Daydream believers splash the cash on the Coffs Coast

Fresh tourism data shows Coffs Harbour has roared back as a destination of choice, with numbers usurping the pre-Covid period. 

Tourism Research Australia has just released figures for the 2023-2024 years, and they reveal some whopping growth for Coffs. 

Headliners include a 19.2 per cent spike in domestic overnight visitor numbers and a 40.1 per cent increase in the expenditure of domestic day trippers. 

“We are implementing a whole-of-sector strategy which includes a focus on higher value visitors who are coming here for diving, mountain biking, trail running – for active recreation and adventure sports,” City of Coffs Harbour General Manager Natalia Cowley said. 

“The post-Covid trend has been for outdoor tourism experiences. We were the first location in NSW to be accorded ECO Destination status and this has underlined our credentials in this space.” 

A just published independent review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy has recommended the State Government adopts an experience-led action plan to enhance NSW’s appeal to visitors and turbocharge visitation growth. 

The Tourism Research Australia report shows there were 885,000 domestic overnight visitors per year to Coffs in the two-year average for 2023-24, a near 20 per cent jump on 2022-23. The latest numbers are also well up on the pre-Covid four-year (2016-19) average of 821,000. 

The good news rolls on with the survey finding domestic day visitors spent $147 million (average per year 2023-24) compared to $105m (2022-23). 

The average spend per trip by domestic day visitors is also up to $221 in the latest period, compared to $157 – a 40.9 per cent jump. 

“Several major sport events during the latest survey period have contributed as have our marketing campaigns in both traditional, social and digital media,” Ms Cowley said. 

“We have been showcasing attractions and the local people behind the activities as many modern travellers are interested in experiences and stories. 

“Our many food options on the Coffs Coast are also a strength. All of these are amplified in the Coffs Coast Explorer app which was launched by the City in May so its impact isn’t really captured in this survey.” 

The combined domestic day and night visitors to Coffs reveals a 10 per cent increase – 1.55 million average per year (2023-24) compared to 1.41m (2022-23). 

Meanwhile, the Coffs Coast’s Red Rock Beach has been named among the 16 best beaches in Australia by the website islands.com 

“We've cast a critical eye on lists of best beaches found across tourism sites and blogs, and come up with the best must-visit Australian beaches,” the publisher explains.  

The praise for Red Rock just north of Coffs is unmuted. 

"This may be the best beach in NSW", maintains a commentator on Google. The water is so clear. Highly recommend,” the webpage reports. 

“The red rocks that give the beach its name contrast strongly with the clear turquoise waters and soft golden sand that are other visual treats of this destination. The beach feels both relaxed and rugged, with lots of space for lounging, and gentle waves of water rolling into the shore.” 

As well as Red Rock, the list includes Byron Bay Main Beach, Burleigh Heads Beach, Cable Beach, Coolum Beach, Cossies Beach, Cottesloe Beach, Fairhaven Beach, Gibson Beach, Hellfire Bay, Hyams Beach, Palm Cove Beach, Smith’s Beach, Vivonne Bay Beach, Whitehaven Beach and Wineglass Bay. 

Photo: Adventure tourism on the Coffs Coast with HWH Stables.