One of our favourite places to visit in N.S.W. is Coffs
Harbour. We stay at the same place everytime because of its location and types of accomodation it has.
Aanuka Beach Resort is located about 3 minutes from the Big
Banana, right on its own beach, Digger’s Beach. Designed with a Fijian/Island
style, the resort features a mix of accommodation types, 1 and 2 bedroom spa
bures and more family oriented apartment style accommodation. We always opt for
a spa bure as it makes us feel as if we are on an island holiday.
The rooms feature a relaxed island resort style decor and are light and airy with lots of wood, white tones, island carvings, and pops of colour. All rooms contain a fold out sofa bed if there are more than 2 staying in a room. A basic kitchen
(microwave, fridge, electric fry pan, kettle and toaster) is in each bure, some
even have a 2 burner stove top. All feature a dining table next to the
kitchenette and a lounge area with DVD and CD players. Each bure also has a washing machine and
dryer.
The resort features two swimming pools, tennis courts, small
gym and other leisure activities. Boogie boards are also available at reception
for braving the waves.
The resort also has a creek running through it that ends at the beach. This is a native habitat area and you will see bush turkeys wandering
around the whole resort, kookaburras singing a song, the resident willy wag
tail chasing anything bigger than its self, brazen sea gulls trying to steal
your snacks and waterdragons sunning themselves where ever they find a nice
spot.
The main building houses reception, a day spa, two
restaurants and a bar. The resort also caters to functions with three dedicated
function areas and a chapel for weddings. While we were there we saw two beach
weddings take place. The Decks bar and restaurant faces directly on to the
beach which is accessed across a lawn. Breakfast in Casay Restaurant is wonderful while watching the
waves from your table and dinner as the sun sets is amazing.
Dinner at Casay is the equal of many Sydney restaurants.
Seafood is locally sourced as Coffs Harbour has a good Fishermans Market. Much
of the meat and poultry is also sourced from the north coast and inland.
Surf and turf with Ranger Valley beef fillet and Yamba king
prawns.
Chargrilled pork cutlet with ratatouille ratatouille. Vikki said pork was fantastic, nicely charred but still moist and juicy.
For dinner on our second night, I had the locally caught snapper with Yamba prawns, rocket salad.
Char grilled pork cutlet, Thai stir fry vegetables and
apple. Vikki had the pork again, she does love a bit of pork.
We skipped dessert as the mains were quite filling.
The rest of our trip we had room service, walked in to town
for lunch, and went to the tasting of the restaurants new menu.
The rest of our time we relaxed, went for twice daily walks
on the beach and to the top of the headland. From the head land you get a nice
view in to the town centre, marina and out to the Solitary Islands.
Two shots looking back to the resort, one from on the beach
and from the top of the headland.
Early morning fisherman on the beach.
Looking towards the marina and town centre to the right.
Most of our holidays we rush around but this time we relaxed,
which made for a very enjoyable holiday. Just what we needed. Sometimes you just
have to slow down and stick your toes in the sand.
