Coffs Harbour stretches from Scotts Head in the south to Red Rock in the north. It spreads inland beyond the slopes of the Great Dividing Range to the New England National Park. It has rainforests, golden beaches, friendly towns, a good range of accommodation and a rich heritage and history.
Coffs is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, with a population of around 63,000. Thanks to its sub-tropical climate, Coffs is a popular holiday resort. Apart from its natural attributes, visitors can enjoy many activities such as horseriding, bushwalking, sky diving, ocean diving and surfing.
Getaway discovered an adventure activity developed by Bob Palmer on the beaches of Coffs Harbour. It's called Surf Rafting and is one of several adventures run by Liquid Assets.
Surf Rafting has you surfing waves in 3.6-metre self-bailing whitewater rafts. All equipment is registered under the New South Wales Whitewater Code of Operations and all participants must wear a personal flotation device and helmet at all times.
The latest design makes it easier to paddle through the surf and onto cresting waves for the ride of a lifetime back to the beach. It provides a lot of fun for individuals, groups of friends or family, though children must be over eight if surf conditions are up to one metre. Children 12 years and over can participate in surf over one metre.
You need normal fitness to paddle rafts through the surf. Any concerns should be discussed when making your booking.
Instructors are highly trained, experienced and responsible so you are assured of a safe, exciting and memorable experience. All tours are accompanied by a staff member who holds an Australian Surf Life Saving Bronze Medallion.
Before you head off, you get to enjoy a breakfast picnic on the beach: cereal, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, drinking chocolate or special catering on request.
With Liquid Assets, you can also go whitewater rafting on the Nymboida River or Goolang Hydro release, maybe sea kayaking while looking for dolphins, turtles, manta rays, schools of fish and migrating whales, in the right season. They can also teach the basics of riding a surfboard as well as surf awareness and beach safety.
They will take you flat water kayaking on the pristine waters of the Bongil Bongil National Park. Or maybe you would prefer a rafting tour of the lower reaches of the Nymboida River, home to the north coast's largest platypus communities.
