The Coffs Harbour Pubs Putting the Coastal City on the Map

From beachside beer gardens to buzzing brewpubs and historic hotels, the best Coffs Harbour pubs blend coastal charm with character.

Whether you’re chasing a Sunday session by the sea, a family-friendly courtyard, or a pint poured by the bloke who brewed it, Coffs Harbour and the greater Coffs Coast region have you covered. Use the ultimate guide to Coffs Harbour pubs and watering holes to help you plan your next visit.

In short

If you only visit one pub in Coffs Harbour, make it the Hoey Moey. With its beachfront location, open-air party atmosphere, free live gigs and tasty plates, this is nothing like your local boozer. Enjoy the lunch specials and Sunday roast or mix it up on the dance floor with surfers, backpackers and holidaymakers.

Jetty Beach House

Update your out-of-office message using a selfie taken at Jetty Beach House . The bar and restaurant housed in a 1920s beach house overlooks Solitary Islands Marine Park . And it’s that coastal Corambirra Point location that imbues it with a relaxed, surfie sensibility. My hot tip is to nab a table on the deck so you can watch the kids do cartwheels on the lawn with the ocean in view. Dive into fish tacos, Korean fried chicken and fries. Visit on weekends when music lights up the venue, which is both kid- and dog-friendly (by request). Head here for $2.50 Oyster Hour from 4pm to 5pm Fridays and Saturdays.

Address: 1 Jordan Esplanade, Coffs Harbour

King Tide Brewing

King Tide Brewing deserves its cult following in Coffs Harbour. Gleaming tanks are the centrepiece in the 250-seater taproom, which spills into a beer garden where locals enjoy tasting paddles and share plates. Natural light, a soaring timber bar and fireplace are also central to the vibe at the inner-city venue. The microbrewery produces everything from crisp lagers to hazy IPAs onsite and features a crowd-pleasing menu of burgers, schnitzels and the like. Grab a Kraut burger or tasting flight on trivia night and put talk of that sea change back on the agenda.

Address: 1 Studio Lane, Coffs Harbour.

The Pier Hotel

Rather than arriving by horse to The Pier Hotel , built circa 1905, weary travellers can now pull up to the curb in their EV. After being destroyed by fire, the original pub was rebuilt in 1914 and, more than a century on, remains a top place for a pitstop. Expect hearty pub fare such as Pier parmies or prawn and crab linguini. The upstairs Cellar Lounge hosts live music and DJ nights, and the street-side verandah is perfect for a pre-dinner drink. The recently renovated pub has retained much of its heritage charm with exposed bricks, high ceilings and original floorboards. The revamped accommodation is also a great base from which to explore the Coffs Coast.

Address: 356 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour

Woolgoolga Brewing Co (Woopi Brewing Co)

al fresco dining at Woolgoolga Brewing Co, Coffs Harbour — Enjoy relaxed drinks outside.

Stalk @woopibrewingco to get a vibe check at Woolgoolga Brewing Co ., a short drive north of Coffs Harbour. It’s a brewery and a tavern, serving easy-going charm and a nickname – ‘Woopi Brewing’ – to match the town. Get a sense of the Woopi community by lounging on the lawn, which is dotted with picnic tables and festooned with fairy lights. Pizzas from the woodfired oven are the go here, best paired with a Headland Hazy. Meet the local shapers at a Boards, Beers & Beats night and bring the kids and doggo to a Sunday session for a gossip and a giggle.

Address: 7 Willis Road, Woolgoolga

Moonee Beach Hotel

Nothing induces parents’ good cheer more than a playground, mini golf and pet-friendly beer garden. Moonee Beach Hotel is one of the best pubs in Coffs Harbour for families with its menu jam-packed with everything from pizzas to burgers and jerk chicken wings. Weekends bring a line-up of live entertainment with a vibe that is still Birkenstocks, beards and boardies.  Join the locals for a Sunday sesh where you must guard your chippies with your life from gulls wheeling overhead. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a swim at Moonee Beach Creek. Note: the pub has a Tesla Super Charger.

