Halfway between Sydney and Brisbane lies the dreamy Coffs Coast region of New South Wales, which encompasses 50 kilometres (31 miles) of Pacific Ocean shoreline as well as a tangle of hinterland laced with World Heritage-listed rainforest. At its heart lies Coffs Harbour, delivering everything you could want from a beach-meets-bush adventure. This laidback town is all about the great outdoors — whether you’re reclining on powdery stretches of sand at Jetty Beach, searching for whales or dolphins from Sealy Lookout, or hiking around Muttonbird Island, a sacred Indigenous site where wedge-tailed shearwaters nest. This jaw-dropping nature reserve is home to thousands of these beautiful birds, and their presence here defines the region as a birders’ paradise.

Flights from Sydney Airport (SYD) and Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) arrive daily, with regular shuttle buses into town. While Coffs itself is easy to explore on foot or using public transportation, it’s ideal to have your own car, so you can branch out and visit the region’s beaches and hinterland at your own pace — they’re not easy to reach otherwise. This also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the Waterfall Way, a spectacular 210-kilometre (130-mile) road trip from Coffs Harbour inland through vast swathes of a World Heritage-listed national park, with waterfalls aplenty dotting your route. Be sure to hike to Wollomombi Falls, which tumble 220 metres (722 feet) to the forest floor, then pause to refuel at the many laid-back towns and villages that characterise the area. If you’re driving from capitals, Coffs Harbour is 5.5 hours north from Sydney, or four hours south from Brisbane.

Summer months are busy in Coffs Harbour, as you’d expect of a coastal town delivering sun, sand, and surf within easy reach of major Australian capitals. But this season can be hot and humid. If you’re planning inland expeditions to explore the rainforest — whether hiking or biking — consider coming here in the shoulder seasons of spring or autumn or across winter. These months also give you the best chance of spotting migrating humpback and southern right whales, which cruise up and down the east coast of Australia between May and November every year.

Orara East State Forest

This wilderness reserve is best observed from Niigi Niigi (Sealy Lookout). The Forest Sky Pier here offers a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest, extending from the mountains across to the coast. This is your base for hikes and Indigenous tours through the national park.

Treetops Adventure Park

Dozens of adventure challenges and experiences await at this theme park — for kids of all ages — including screaming through the canopy on the world’s longest ziplines, navigating tree-top rope courses, and buckling in for a rollercoaster that offers a searing view of the scenery.

Solitary Islands Marine Park

Encompassing some 75 kilometres (47 miles) of coastline from Coffs Harbour north to the Sandon River, this marine park offers everything from sandy beaches to subtidal reefs, island to rocky shores. Explore by boat or with your head under water on snorkelling and diving expeditions, admiring some of the 550 fish, 600 molluscs, and 90 hard coral species that thrive here.