Coffs Harbour Foreshores Pathway

From Park Beach Reserve to the Jetty and beyond

The Foreshores Pathway is Coffs Harbour’s easy, beautiful coastal walk that links Park Beach Reserve to the Jetty and Marina precinct. It is fully paved, mostly flat, shaded in the right spots and packed with water views the whole way. Start at Park Beach Reserve and follow the path south beside the creek mouth where the water sparkles and sandbars curl into the ocean. It is the kind of scene that makes you slow down without trying.

Park Beach Reserve section

This first stretch runs beside calm water with picnic lawns, shelters and plenty of room for a quick paddle. The path sits close to the shoreline so you get constant ocean glimpses and that soft sea breeze. It is perfect for prams, wheels and lazy morning strolls.

Marina Walkway

Keep following the signs and you will roll straight onto the Marina Walkway. The track widens here and skirts the harbour with yachts on one side and breakwall rocks on the other. Look down into the marina and you can often spot schools of fish cruising around the pylons. On a still day the water turns glassy and the rigging makes that gentle clink that tells you the day is going well.

Historic Jetty

The route lands you on the timber Jetty for classic Coffs views back to the beaches and mountains. Low tide shows off the sand patterns below. High tide gives you deeper blues and a clean horizon. It is a must-shoot stop before you loop back or continue out to the island.

Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve

From the Jetty, follow the breakwall to Muttonbird Island. The path up is short and steeper, but the viewing platform on top is worth it. You get a full sweep of the coast, the Solitary Islands, the marina and the Jetty all in one frame. In season you might see muttonbirds coming and going, and sometimes turtles or rays below on clear days.

The plaque: who built the Pathway and when

Right along the route you will spot the Foreshores Pathway plaque. It confirms the path was a community project, initiated, coordinated and funded by a team effort including the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City, the Department of Public Works, Park Beach Reserve Trust, Coffs Harbour City Council and The Enterprise and Training Co. of Coffs Harbour.
A major financial contribution came via the Department of Employment, Education and Training through the 1992 Jobskills Programme.
The pathway was officially opened on 4 December 1992 by Mr Andrew Fraser, MP (Member for Coffs Harbour) and Senator the Honourable Kerry Sibraa. The short version: locals built this, for locals and visitors, and it still does exactly what it was made to do.

Why this walk works

• Continuous paved path with easy gradients

• Water views from start to finish

• Seats, lawns and shade to pause wherever you like

• Cafes and facilities around the Jetty and Marina

• Simple to shorten or extend depending on energy and tide

Practical bits

• Parking is available at Park Beach Reserve, the Marina and the Jetty precinct

• Dogs on lead are welcome along the pathway. Check local signage for beach zones

• Take water, a hat and your camera. Morning and late afternoon light are the best

Photo ideas

• From Park Beach Reserve, frame the creek mouth and sandbars for that bright aqua shimmer

• On the Marina Walkway, shoot across the boats with the hills behind

• From the Jetty, go wide to stack beach, bay and mountains

• On Muttonbird Island, use the platform for a full harbour panorama

Start at Park Beach Reserve, follow the foreshore and let the path deliver one good view after another until you reach the Jetty. It is Coffs Harbour at its easiest and most photogenic and once you are ready to sit down and enjoy the best Coffs Harbour Paint and Sip, always think Paint Juicy!