Address: 2 Moonee Beach Road, Moonee Beach

The Coramba Hotel

You will find it hard to prise yourself away from The Coramba Hotel, which is tucked neatly into the folds of the Orara Valley. The back deck overlooks a patchwork of farmland over a crook of the Orara River, which has a rope swing for older children. Another beautiful thing about this boozer is its elite weekday specials like the pie of the day with chips or 200g rump steak. On weekends, live music and friendly locals make a visit to The Coramba Hotel feel compulsory Bring your dog, grab a seat outside and gulp down lungfuls of crisp country air.

Address: 17 Gale Street, Coramba

Toormina Hotel

Road-trippers visiting the Coffs Coast will appreciate the excellent artisan ales and schnitties on offer at the Toormina Hotel. The pub is also conveniently located a mere totter away from the town’s shopping centre. Pick up some more sunscreen and snacks and then head into The Palms, the pub’s leafy and laid-back outdoor area furnished with cabanas and heaters. There’s a contained playground for kids and a menu with standouts like beer-battered snapper and Thai yellow seafood curry. Trivia nights and big-screen sports add to the atmosphere.

Address: Lot 1 Minorca Place, Toormina

Sawtell Hotel

This Mediterranean-inspired beauty in Sawtell has become a favourite for visitors to NSW’s Mid North Coast. It’s the atmosphere that makes The Sawtell Hotel exceptional. But the sister venue to the Moonee Beach Hotel and Toormina Hotel is also acclaimed for its pub grub. The venue first flung open its doors in 1932. But a recent renovation has made the pub all the more vibey. Stop for a pale ale and stay for the banter in this contemporary pub which offers gun-barrel views down First Ave, lined with giant fig trees. Go for a swim at Boambee Creek. Then head to the Sawty to get sorted with pappardelle alla norma paired with a glass of Château Tanunda chardonnay.

Address: 51–55 First Avenue, Sawtell

Seaview Tavern

A Woolgoolga institution, Seaview Tavern is all about comforting country fare and relaxed hospitality. And, like any good country pub, it’s totally in sync with making Woopi a destination. Check Instagram for $16 daily specials such as the rump or schnitty on Wednesdays or the Franken-tastic Parmageddon every Friday. The beer garden is the place to be, on point with its festoon lighting and communal tables. Families are catered to with kids’ meals, a kids’ zone and supervised games and activities. Live music fires up most weekends. And there’s a Local Legends Pool Comp if you’re game.

Address: 51 River Street, Woolgoolga (25 minutes from Coffs Harbour)

The Hoey Moey

Coffs Harbour’s only beachfront pub, The Hoey Moey , is iconic for its massive beer garden just metres from the waves, which peak and crash all around. In fact, its very location is quintessential Coffs. The Sunday roast at this rowdy local rattler is also off chops, served with a giant Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, carrots and broccolini. You can eat, stay and play at the Coffs Coast pub by Park Beach, which is always packed with tangled knots of surfers, drawn in with the promise of live music and a good time. Come for Sunday reggae sessions or a few schooeys after a surf. And expect impromptu hoedowns at the Hoey when those salty-haired surfers cut loose. Beer-larious.

Address: 84 Ocean Parade, Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour Yacht Club

The sun-splashed Coffs Harbour Yacht Club is sitting pretty against those endless blue skies. Sit outside at the Jetty Beach Bar for an Aperol spritz on a Friday arvo before moving to the Breakwall, the restaurant with one of the best waterfront views in Coffs Harbour. Don’t scoff. We know Coffs Yachtie is not a pub, it’s a club. But the menu includes the usual suspects: crispy chicken wings, chicken parmigiana, and a stellar seafood basket. Visit at lunch for those sparkling harbour views or frock up for an elegant dinner. Arriving by superyacht is the ultimate flex. Dress in crisp whites and boat shoes so the salty old sea dogs don’t suss you’re a blow-in.

Address: 30 Marina Drive, Coffs Harbour

The Coffs Hotel

My craving for a good pub feed is always met at The Coffs Hotel . The popular Coffs Coast pub has been a community hub since 1937. The pub has also moved with the times, with its proprietors understanding that live music is the best way to bring people together. The beer garden is a haven for basking in the sun. But it’s the Backroom where you might spot the next big thing. The venue also hosts weekly events like trivia and comedy. It’s one of those places where you will find yourself returning for weekly specials such as Burger & Wings night and a stellar Sunday roast for a redback ($20). Rest your head in a queen room upstairs.

