Coffs Harbour Jetty area walk, NSW
Coffs Harbour Jetty area walk, NSW
The walk takes in the delights on the Coffs Harbour Jetty area. Walk along the breakwater, watch surfers, look at boats, and out to sea from Mutton Bird Island. Finish on the old jetty. Brilliant!
Summary
The walk takes in the delights on the Coffs Harbour Jetty area. Walk along the breakwater, watch surfers, look at boats, and out to sea from Mutton Bird Island. Finish on the old jetty. Brilliant!
Description
The brilliant walk takes in the delights on the Coffs Harbour Jetty area. Walk along the breakwater, watch surfers, look at boats, and out to sea from Mutton Bird Island. Finish on the old jetty.
The link above is to information on the Coffs Harbour Jetty area (most of the information below came from this website).
Coffs Harbour is a subtropical city surrounded by National Parks and faces the Solitary Island Marine Park. This is a walk takes you around the Coffs Harbour Jetty area an up onto Mutton Bird Island which juts out to one side of the harbour, giving it shelter. The island, which is effectively one big hill, is connected to the land via a breakwall alongside the International Marina.
No visit to Coffs Harbour is complete without a stroll to and, if you can handle a reasonably steep but short climb, over Muttonbird Island.
A 500m paved walkway runs across the island to the other side. Muttonbird Island is a sacred and very significant site to the local Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people, who call the island Giidayn Miirral.
Home to thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters, also known as muttonbirds, the island is a protected Nature Reserve. Shearwaters are named for their ability to cut or shear the water with their wings as they skim across the surface. Early settlers called them muttonbirds for their fatty mutton-like flesh.
The muttonbirds spend the Australian winter in South-East Asia and travel thousands of kilometres each year to return to the same burrow on Muttonbird Island in August. The island's plant cover hides the thousands of burrows and people are urged to stay on the track so as not to damage any of the burrows.
A pair of birds take turns incubating one single egg and also share the raising of their chick. They forage for food during the day and return to the burrow just after dusk. The mutton birds leave the island for their annual migration in late April.
There are interpretive signs at the start of the walkway at the bottom of the island and along the path, explaining the life cycle and habits of the wedge-tailed shearwaters.
On top of the island, you'll have an incredible 360-degree view across the ocean, beaches, harbour and marina, the city and the mountains. At the end of the walkway is a viewing platform, providing uninterrupted views of the waves crashing onto the rocks and of the Solitary Island Marina Park, which starts here.
The viewing platform also has interpretive signs about humpback whales. Muttonbird Island is one of the best spots on Coffs Coast for whale watching. Thousands of humpback whales pass the coast north and then back south between June and November on their annual migration to give birth in warmer waters.
28783 Views
Points of Interest
1. Park Beach South
Not for swimming (dangerous currents), but great for walking.
2. Surfers on Park Beach South
Lots of surfers to watch, sit on the sand on Park Beach South or the breakwater rocks.
3. Fishing boats Coffs Harbour
Love looking at fishing boats.
4. Yachts in the harbour
If you are lucky you might see a yacht coming in.
5. Mosaic in the sea wall
Look out for the mosaic in the sea wall. I only saw one, what's the story? Who put it there?
6. Along the Breakwater
The path is great (good for prams). Sometimes waves can splash over the breakwater, on a warm day it is a delight!.
7. Eddies in the water
Sit on the breakwater and watch the waves curl around into this little bay. The waves form eddies and patterns in the water. Very mesmerising.
8. Mutton Bird Island info
Nice little rest spot and information on Mutton Bird Island. It is the last of the flat, get ready to climb.
9. Steps to Mutton Bird Island
The steps to Mutton Bird Island, this is where you start to work. But, keep going. It is worth it!
10. The steep path
Yes, the path is steep!
11. South Solitary Island
Looking across to South Solitary Island. It has an historic lighthouse that you can just see.
12. Corambirra Point
Looking across to Corambirra Point and the amazing rock formation. Boambee Beach is behind.
13. Looking back to the harbour
Looking back to the harbour, Coffs Harbour and the many National Parks behind.
14. Little Mutton Bird Island
Looking back at Little Mutton Bird Island.
15. Onto the Eastern tip of Mutton Bird Island
Onto the Eastern tip of Mutton Bird Island. Smell the sea air, look out to the ocean. Heaven!
16. Tip of Mutton Bird Island
The tip of Mutton Bird Island, this is what it is all about. It can be quite secluded and worth the walk. Sit, rest, think and smile.
17. Jetty Beach
Jetty Beach is as good as it looks. Swim, sit, paddle, body surf or lie in the sun.
18. Jetty Beach picnic area
The Jetty Beach picnic area has seats, toilets, water, shade and an abundance of bird life.
19. Coffs Harbour Jetty
The Coffs Harbour Jetty is a great walk, love the sound of the boards under foot.
20. Jetty Beach from the jetty
Looking back onto Jetty Beach from the jetty.
21. Mutton Bird Island from the jetty.
The end of the Jetty and Mutton Bird Island.
Features
Picnic spot
Seating available
Public toilets
Art and culture
Park / Garden
