Coffs Harbour - Home Of The Big Banana
Approximately 550 kilometres north of Sydney in New South Wales is where you will find Coffs Harbour, a coastal city with a population of just over 70,000. A favourite tourist destination, the population of the city grows to well over 100,000 during the peak season. Tourists are drawn to this place by the pristine beaches and beautiful settings, as well as the weather, considered by many to be the best in the entire country
The climate of Coffs Harbour is considered to be subtropical. This essentially means warm or wet warm summers and mild, cool, dry winters. The city’s proximity to the coast, the nearby mountain ranges and prevailing trade winds have combined to make what is often called the ‘perfect’ climate in Coffs Harbour. Even the hottest of summer days are cooled by a slight ocean breeze and the coldest winter nights are protected from heavier rains and wind. It is ideally situated to make the most of the beautiful weather.
The city is easy to get to. Several bus lines have services to Coffs Harbour a number of times in a day. There is also a train that stops in the city up to six times a day from various points in the country. Coffs Harbour Regional Airport provides local and charter airline services. Transportation within the city itself is available via taxis. Recently, the government has begun looking at ways to update the aging infrastructure of the road system in and around Coffs Harbour. This is becoming more important as the population of the city grows and more tourists visit there.
Home of the ‘Big Banana’, Coffs Harbour has many attractions popular with tourists. The first is the ‘Big Banana’. This is the world’s largest banana, created to honour the region’s largest export; the banana. The Coffs Harbour Jetty is an old timber wharf. Historically, this was one of the export sites for lumber from the interior of the continent and today the local council is planning to build a cultural district centering on this historical landmark. Other popular attractions are the Solitary Islands Marine Park, home to the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Cascade National Park, and the Bongil Bongil National Park. There is also a small but excellent diving spot off the coast that includes a small reef.
Coffs Harbour is home to the Coffs Coast International Stadium. This is a very large and popular stadium that has hosted many international events. These include the World Cup Qualifiers as well as some of the qualifying rounds for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Finally, the city is famous for the domestic One Day Cricket matches it holds.
Coffs Harbour is a city on the rise. Everything about it, from its population to its economy and infrastructure, is growing and changing. Consistently determined to have the most perfect climate in the country, its many parks, beaches and other attractions make it the perfect place to visit. The city is easy to travel to and has an excellent service and tourism industry that is prepared to meet the needs of the many tourists that travel to the city.