{"id":8572,"date":"2025-01-16T22:26:50","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T11:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=8572"},"modified":"2025-01-16T22:36:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T11:36:04","slug":"coffs-harbour-tropical-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/coffs-harbour-tropical-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Coffs Harbour: A Tropical Retreat with Whimsical Charm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Byron Bay was great BC (\u201cBefore Crystals\u201d), but when you\u2019re over 55 and prefer to arrive before wine\u2013o\u2013clock, it\u2019s a bit too far to drive in half a day. So to experience the tropical north, look no further than Coffs Harbour, a town famous for its roadside signs selling bananas, baubles and beads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our accommodation in Coffs is the NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort, nestled right on the beach, offering a serene break for relaxation and exploration. \u201cDarlo\u201d is about 25 minutes north of Coffs, but you\u2019re rewarded with a tropical paradise away from the city centre and its strip of tired 1960s style motels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On arrival, a madrigal of birds serenades us as we stroll along the NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort grounds to our stylish villa, creating an instant embrace with nature. The villa is so spacious you could bring the grandkids, their parents, and maybe even a small circus along if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re impressed by the villa\u2019s hip, muted art gallery\u2013style lighting throughout. It\u2019s like living inside an Instagram filter. The view of the grove of palms adds an instant tropical flavour to our northern sojourn, almost as if someone had hit the \u2018tropical\u2019 button on life\u2019s remote control. The villa has everything from a dishwasher to a stove, so you can save some coin by cooking in your accommodation \u2013 a recurring theme in this column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having brekkie on the enclosed deck, we encounter kangaroos up close \u2013 a mum and joey \u2013 nonchalantly grazing as if they\u2019re on the payroll for our entertainment. This is one of the resort\u2019s many features. We also meet the resident kookaburra, as tame as a budgie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NRMA Darlington Beach
Holiday Resort on bikes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mutton Bird Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Alvey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The resort caters to both the energetic and the laid\u2013back. For the grandkids, there\u2019s a waterpark to ensure they\u2019re thoroughly soaked and exhausted by day\u2019s end. For seniors, more sophisticated pastimes await \u2013 a tidy nine\u2013hole golf course, a professionally maintained bowling green, and a bubbling spa to ease the kinks of travelling. And let\u2019s not forget the $12 cocktails at the resort\u2019s restaurant, which quickly become a favourite evening ritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On our first evening, we take a culinary gamble at the NRMA Holiday Park restaurant and are handsomely rewarded. We indulge in delicious steaks, proving that gourmet treasures can indeed be found in a holiday park setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next morning, after a rockmelon\u2013sized bacon and egg roll at the restaurant, we set off on a nostalgic mission. Readers may recall I wrote about Gowings Department Store some issues back. Remember it? It was on the corner of Market and George Streets in Sydney. I used to buy my clothes there and even get a haircut! Indeed, Gowings\u2019 notoriety in the 20th century gave birth to the saying \u201cGone to Gowings,\u201d which entered the Australian lexicon to describe various states of decline or confusion \u2013 from financial ruin to drunkenness. Another notable slogan that adorned the flagship store\u2019s facade was \u201cWalk Thru, No One Asked to Buy.\u201d Carn, you must remember that, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, a little birdie told us they still exist in Coffs Harbour. However, we\u2019re disappointed to find it\u2019s little more than a surf shop, dude. But across the road, we find another sentimental favourite: Alvey. In 2022, Alvey Reels was acquired by Gowings \u2013now an Australian investment company, albeit no longer offering a short back and sides. The acquisition saved Alvey from being \u2018cast off\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Alvey, we reel off to Mutton Bird Island, just beyond the jetty at Coffs. From June to November, it\u2019s the perfect spot to catch whales in action. Joining a guide from National Parks for a free Whale Watching Tour, we stand on the island\u2019s lookout, treated to a front\u2013row seat as majestic humpback whales breach and spout during their annual migration. Nature\u2019s ballet unfolds before us, with the sea breeze on our faces, making Mutton Bird Island a road trip highlight and connecting us with the wonders of the ocean. Less mobile seniors might find the schlep up the island\u2019s hump to the whale\u2013watching side mildly taxing, but sprightly seniors will be fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We then make our way to the enchanting Butterfly House in Bonville. Stepping through its sealed doors, we find ourselves transported to a mesmerising realm filled with fluttering wings and vivid hues. The custom\u2013designed tropical habitat, perfectly suited to the Coffs region, provides an ideal sanctuary for a wide array of exotic butterflies. Watching these delicate creatures flit around their glasshouse home inspires awe and delight among the children present, their exclamations of wonder echoing through the space. Caught up in the excitement, I can\u2019t help but join their chorus of \u2018oohs\u2019 and \u2018ahhs\u2019, until my wife pins me with a look reminiscent of a butterfly carefully preserved in a collector\u2019s book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, a visit to Coffs Harbour wouldn\u2019t be complete without a pilgrimage to the iconic Big Banana. Erected in 1964, this gigantic yellow fruit has been a proud landmark on the Pacific Highway, drawing tourists to savour chocolate\u2013dipped bananas (a personal favourite) and snap obligatory selfies with its enormous fibreglass facade. The brainchild of visionary John Landi, this striking yellow curve was designed to lure passing motorists to purchase his bananas. Inspired by Hawaii\u2019s \u201cBig Pineapple,\u201d it earned the distinction of becoming Australia\u2019s first \u201cBig Thing.\u201d Today, it\u2019s transformed into a banana\u2013themed Disneyland of sorts, offering a waterpark, mini\u2013golf, laser tag for the grandkids, and even an ice\u2013skating rink (because nothing says tropical paradise like ice\u2013skating, right?). A day pass at fifty\u2013nine bucks ensures endless entertainment for the grandkids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we leave Coffs Harbour, I can\u2019t help but feel a deep appreciation for the eclectic experiences and whimsical charm of this tropical corner of NSW. Whether you\u2019re a nature enthusiast, a thrill\u2013seeker, or simply in search of a good cocktail at the NRMA Holiday Park, Coffs Harbour offers a slice of paradise with a twist of Big Things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electrifying Secret
<\/strong>Psst! If you\u2019re cruising around in an EV, you\u2019re in luck. NRMA Holiday Park Darlington boasts villas equipped with your very own personal EV charge point. So, you can roll up, plug in, and relax, knowing your car will be fully charged and ready for your next adventure. No more hunting for charging stations or stressing about running out of juice in the middle of nowhere. Just pure, unadulterated holiday bliss with all the conveniences right at your fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Websites<\/strong>
www.nrmaparksandresorts.com.au\/darlington-beach<\/a>
www.bigbanana.com<\/a>
www.butterflyhouse.com.au<\/a>
https:\/\/www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au\/visit-a-park\/parks\/muttonbird-island-nature-reserve<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe Byron Bay was great BC (\u201cBefore Crystals\u201d), but when you\u2019re over 55 and prefer to arrive before wine\u2013o\u2013clock, it\u2019s a bit too…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[75,45,70],"series":[],"class_list":["post-8572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-article","tag-dorian-mode","tag-lydia-thorpe"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/01\/Its-Big-its-a-Bananna-its-the-Big-bannana.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/feed\/podcast\/coffee-with-a-coastie","embedCode":"

Discover Coffs Harbour: A Tropical Retreat with Whimsical Charm<\/a><\/blockquote>