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Soak up nature with the best Coffs Harbour caravan parks and camping

Credit: Destination NSW

Switch the city for the sand at the best Coffs Harbour caravan parks and camp sites.

I love a plush hotel but stargazing under a sky freckled with light and breathing in fresh air always instils instant calm. Offering private, one-site only campsites to the creature comforts of a kitchen, bathroom and top-speed waterslides, my favourite Coffs Harbour caravan parks and camping sites showcase the endless splendour of the Coffs Coast. And if you’re looking for something a bit more luxe, we’ve rounded up the best accommodation options in the region.

In short

If you only have time to stay at one of the best Coffs Harbour caravan parks, make it Big4 Park Beach Holiday Park. The outdoor pool is designed for little ones, and the poolside eatery makes it easy to keep an eye on them.

1. Reflections Moonee Beach

the Moonee Beach, Coffs Harbour from above
The beautiful Moonee Beach lures surfers and fishing folk. (Image: Destination NSW)

I’ve never stayed at a Reflections I didn’t love, but Reflections Moonee Beach ’s location across the road from soft sand is one of my favourite New South Wales picks. Right off Moonee Beach, one of the best Coffs Coast beaches of all, the Coffs Harbour caravan park is home to unpowered and powered camp sites as well as cabins and two styles of dog-friendly tiny homes stacked with sizeable front decks and full bathrooms. It’s a simple stay as families hop between the beach and the barbecue area (plus the communal fire pit in winter), but amenities spanning tennis courts, a playground, a school holiday activities program and a small kiosk (that does coffee) up the ante if lazy nothingness grows tiring.

Address: 50 Moonee Beach Rd, Moonee Beach

2. Big4 Park Beach Holiday Park

Big4 Park Beach Holiday Park, Coffs Harbour
The family-friendly Big4 Park Beach Holiday Park features a splash zone next to a cafe.

I checked into Big4 Park Beach Holiday Park on a rainy day but nothing could stop my family and I from charging into its super impressive outdoor pool and splash zone located right next to Parkies Poolside Cafe which opens from 7am daily. Once my kids smashed their sillies out under the giant tipping bucket and in the water slides, we strolled about five minutes beyond the park’s back entrance for lunch at Donovans Surf Club Restaurant & Bar – one of the more standout Coffs Harbour dining experiences. Facilities include hireable pedal karts, mini golf, a jumping pillow, a games room, a playground and a kids’ club, so it’s really the ultimate kids’ saviour for parents. Our cabin provided comfortable four-walled accommodation, but you can also haul in your caravan, tent or trailer to seize a powered or unpowered site.

Address: 1 Ocean Pde, Coffs Harbour

3. Sapphire Beach Holiday Park

Sapphire Beach, Coffs Harbour
Surf or chill by Sapphire Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

Idyllic, untamed waves are just a short stroll from Sapphire Beach Holiday Park , a Coffs Harbour campsite with its own billabong in a quiet, shady pocket of lush, subtropical rainforest. From there, you can surf, fish, tackle gentle hikes or chill by the outdoor swimming pool, which serves as a hub for happy campers. While its prime coastline location, just 50 metres from the sand and surf, is the main draw, the family-friendly choice also has a nine-hole putt putt course, a games room, a camp kitchen, barbecues, coin-operated washing machines, a playground, kiosk and a communal lounge with a TV.

Address: 48 Split Solitary Rd, Coffs Harbour

4. Mojosurf Camp Spot X

surfers at Mojosurf Camp Spot X, Coffs Harbour
Mojosurf Camp Spot X is a haven for surfers. (Image: Destination NSW)

If sitting around the campfire with a bunch of grizzled surfers sounds like your idea of nirvana, then mark Mojosurf Camp Spot X on your map. The absolute beachfront campsite, which offers share accommodation, is found 31 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour and is best known for its easy-access kayaking, volleyball and surf rafting. Those new to the sport of surfing might also want to join the Academy and become an instructor themselves through a three-month process. Creature comforts include a cooking area, hammocks, a movie room, a laundry, table tennis, a pool table and a walking trail.

Address: 46 Arrawarra Beach Rd, Arrawarra

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5. Woolgoolga Lakeside Holiday Park

Looking for a stripped-back stay for ample nothingness? Woolgoolga Lakeside Holiday Park is a safe bet. Choose from a range of villas, cabins, unpowered and powered sites as shimmering lake views and golden sand beaches encourage unbridled unwinding. There’s a large amenities block, barbecue shelters, a dog wash, dump point, recycling station, playground and laundry facilities to make use of.

Address: 80 Lake Rd, Woolgoolga

6. Reflections Coffs Harbour

rabits at Reflections Coffs Harbour
Meet the resident rabbits at Reflections Coffs Harbour.

In town to tick off the Big Banana? I don’t blame you; I can’t get enough of their choc-coated frozen bananas either. Reflections Coffs Harbour puts you just up the road from it on the Pacific Highway. Whether you’re travelling with a caravan or canvas, or seeking a secure cabin, this Coffs Harbour caravan park offers plenty of amenities, to boot. Choose from one or two-bedroom stays or powered and unpowered sites before launching into the park’s camp kitchen, kiosk, barbecue area, bushtucker and herb garden, school holiday activities and more. Run errands easily thanks to the dog wash (yep, furry pals are welcome), laundry and dump point.

Address: 123 Pacific Hwy, Coffs Harbour

7. Banana Coast Caravan Park

Another highway highlight, Banana Coast Caravan Park puts you in prime position to tick off the Coffs Coast’s hottest spots. Within walking distance to the beautifully secluded Charlesworth Bay Beach, less than five minutes in the car to the Big Banana, and right on track to dip in and out of the Coffs Coast’s most charming villages, it’s a convenient option with cabins and camping sites. A swimming pool, kids’ playground, barbecue area, laundry, tennis court and convenience store are all located within the grounds.

