Aanuka Beach Resort, Coffs Harbour

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.