Learning to see the silver lining

Sometimes while backpacking, you end up in questionable places. While some are definitely worse than others, there are days when you realize you may have lost sometime visiting a certain destination. While this is a reality for most backpackers, even if you are used to it, it’s a bummer to loose an entire day. The key is learning to see the silver lining, though. This is exactly what I did while visiting Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, Australia.

To start, Coffs Harbour isn’t a bad place. In fact, it seems like a pretty nice place to live. The problem is, I was coming from the beautiful Byron Bay area. Regardless of what Coffs Harbour had to offer, it definitely lacks the same culture found in Bryon. Coffs Harbour town is spread out for seemingly miles (meaning a car is very helpful) and lacks the outright love for backpackers. The nightlife is pretty bland, the town shuts down early, and the overall atmosphere just doesn’t fit the mold needed to make a fun, backpacking destination. With that being said, there is definitely one main pull for Coffs Harbour.

Located a simple walk behind the Hoey Moey Backpackers lodge, the beach in Coffs Harbour is absolutely stunning. The beach is comprised of fine, white sand, and runs for miles. The costal break is a great place for surfers to play, and the beach is backed by beautiful greenery. Along with a beautiful view, since Coffs Harbour isn’t a mainstay on the backpacker’s agenda, the beach is completely secluded. At any given moment, you can find yourself plopped on kilometers of open, beachside real estate. A night, the stars from the beach are incredibly bright and lucid, and you can even see the lighthouse from Byron Bay.

If you are looking for anything more than a secluded beach, Coffs Harbour may not be for you. If you are in search of some alone time on gorgeous coastline, a stop in Coffs Harbour is a must. 

Photo courtesy of the Australian Government