Below is a complete list of all the eateries at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Strip, their specialties, their phone numbers and a link to their website, if they have one. There are around 20 cafés and restaurants in all.

Where is the Jetty Strip of Restaurants?

The Jetty Strip is at the bottom end of Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour, just before the road becomes Orlando Street. It runs between Marina Drive and Camperdown Street. See Map. It is opposite the Jetty Village Shopping Centre and near the railway crossing on Marina Drive, which goes to the Jetty Foreshores, Jetty Beach and the Coffs Harbour International Marina. It takes about 3 minutes to drive to the Jetty Strip from the Coffs Harbour CBD along Harbour Drive.

Part of Coffs Harbour's 'eat street' - the Jetty Strip with over a dozen cafés and restaurants

The cafés and restaurants at the Jetty Strip:

Starting from Jetty Dive Centre on the easternmost corner of the Jetty Strip, you’ll find the following eateries:

• Taste of North India  (Indian) – Phone: 02 – 6651 1668‎
• The Watermark Brasserie  (Modern Australian) – Phone: 02 – 6651 8221
• The Fishermans Katch  (Seafood & Grill) - Phone: 02 – 6652 4372
• Foreshores Café  (Modern Australian) - Phone: 02 – 6652 3127
• Ristorante Piccolo  (Modern Italian) - Phone: 02 – 6651 9599‎
• Fountain Restaurant  (Vietnamese) – Phone: 02 – 6651 1978
• Scoffs Restaurant  (Seafood & Grill) - Phone: 02 – 6651 1516
• Urban Espresso Lounge  (Coffee, Modern Australian) - Phone: 02 – 6651 1989
• Tandoori Oven  (Indian) – Phone: 02 – 6652 2279  
• The Crying Tiger Restaurant  (Thai) – Phone: 02 – 6650 0195‎
• Oberoi’s Indian Restaurant (Indian) – Phone: 6651 9699
• Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant  (Chinese) - Phone: 02 – 6651 6787
• Cold Rock Ice Creamery  (Ice cream, coffee, cake) – Phone: 6652 4999
• Water Surf Art Café  (Coffee, cake, sushi) – Phone: 02 6651 4500
• Maria’s Restaurant  (Italian) - Phone: 02 – 6651 3000
• Tahruah Thai Kitchen  (Thai) – Phone: 02 – 6651 5992‎
• Waves Bistro at the Pier Hotel  (Modern Pub Food) – Phone: 02 – 6651 8222

The great thing about these restaurants is that most are nice and casual and offer outdoor seating. (What would make that even greater is if the strip wasn’t so narrow and so close to the road where cars drive past.)

Opening Hours & Days:

Some of these are only open for breakfast, coffee and lunch until mid-afternoon, while others open for lunch and dinner or for dinner only. Also, some restaurants close on certain days (e.g. Sunday and Monday), so it’s worth to call and check opening hours before you plan your meal out.

Other close-by eateries near the Coffs Harbour Jetty (within easy walking distance):

• Fiasco Ristorante + Bar  (Italian & Wine Bar) – 22 Orlando St – Phone: 02 – 6651 2006
• Hog’s Breath Café  (Steak & Grill) – Jetty Village Shopping Centre – Phone: 02 – 6652 5646
• Y Knot Bistro at the Yacht Club  (Modern Australian) – 30 Marina Dr – Phone: 02 – 6651 1741
• Coffs Harbour Café  (Modern Australian Café & Seafood Restaurant) – Coffs Harbour Marina – Phone: 02 – 6651 6888
• Creekside Café at the Pet Porpoise Pool (Casual Meals) – 65 Orlando St – Phone: 02 - 6659 1911

Changes: Things can change quite quickly in the hospitality scene, so if you know something has changed and would like to send me an update or new information, please email me.

And… bon appétit!

Unfortunately, this event is NOT being held in 2010 for some reason. Hopefully it will be on again next year.

In the last couple of years, Botanical Jazz was held every Sunday afternoon in February, featuring outdoor jazz concerts at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden (official name) or Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens (what most people call it).

I’ve been to a few of the concerts in recent years. The atmosphere is great and the setting is fabulous. The concerts take place in the open performance area not far from the Garden’s entrance which is surrounded by big old trees.

The entrance and performance space at the Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden

The timing (the concerts start at 5.30pm) means that you’re there around sunset, so it won’t be too hot any more but you won’t get cold yet either. Around that time of day, the birds in the trees usually come alive again as well (or it’s the music waking them up…) and they’ll often add their own musical accompaniment to the band that’s playing, which can have a really funny effect!