Address: 135 West High Street, Coffs Harbour

Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar

Set on prime real estate overlooking Park Beach, Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar blends surf-club nostalgia with a boho-chic vibe. Sit by one of the windows that frame the views. Or gather around a table on the dreamy open-air deck, the sweet spot for ocean breezes and afternoon light. Reach peak holiday chill mode while tucking into everything from a pork belly and king prawn salad to salt and pepper calamari. Locals swear by the seafood chowder and big breakfasts after an early surf. My hot tip? Take some Heat & Eat meals back to your Airbnb.

Address: 23 Surf Club Road, Coffs Harbour

Greenhouse Tavern

This Coffs Harbour pub on the city’s northside could trade on its good vibes alone. But the food, drinks and service are seriously good, too. The Greenhouse Tavern offers daily deals such as Schnitilious Schnitty Night on Wednesdays and a Happy Hour on selected schooners to get you over that family holiday hump day. A counter lunch at the Greenie is also a great option. Nudge the kids into the outdoor playground to run around on a sunny day. Catch a game of footy, cricket and UFC action in the sports bar. Join the Pub+ promotion to get discounts on dishes such as a pot pie with mash, peas and gravy. Or the Greenie Supreme pizza topped with pineapple.

Address: 489 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour

Corindi Beach Hotel

Corindi Beach Hotel is a beacon for fishos who come in for the odd Corindi Fishing Club weigh-in. You might recognise some of them from their Tinder profiles posing with their latest catch. The pub also has ice-cold bevvies and a roster of live entertainment featuring artists that play everything from swamp pop to hillbilly disco and raw blues. The pub has a happy hour Monday to Friday every week, free pool on Tuesdays, and flower bouquet workshops for kids during the school holidays. The classic Mid North Coast NSW pub also has a beer garden with ocean views and a playground to suit free-range kids. Want something light? There’s a section on the menu called Greener Pastures, dedicated to salads.

Address: 7 Tasman St, Corindi Beach

Mogul Beer

Mogul Beer was established by a hobbyist home brewer whose beers were so popular with mates he decided to bring them to a wider audience. Quench your thirst with a $7 Crispy Boy schooner (every Wednesday to Thursday) before stocking up on some Mogul merch souvenirs. You should also ogle the Mogul range of beers so you can purchase a six-pack of lager or stout to go. Let the live music flow through you between Thursday and Sunday at the 80-seater venue which has a rotating roster of food trucks such as the Taco Whisperer and Benny’s Brisket. The brewpub is warm and inviting, with Italian leather seating, olive green tiles and wood panelling.

Address: 20C Featherstone Drive, Woolgoolga

Plantation Hotel

You might have initially planted yourself at the Plantation Hotel in Coffs Harbour to access the onsite EV Charging Station. But you will be tempted to stay on at ‘the Planto’ in the heart of Coffs Harbour for the scheduled events each week. It’s okay. Chill. You can check in at the Planto as this pub in the heart of the city also offers accommodation. Add to this an impressive range of some 17 beers on tap as well as jugs of sangria that are the colour of a Coffs Harbour sunset. Sit and sip at the bar until your tonsils are limber enough to tackle karaoke. There are also pool tables primed for competitive fun and games for the Sear (a steak), Sing (some karaoke) and Shoot (free pool) night.

Address: 88 Grafton St, Coffs Harbour

The Coast Hotel

The Coast Hotel is equal parts pub, restaurant and nightclub. Scan the blackboard for family-friendly lunch specials such as Monday’s Mexican night of Nachos & Tacos or the Sunday All Day roast with guaranteed lashings of gravy. You can also tuck into fuss-free fare such as crumbed lamb cutlets or salt and pepper squid in the bistro. Upstairs is more party mode for millennials. Don your Dickies and Doc Martens for a beer and a boogie when DJs and cocktails flick the switch to lit. Don’t miss the Friday seafood special. This is the city’s most social pub and the place you’re most likely to form connections with Coffs Coast locals. Grab a few espresso martinis so you can go the distance.

Address: 123 Moonee Street, Coffs Harbour

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

Coastal classics: top pubs in and around Coffs Harbour