Best Beaches in Coffs Harbour: From Diggers to Woolgoolga

Coffs Harbour sits on the New South Wales mid-north coast, about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, and it punches above its weight for beaches. Within 30 minutes of the city centre you can get to 16 different beaches listed on BeachCheck, ranging from the patrolled town beach at Jetty Beach to the isolated surf at Diggers, the sheltered waters at Woolgoolga, and a string of quieter coves along the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk. Here's a practical breakdown.

Diggers Beach

Diggers Beach rates 4.7 stars from 195 reviews and is consistently mentioned as one of the better surf beaches in the Coffs region. It's north-facing and backed by rocky headlands that funnel the swell into consistent, readable waves , good for surfers at an intermediate level or above. Lifeguards patrol during the season, and parking is available on site.

The beach gets its name from the Diggers Surf Life Saving Club, which is one of the more active clubs in the area. Outside surf hours it's generally uncrowded and the headland walk from here along toward Macauleys Headland gives good coastal views. The GSC data shows people searching specifically for "diggers beach surf" and "foreshore diggers" , the reputation for reliable surf is real.

Jetty Beach

Jetty Beach rates 4.7 stars from 197 reviews and is the most accessible patrolled swimming beach in Coffs Harbour. It sits adjacent to the historic timber jetty, which provides some protection from the dominant swells and creates calmer water conditions than the exposed beaches further north. Lifeguards patrol through summer.

The jetty itself is a landmark , it was built in the 1890s to service banana plantations and is still one of the most photographed spots in town. The combination of calm, patrolled water and the jetty backdrop makes this the default choice for families staying in central Coffs. Parking is available nearby on the foreshore.

Coffs Jetty Foreshore

Coffs Jetty Foreshore rates 4.6 stars from 300 reviews and offers patrolled swimming in a setting that's a short walk from the cafés and restaurants along the jetty precinct. The water here is sheltered and the beach is sandy with a gradual entry , good for young kids and inexperienced swimmers.

If you're based in the jetty area and want a quick swim before dinner, this is the most convenient option. The foreshore itself is well maintained with parking and easy access.

Woolgoolga Beach and Headland

Woolgoolga Beach and Headland rates 4.8 stars from 715 reviews and sits about 20 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour. Woolgoolga , locals call it Woopi , has a small-town feel that many people prefer to central Coffs, and the beach here backs that up. It's a long arc of sand with rocky headlands at each end, decent surf for beginners and intermediates, and a sheltered lagoon section near the northern end.

The town has an unusually strong Indian-Sikh community going back to the banana-farming era, which shows in the Guru Nanak Temple on the headland and a better-than-average selection of Indian restaurants. The drive up the Pacific Highway from Coffs takes about 20 minutes.

Park Beach Reserve

Park Beach Reserve rates 4.6 stars from 433 reviews and is the main surf beach in the Coffs CBD area. Park Beach is longer and more exposed than Jetty Beach , better for surfing and walking, but less suited for young children due to the larger shore break. Dogs are welcome, which makes it popular with locals for morning walks.

The beach borders the Park Beach Plaza shopping centre, which isn't the most scenic backdrop, but it means facilities are close by. There's a Friday evening market near here and a Sunday market at the Jetty, both worth knowing about if you're staying for a few days.

Sawtell Beach

Sawtell Beach rates 4.7 stars from 101 reviews and sits 10 kilometres south of central Coffs in the village of Sawtell. It's the kind of beach that locals protect from becoming too well known. The village strip along First Avenue has good cafés and a relaxed atmosphere, and the beach itself is patrolled with an ocean pool at the northern end.

The pool is a significant draw , it's a proper ocean rock pool, filled by the tide, and offers calm swimming when the beach surf is up. Sawtell is the most pleasant overall package in the Coffs area if you're after a beach with a good village attached.

Boambee Headland Lookout

Boambee Headland Lookout rates 4.7 stars from 567 reviews and is a clifftop lookout rather than a swimming beach. It's worth including because the views from here over the beaches north and south are genuinely impressive, and on a clear day you can see the Solitary Islands. The walk from the car park to the lookout takes about 10 minutes.

It's a good spot to assess conditions before choosing which beach to go to, and the location at the southern end of Coffs gives a perspective over the whole stretch of coastline.

Solitary Islands Coastal Walk Beaches

The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk runs along the northern edge of the Coffs region, connecting a series of smaller beaches that most day visitors don't reach. Hills Beach (4.4 stars, 108 reviews), Sandys Beach (4.6 stars, 103 reviews) and Mullaway Beach (4.6 stars, 81 reviews) are the main stops along this stretch.

Mullaway is particularly worth knowing about , it's sheltered and calm, popular with families, and sees a fraction of the visitors of the main town beaches. The surrounding national park protects the vegetation immediately behind the beach, which gives it a more remote feel than its distance from Coffs suggests.

Practical Notes

Best patrolled swimming: Jetty Beach, Coffs Jetty Foreshore, Sawtell Beach

Best for surfing: Diggers Beach, Woolgoolga Beach, Park Beach

Best ocean pool: Sawtell Beach , patrolled pool with calm conditions

Best village experience: Sawtell (village strip) or Woolgoolga (town, restaurants, headland temple)

Quietest and most scenic: Solitary Islands Coastal Walk beaches, particularly Mullaway

Best views: Boambee Headland Lookout and Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve (4.8 stars, 930 reviews , a separate headland walk with wildlife)

For ratings, photos and facility information on all 16 Coffs Harbour beaches, browse the Coffs Harbour beaches on BeachCheck.