In 2009, the following jazz concerts were held in the Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden:

• Sunday 1 February 2009: Roger Burke Quartet with Christie Schlenker
• Sunday 8 February 2009: George Washingmachine Trio
• Sunday 15 February 2009: Galapagos Duck
• Sunday 22 February 2009: Uncle Jed

I am quite disappointed that there will be no Botanical Jazz in Coffs Harbour in 2010.

If it’s on again next year, make sure to bring a rug or camping chairs, a picnic and drinks, and find yourself a good spot on the grass before the 5.30pm start. Don’t forget the insect repellent! (Although they’ll often have some spray cans at the entrance for visitors to use as well.)

Even if you’re not a jazz fan or aren’t familiar with the musicians that are playing, come along just to enjoy a great musical night out with a group of friends and a picnic basket full of goodies, in one of Coffs Harbour’s most beautiful spots. 

Tickets are usually about $15 (accompanied children under 12 are free) and available at the venue on the night (or in advance if you’re very keen). For more information about upcoming events at the gardens, see the Botanic Garden website.

If you’re not from Coffs, the Botanic Gardens are just a few blocks east of the Coffs Harbour CBD, signposted as a turnoff from Harbour Drive.

I dare say that the Jetty at sunset is the top choice for local couples to have their bridal pictures taken, and you’ll see at least one bride and groom there most Saturday afternoons or early evening.

The Coffs Harbour Jetty and Muttonbird Island at dusk and with a full moon

The Coffs Harbour Jetty (which is heritage protected) juts out into the harbour and you’ll get a good look, from many angles depending on where you stop to enjoy the view, at:

• the International Marina with its yachts and fishing vessels,
• Muttonbird Island and people walking up and down its path,
• the southern breakwall, Corambirra Point, the Deep Sea Fishing Club and the boat ramp,
• relatively flat and safe Jetty Beach with the vegetated foreshores behind it,
• Coffs Harbour’s popular Jetty residential area with expensive apartments up on the hill,
• people swimming and canoeing in the harbour,
• kids jumping off the Jetty (in summer mostly),
• people fishing off the Jetty (all year round),
• and possibly (have a good look down and around from the end of the jetty…) dolphins and turtles in the  water.

No matter how many times you have walked on the Jetty, or walked below it on Jetty Beach, it’s always a great way to spend half an hour or an hour before or after dinner in the evening.

Jetty Beach, the marina and Muttonbird Island glowing just after sunset

You could get a nice big ice cream first from Cold Rock at the nearby Jetty Strip of restaurants (Harbour Drive) and see if it lasts you until you reach the end of the Jetty. Or take the walk before or after you have dinner at one of the dozen or so restaurants there.

Want to feel the sand between your toes? Get onto Jetty Beach and walk to the Deep Sea Fishing Club at the southern end to enjoy an affordable dinner with an incredible view from inside their restaurant or the big wraparound veranda.

And if the sky and clouds look promising, don’t forget to bring your camera!

In the previous two years, it ran for two whole weeks. But the good news is – this year it’s fully sponsored so entry is free!

In the 2010 program, there’s an outdoor movie in Woolgoolga (at the Beach Reserve) on Friday evening 8 January and two in Coffs Harbour (at the Jetty Foreshores) on Saturday 9 January and Sunday 10 January.

I’ve been to a few movies at the Coffs Outdoor Cinema in 2009 and 2008 and really enjoyed it.  I can definitely recommend it as a fantastic, relaxing night out. Because it’s free this year, I’m sure even more people will go and experience it.

If you’re thinking of going, make sure you bring some camping chairs or something else that’s comfortable to sit on for a few hours, something to eat and drink, insect repellent and something warm to wear in case it cools off after a warm summer day.

Gates will open at 6pm so you can have a picnic first and claim the best spots. Bring your own food or get some takeaway food from one of the restaurants on the nearby Jetty strip on your way to the Jetty Foreshores. There are plenty of food options in Woolgoolga too if you’re going to the Woolgoolga outdoor cinema on the Friday. Coffee and snacks will also be available for sale at the event.

The films start around 8.15pm – when it gets dark, just after sunset.

For the schedule of films, see the program on the Coffs Open Air Cinemas website.

If you miss this year’s event, it’s definitely something to keep in mind for next year!