10 Of The Best Attractions In The Mid North Coast

Top of the list is the Forster fun park families travel from across the region for — The Big Buzz Fun Park. Located in Rainbow Flat between Forster and Taree, it's the standout amusement park NSW visitors consistently rate as their holiday highlight. One ticket covers a full day across all rides and attractions.

As the amusement park NSW families return to year after year, Big Buzz packs go-karts, laser tag and putt putt into one ticket — along with:

• A 480-metre toboggan ride with open rural views
• Speed karts, outdoor laser tag and nine-hole putt putt
• Three fast waterslides, a toddler water playground and shaded splash zone
• Carts, bikes, a jumbo dry slide and a kids adventure playground

Adult full day pass (8+) $55, kids (3–7) $45, non-active entry $10. Open weekends year-round and daily during NSW school holidays, 10am–4pm. Planning ahead? Check the 2026 season dates and what to expect before you go.

A ten-acre wildlife park just outside Port Macquarie, Billabong Zoo has been one of the top things to do mid north coast since 1989. It runs daily animal talks, feeding sessions and hands-on encounters across more than 100 species — including kangaroos, koalas, snow leopards, red pandas and the legendary saltwater croc Shrek. Most families allow two to three hours. About 15 minutes from Port Macquarie's town centre toward Wauchope.

The original Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on Lord Street is closed for redevelopment and due to reopen in 2026. In the meantime, all operations and resident koalas have moved to the Wild Koala Breeding Visitor Centre at Guulabaa — Place of Koala, Lake Innes. Entry is free. You can watch koalas being treated, learn about conservation efforts and explore the Wild Koala Breeding Program. Worth calling ahead to confirm opening times.

A generational Mid North Coast landmark, the Big Banana runs as a full all-weather fun park beyond the iconic photo stop. Waterslides, an ice skating rink, mini golf and laser tag keep families busy for a full day. Located a few kilometres from central Coffs Harbour — easy to pair with a beach afternoon. Check current operating hours before visiting as these vary by season.

Part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, Dorrigo National Park sits about an hour inland from Coffs Harbour and delivers one of the better half-days on the entire Mid North Coast. The Skywalk cantilevered lookout extends out over the ancient canopy, Crystal Shower Falls is an easy and impressive walk, and the Rainforest Centre provides free entry with good interpretive displays. Most walking tracks are free; standard vehicle fees may apply.

One of the most underrated stops on the Mid North Coast, Trial Bay Gaol is a nineteenth-century prison ruin on the headland at South West Rocks with a surprisingly layered history — built for convict labour, later used as a WWI internment camp. The curated museum and memorial are worth the entry fee (adults $11, concessions $8, families $30), and Horseshoe Bay beach is right next door for a post-visit swim.

Seal Rocks is one of NSW's least commercialised beach destinations — no resort development, no theme park NSW noise, just a working lighthouse, reliable surf and beaches that consistently rank among the state's best. Myall Lakes National Park surrounds it with calm waterways suited to kayaking and fishing. About an hour south of Forster, it's best as an overnight rather than a day trip.

Nambucca Heads gets bypassed more than it deserves. The V-Wall — a rock retaining wall at the river mouth covered in decades of visitor-painted rocks — is free, unusual and genuinely engaging for kids. The town's beaches are calm-water friendly, the foreshore walks are easy and visitors can add their own painted rock to the wall. A low-effort, low-cost afternoon that earns its place on the itinerary.

An hour inland from Coffs Harbour, Bellingen is the kind of hinterland town that rewards an unplanned stop. The Old Butter Factory Co-Op, independent galleries, quality cafes and a weekend market make for a genuine half-day away from the coast. The flying fox colony on Bellingen Island is one of the more unusual natural sights in the region. Pairs well with a morning at Dorrigo National Park.

Forster and Tuncurry sit at the heart of the Great Lakes region and make a strong base for the Mid North Coast. Forster Main Beach is patrolled, Wallis Lake is set up for kayaking and paddleboarding, and the area is the gateway to Seal Rocks and Booti Booti National Park. Being close to the Forster fun park at Big Buzz means a full activity day is always an easy option. Staying nearby? See our full guide to things to do in Forster this summer for even more ideas.

We at The Big Buzz Fun Park know that finding one place that works for the whole family isn't always easy — especially on a holiday timeline. Whether you're driving up from Sydney, heading south from Queensland, or you're locals after a proper school holiday day out, we're open weekends year-round and daily during NSW school holidays, 10am–4pm weather permitting. Located in Rainbow Flat between Forster and Taree. Call us on 02 6553 6000 or get in touch online to plan your visit.