and canoeing. Bellingen is perfect for a relaxing getaway and an excellent base for exploring natural attractions, such as the river and the nearby World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park.

You can discover the native wildlife of Bellinger River with Bellingen Canoe Adventures, which also offers whitewater experiences. Rainforest and waterfall walking tours with Million Star Hotel Outdoor Arts and Adventures depart from Bellingen, in the verdant Bellinger

The Dorrigo Rainforest Centre has information on magnificent waterfall walks. Stroll above the rainforest canopy here on the stunning Skywalk, with views that reach Coffs Harbour.

Learn about the National Park's flora and fauna in the intriguing education area at the Dorrigo National Park Rainforest Centre.

The centre provides information, a shop, an exhibition and cafe. An interactive display guides visitors of all ages through different aspects of this World Heritage-listed rainforest.

Among Dorrigo National Park’s attractions you will find the enchanting Crystal Shower Falls. Hear the sounds of rainforest birds on the Wonga Walk, weave your way between 600-year-old trees and traverse the lovely suspension bridge. The full walk also takes in the beautiful Tristania Falls.

The walking track includes a few steeper grades and boulder crossings before treating you to the beautiful Crystal Shower Falls and Tristania Falls. A footbridge gives you excellent views across the front of Tristania Falls.

To get to Crystal Shower Falls you’ll need to take the first part of the Satinbird stroll and then join the Wonga walk, leaving from The Glade picnic area.

Near the Dorrigo town centre is Dangar Falls, a beautiful 30-metre waterfall. Stop at the picnic spot and enjoy the spectacular views. You can also follow a path from the viewing platform to the water at the bottom of the falls. The walk down takes around 10-15 minutes.

The viewing platform offers a great vantage point and excellent photo opportunity of the falls. Dangar Falls is signposted from Dorrigo town.

A walking track with scenic lookouts and a picnic area links the upper falls and lower falls lookout platforms via the escarpment edge and is an easy walk that’s suitable for children. You can start out at either end and return via the road.

The spectacular single fall from the undulating plateau country around Wollomombi to the floor of the Wollomombi Gorge often gives visitors a truly superb view.

Wollomombi Falls are located less than one kilometre south of the village of Wollomombi and approximately two and a half kilometres by road.

West of Dorrigo, on the way to Armidale, you can watch the Guy Fawkes River plunge 100m over two waterfalls at Ebor Falls. Three lookout platforms along the edge of the escarpment offer spectacular views. Nearby you can also hike through sub-alpine woodlands to the towering granite formations of Cathedral Rock.

Further attractions on en route to Armidale include one of NSW’s highest drops at the incredible Wollomombi Falls, where waters plunge 220m into the valley. Enjoy the view from the New England picnic area.

For those who wish to explore further, Orara Escarpment 4WD touring route is a short 80km round-trip from Coffs Harbour, through remote eucalypt forests and subtropical rainforests. A 10 minute drive from Coffs Harbour will also take you to the magnificent Sealy Lookout.

Enjoy other interweaving touring routes including Thunderbolts Way, named after the colonial bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, aka Frederick Ward, which joins with the Fossickers Way touring route paved with sapphires and gold. You’ll find plenty places to stay as well as delightful events and delicious food and wine experiences, from cellar doors to tours, farmers markets and festivals in and around Armidale.

Join Armidale Heritage Tours and discover grand cathedrals and colonial buildings. The New England Regional Art Museum houses magnificent Australian art collections. The New England Regional Art Museum houses magnificent Australian art collections and next door you can admire indigenous art at the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place.