Time to Roam Magazine Issue 12 - December/January 2015 | Page 54

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on the roam flavours

Going Bananas in Coffs
It’s famous for the big banana, but GABRIELA O’PORTO reports,
there’s a variety of great local produce and places to dine out.
BY GABRIELA OPORTO, FOOD WRITER

Driving through Coffs Harbour you’ll
can’t miss the Big Banana on the
northern approaches to the city.
Behind the iconic oversized fruit is a great tourist
stop showcasing the history of banana growing in
the area as well as café and other fun activities.
Hernan Reich is credited with
starting banana plant plantations in
the Coffs Harbour area in 1891.
Coffs was one of the largest banana
growing regions in Australia through
the 1900’s until Queensland took over
in the later part of the century.
It’s reassuring to know that all fresh bananas
you see in supermarkets are all grown in Australia.
Even If you’re not into bananas, there
are of course plenty of other great foods
and flavours to savour in Coffs.
Chefs in this area only use the most local,

Coffs Harbour markets
Bellingen Growers Market: Is held every
second and fourth Saturday of the month.
Bellopy Organic Farmers Market: Held
every first, third and fifth Friday of the
month at the Anglican Church Bellingen.
Coffs Twilight Market: Held every Friday
night in summer at Park Beach Reserve.

seasonal and fresh produce. Coffs Harbour
is recognized for having specific prawns from
the area. Other regional produce worth noting
includes Woolgoolga berries, Dorrigo potatoes,
Bellinger River oysters, Orara Valley vine-ripened
tomatoes and small fruits from Bellingen.
Some great breakfast and lunch venues you
won’t regret to visit are: Surf Club Restaurant &
Bar located inside the Coffs Harbour Surf Life
Saving Club, Op 81 Café, serves great coffee,
Cafe Aqua with great service and atmosphere
and Cocoa’s Café offers modern café dining.
For dinner, Macauley’s Restaurant offers great
modern Australian fine dining cuisine, Master
Wok and CreAsian are worth noting for authentic
Chinese and other South-East Asian cuisine,
Fiasco is the place for traditional Italian cuisine.
Coffs Harbour also offers a great variety of
markets. From growers and farmers markets
to arts, crafts and other local specialties.

Bellingen Community Market: Held
the third Saturday of each month.
Makers Market: Held every Saturday
at Coffs City Centre Square.
Sawtell Family Markets: Held the
fourth Saturday of every month.
Woolgoolga Beach Markets: Held every
second Saturday of the month.

Coffs Harbour
food options
Surf Club Restaurant and bar
Park Beach, Surf Club Rd
Ph: 02 6652 9870
Op81 Café
81 Ocean Parade
Ph: 02 6652 9011
Café Aqua
57 Ocean Parade
Ph: 02 6652 5566
Cocoa Café
Shop R48 Coffs Central
Ph: 02 6650 9417
Macauley’s Restaurant
99 Park Beach Rd
Ph: 02 6652 5970
CreAsian
SR Shop 47 Coffs Central,
35-61 Harbour Drive
Ph: 02 6652 4368
Fiasco Restaurant and Bar
22 Orlando St
Ph: 02 6651 2006
Master Wok Chinese Restaurant
61a W High St
Ph: 02 6651 4581

Coffs Car Market: Held every Saturday
at the Coffs Harbour Showground.
Bollywood Markets: Held every first
and fourth Saturday of the month.
Coffs Harbour City Lions Club Car Boot
Market: Held every first Sunday of the month
from 7am - noon at the Jetty Foreshores.

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Coffs Car Market

Gabriela Oporto
Gaby is a qualified nutritionist
and passionate foodie who has
travelled around the world and
lived in both Chile and Italy.