Address: 429 Pacific Hwy, Coffs Harbour

8. Woolgoolga Beach Holiday Park

Located just a few steps from the coastline, Woolgoolga Beach Holiday Park puts you in the heart of the Coffs Coast’s suburb’s fabulous beach culture. Whether you’re strolling the short walk up to Woolgoolga Headland to spy on whales or seizing a sun-soaked beach day, this is a great spot for relaxed camping with a few key amenities. Powered and unpowered sites are up for grabs, as are one-, two- and three-bedroom villas and cabins with beach views. Plus, there’s a camp kitchen, an amenities block, a laundry, dump point and a playground for added comfort.

Address: 12 Wharf St, Woolgoolga

9. Reflections Corindi Beach

caravans at Reflections Corindi Beach
Caravans are welcome in the tranquil bush setting. (Image: Reflections Corindi Beach)

Another sublime Coffs Harbour caravan park from the Reflections team, Reflections Corindi Beach totally set up my recent stay with direct stair access to the beach. It made trotting back and forth with the kids that much easier. The dog-friendly site (Reflections is big on four-legged inclusion) is sleepy but stacked with amenities like a children’s playground, bush tucker garden, boat ramp, barbecues, the odd food truck visit, a camp kitchen, laundry and one very clean amenities block.

Address: 93 Pacific St, Corindi Beach

10. Big4 Sawtell Beach Holiday Park

an aerial view of Big4 Sawtell Beach Holiday Park
The family-friendly holiday park is set in a picturesque beach location. (Image: Big4 Sawtell Beach Holiday Park)

Offering beautiful bushwalking trails and pristine creek-to-beach action, Big4 Sawtell Beach Holiday Park offers another one of the chain’s typically picturesque locations stacked with amenities. Catering to caravan and canvas right off Sawtell Beach and offering a range of cabins, the Coffs Harbour caravan park is filled with a clean camp kitchen, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a BMX track, a playground, a convenience store, in-house movies (the program is seasonal so check the website for up-to-date information) and nature walks that take in that ultra-serene water. Bonus: it’s located next to a bowls club so grabbing a laidback drink and meal is effortless.

Address: 5 Lyons Rd, Sawtell

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11. NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort

a lagoon-style pool at NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort 
The tropical oasis is nestled alongside Arrawarra Beach.

NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort gets my tick for more family-friendly adventuring on the Coffs Coast, providing everything from pedal-powered karts to waterslides and pools, a nine-hole golf course, giant bouncing pillow, kids club, archery and lawn bowls. The park is in prime position on Arrawarra Beach, which is surrounded by subtropical forest. Find your home away from home in a spacious villa, safari tent, caravan or campsite.

Address: 134 Eggins Close, Arrawarra

12. Discovery Parks — Emerald Beach

a deluxe cabin terrace at Discovery Parks — Emerald Beach
Settle into a cosy cabin next to Emerald Beach.

Unplug from your smartphone and pitch a tent on an unpowered site at Discovery Parks – Emerald Beach to start releasing your escape valve. For families and those who like their creature comforts, the park has a swimming pool, bouncing pillow and water activities as well as cabins and powered sites for campers and caravanners. The park, 30 minutes from Coffs Harbour, is an ideal base for surfers who want to catch a few lefthanders at Emerald Beach, a not-so-hidden gem.

Address: 73 Fishermans Dr, Emerald Beach

13. Reflections Red Rock

an aerial view of Reflections Red Rock, Coffs Harbour
Reflections Red Rock is a great base camp near the coastline.

Parents of fur babies are welcomed by the Reflections team again at Reflections Red Rock . This hot spot, located 30 minutes away from Coffs Harbour, ticks off all the icons when it comes to facilities: a barbecue area, wi-fi, great fishing, a boat ramp, laundry, camp kitchen, school holiday activities, dump point, dog wash, table tennis and more. My favourite part about this old-school holiday park, which has powered and unpowered sites, cottages and glamping tents, is its proximity to the coastline.

Address: 1 Lawson St, Red Rock

14. Coffs Harbour Camping & Farmstay

a horse grazing in the field at Coffs Harbour Camping & 4WD
Say hello to the resident animals.

Keen to find your hinterland fix in the stunning Orara Valley? Book a spot at Coffs Harbour Camping & Farmstay , five minutes from Nana Glen to immerse yourself in lush, 4WD-friendly bushland. The space itself sprawls across 230 acres so there’s plenty of room to keep your setup private. Offering direct access to the Lower Bucca State Forest, the campsite welcomes caravans, motorhomes and tents as well as your adventure wheels. You’ll find fire pits and shared toilets on-site, as well as farm animals and bush trails to explore.

Address: 1119 Bucca Rd, Bucca

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Your guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

    Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

    Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

    Where to stay

    The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
    Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.

    Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

    Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
    Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

    Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

    The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

    Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

    Where to drink & dine

    1. The Bar

    the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar
    Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

    Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

    Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

    The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of  Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

    On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

    Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

    2. The Place

    the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
    Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

    On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

    3. Local gelato

    Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
    Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

    What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

    What to do/see

    1. GPO Heritage Tour

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
    Be awed by the building’s history.

    Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

    From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

    2. Circular Quay

    aerial of circular quay sydney
    Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

    An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

    3. Royal Botanic Gardens

    view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
    Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

    It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

    4. Theatre Royal

    a show at Theatre Royal
    Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)

    Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

    Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.