Affordable and affable: Why Coffs Harbour is a spot to watch

A tweet from Russell Crowe in January sent the Coffs Harbour community into a spin. Dubbing The Dark Arts Coffee Academy as “Coffs Harbour’s hidden gem”, he put the place on the map. In a laneway in the centre of town, the edgy Melbourne-style cafe is a 25-minute drive from Crowe’s bush hideaway at Nana Glen.

It’s not the only improvement to the Mid North Coast centre.

 Amanda Langlands of Langlands Property says there’s plenty more to recommend Coffs Harbour beyond trendy cafes and the Big Banana.

There is the airport with eight one-hour flights to Sydney daily, highway roadwork improvements and the redevelopment of the harbour foreshore.

Amanda says the influx of buyers from Sydney proves the town’s growing appeal.

Former Sydneysiders Kevin and Renae Hunter haven’t looked back since leaving Balmain last year.

“We love Sydney but for us the importance of family time meant the move to Coffs was an easy decision,” says Kevin, 36. “Infrastructure and affordability were the great motivators.”

Kevin commutes to his finance job in Sydney three days a week and works from home two days. The couple bought a block of land footsteps from the beach for $400,000. Their plans to build are well under way. Life with daughter Evie, 2 and their Labrador puppy Rio, is good.

Australia’s favourite Big Thing, the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, celebrated its 50th anniversary two years ago.
 Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Scott Nolan of Nolan Partners Real Estate says factors such as the university, hospital, medical facilities, climate and the best airport between the Gold Coast and Sydney are drawcards but so is the lifestyle.

“Regardless of where you are, you’re only one to five minutes from an uncrowded beach,” he says. “Walk up the beach and you have your own little piece of paradise.”

The market is particularly strong according to Nolan who points to the exodus of buyers leaving Sydney. “It’s very affordable here with units and townhouses priced from $250,000to $400,000,” he adds.

Jason Burnett of The Edge Coffs Harbour says the area is especially attractive to young couples and families. “One partner might commute to Sydney for a couple of days and work from home for the rest of the week,” says Burnett. He adds that investors also do well in Coffs Harbour with a solid rental market and low vacancy rates.

Coffs Harbour is 540 kilometres north of Sydney. Flight time to Sydney is one hour while the drive takes about eight hours.

The town benefits from Australia’s most temperate climate with an average temperature of 23.4 degrees. 

Seaside steals

4 Beachfront Close, Sapphire Beach

Come home to a view you adore at this Coffs Harbour home. 
Photo: supplied 

All the main rooms and the decks of this spectacular coastal home have views across Sapphire beach to Solitary Islands. Selling for $1.5 million, the two-storey house on 593 square metres is in a gated community with direct access to the beach. See more on Domain here. 

116 West High Street, Coffs Harbour

This stunning home is selling for a fraction of what it would cost in Sydney.
 Photo: supplied

A rain shower water feature cascades from the upper-level balcony of this modern house close to the heart of town. The pool is the focal point from the open plan living areas that feature polished timber floors and high ceilings. The home is for sale by private treaty and the asking price is $619,000. See more on Domain here. 

2/8 Solitary Islands Way, Sapphire Beach

A colourful seaside option on Sapphire Beach.
Photo: supplied

Agent: The Edge Coffs Harbour, 0421 699 554

Lie in bed and watch the waves from this single-level apartment in the beachfront Nautilus Resort. Front and rear terraces offer exceptional outdoor living, ocean views and a private garden. Each bedroom has its own en suite. 

For sale by private treaty, the asking price for this one is $1.15 million to $1.25 million. See more at Domain here. 

To find your potential next home in Coffs Harbour, download the Domain app.