Things to do with kids in NSW North Coast

The 13m Big Banana opened in December 1964 as Australia's first Big Thing, and the photo out front costs nothing. Behind it, the fun park has a toboggan, ice skating, a plantation tour and a water park that closes from May to early September. The park opens at 9am daily; rides are ticketed, with combo packages available.

The Skywalk is a 70m boardwalk that juts out from the escarpment about 21m above the rainforest. The view runs down the Bellinger Valley to the coast, and the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre nearby opens 9am to 4.30pm from September to May. The 5.8km Wonga walk loop takes two to three hours and crosses a suspension bridge at Crystal Shower Falls.

From the car park by Coffs Harbour's breakwall, a paved path crosses the island to the Eastern Side lookout, about 2km return. Shearwater burrows open onto both sides of the path, so keep kids on the track; the burrows cave in easily. Humpback whales pass between May and November, so bring binoculars.

This 10-acre koala and wildlife park in Port Macquarie cares for more than 200 animals from over 80 species. Kids can pat, feed and hold some of them, and keepers give talks through the day; check the board for times when you arrive. It opens 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day.

This 1.3km boardwalk rises seven metres into the rainforest canopy near Port Macquarie, and it's an easy loop for all ages. Look for goannas, diamond pythons and rainforest birds. Entry was $20 for a family of two adults and three children in October 2026, and the Rainforest Centre opens 9am to 4.30pm daily.

The gaol at Arakoon, near South West Rocks, opened in 1886, and its prisoners were put to work on a breakwater scheme that failed. Allow about an hour to explore, climb to the guard tower for the view, and expect to pay $30 for a family pass (October 2026). Nearby Mermaid Pools is closed to visitors because of dangerous waves.

Ellenborough Falls, at Elands in the Manning Valley, drops 200 metres, the tallest single-drop waterfall in NSW. Two viewing platforms near the car park are an easy walk. Older kids with energy can tackle the 641 steps to the bottom of the falls and back.

Yamba's ocean pool is built into the rocks at the southern end of Main Beach, home to one of the state's oldest surf clubs. The beach is patrolled on weekends and in school holidays from September to Easter. Toilets, showers, picnic areas and a cafe are close by, with disabled access to the beach.

Lake Ainsworth is a freshwater lake stained amber by the tea trees around it, with calm water for a family swim or a paddle. It sits across the road from Seven Mile Beach at the northern end of Lennox Head. Shady spots, barbecues and picnic tables ring the shore.

The 3.7km Walgun Cape Byron track loops through rainforest, along beaches and over clifftops to Cape Byron Lighthouse; allow about two hours. Look out for dolphins, turtles and, in season, whales. Families can walk shorter sections from several access points, and parking near the lighthouse is limited to one hour.