Peel yourself away from the marina in search of natural beauty at the best Coffs Harbour beaches.

While one sizeable banana and a historic jetty cement Coffs Harbour’s place on the NSW North Coast tourist trail, I love visiting the coastal town for its magnificent stretches of sand. Embraced by locals yet often overlooked by travellers, the best Coffs Harbour beaches offer big wave energy when the heat’s too much, and calm serenity when low-key lazing calls. Here are my time-after-time favourites.

In short

If you only visit one of the best Coffs Harbour beaches, make it Charlesworth Bay Beach for its locals-only allure away from the beaten track. The water is crystal-clear, and it gives year-round remote island feels.

1. Charlesworth Bay Beach

The most hidden beach in Coffs Harbour revealed itself to me only after a local friend gave me a heads up. While many think Charlesworth Bay Beach belongs exclusively to the Pacific Bar Resort, which is situated right by it, the secluded slice of heaven is open to anybody, including dogs if they’re leashed. Leaving my car in the Charlesworth Bay Beach car park, I step into paradise: an untouched 500-metre north-east-facing gem with an old boat shed still standing down one end. While it’s not patrolled, the waves drift low, making me wish I’d brought my kids along to endlessly chase them. A totally sublime setting for family beach picnics (there are barbecues and toilets up at the reserve near the car park), this Coffs Harbour beach also readily hooks anglers who like to drop a line on the northern end’s rocks.

2. Emerald Beach

Here to step up your longboard game? Emerald Beach is my pick for amateur surfers thanks to a southern headland that makes for sheltered, super consistent conditions. The Coffs Harbour beach is also a winner among the more experienced, as its left-hand reef break dials up the excitement. The beauty is also great for a get-together as electric barbecues and picnic tables are up on the grass behind the sand, and the elevated pitch creates epic water views. If you’re visiting during the Christmas period, lifeguards offer patrolled swimming conditions. Always keep your eyes out for dolphins, too, because they’re known to drop in.

3. Woolgoolga Beach

I like to hit up Woolgoolga for its legendary craft spirits and beer scene, but Woopi (as it’s better known locally) is also home to one of the region’s most quintessential Aussie beaches. Offering dreamy conditions for surfing, swimming and fishing, Woolgoolga Beach is also a great spot to spy whales when they migrate to warmer waters between June and November (August and September score the most sightings, you should note). Families will find red and yellow flags poked into the sand from the September school holidays through to the end of the April school holidays, so it’s also a ripper spot for beach days with the extended clan.

4. Diggers Beach

The extremely family-friendly Diggers Beach is another beautiful beach hang along the Coffs Coast, located right across the road from the Big Banana. My husband loves to take our kids climbing along the rocks – just make sure everyone’s got their grippiest footwear on – before they tear up the children’s playground at the neighbouring picnic area. One of my favourite sunset walks in town is the two-hour trail from Diggers Beach to Charlesworth Bay, so if you’ve got the time, make it happen. You’ll wander through the rainforest at Diggers Head and past the Solitary Islands Aquarium, which is another great stop for little ones.

5. Little Diggers Beach

Coffs Harbour’s unofficial nude beach, Little Diggers Beach is within walking distance from its older sibling and never really gets that busy, so peeling your kit off is highly encouraged. Parking is a cinch at this spot too, as there’s a car park at the southern end, plus there are tall bluffs behind the sand to cosy into if you’re feeling a little shy.

6. Jetty Beach

Another awesome family-friendly spot, Jetty Beach is an always-busy Coffs Harbour beach that, as the name suggests, houses that historic jetty. Additionally, it’s in the middle of town, and it’s netted by Coffs’ breakwall, so I like it for easy and forever-safe swims. Visitors with access needs should also visit this Coffs Harbour beach for its long beach mat and multiple wheelchairs you can reserve for free here. There’s also the amenity-heavy Jetty Foreshores Park right behind the sand, which houses toilets, showers, picnic shelters, barbecues, a bike path and a playground. Need more convincing? Jetty Beach is smack-bang in front of a train station so getting there without a set of wheels is simple.

7. Moonee Beach

The almighty Moonee Beach is long and chilled, luring surfers and fishing folk all year round. I like it for family days myself as there’s loads of shade, but visitors should note that this Coffs Harbour beach isn’t patrolled so swimming is at your own risk. If you’ve got a four-legged pal in tow, you can bring them along too, but all dogs must remain leashed. Roll a rug over the sand or park your set-up at the Moonee Beach Reserve, right behind the beach, for pet-friendly picnicking in proximity to the water. You’ll also find barbecues, toilets, showers and a playground at the reserve, so lazing the entire day away isn’t out of the ordinary.