We like to start the day with a short drive to Nourish Café & Grocer in Valla Beach. Their coffee is spot on, and the menu is full of fresh, wholesome breakfasts such as Egg and Bacon rolls, avocado toast, and ricotta pancakes with berries.

For beachside lunch between water-based activities, Beach House Providore is our go-to. Set just back from the sand, it’s perfect for grabbing a fresh baguette, gourmet salad, or one of their delicious deli-style wraps before finding a shady spot by the beach to enjoy your lunch. They also have a great dine-in menu with a gourmet twist of the usual breakie/brunch classics. 

Come evening, Valla Beach Tavern offers a friendly, laid-back pub vibe with generous portions of classic favourites like schnitzel, steaks, and local seafood. If we’re in the mood for some fancy takeaway, Mia Piccolina is a charming vintage caravan 150 metres from the beach serving handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza - ideal for a relaxed dinner after a day in the sun.

If you're in the mood to cook, the park’s camp kitchen and BBQs make self-catering easy. With fridges, cooktops, and plenty of prep space, you can pick up local produce in Nambucca Heads or Bellingen and enjoy a meal with the sound of the ocean in the background.

From the park it's a short walk crossing the walkway to South Valla Beach - perfect for a swim, surf or to soak up the sun. 

Paddle a kayak or SUP the tranquil waters of Deep Creek, where you might spot fish darting beneath the surface and native birdlife along the banks. The creek mouth is well known for its fishing where you’re a chance to catch Australian Salmon, Bream or Flathead

Head south to Nambucca Heads for panoramic views from Captain Cook Lookout and a wander along the colourful V-Wall Outdoor Gallery, where visitors have painted their own inspirational and holiday messages on the breakwater rocks over many years. 

If you’re up for a scenic drive, explore Bellingen with its cafés, galleries, and historic streets, then continue to the Dorrigo National Park for the Skywalk lookout, rainforest boardwalks, and stunning waterfalls. The ancient Gondwana Rainforests are listed as a World Heritage Area.

For a family-friendly day out, the Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour is about 30 minutes north. It’s packed with water slides, mini golf, laser tag, an ice skating rink, and of course the famous giant banana - a perfect mix of nostalgia and all-ages fun.

From May to November, the NSW Mid North Coast comes alive with whale watching as humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the warm northern waters. You can head out on a boat tour from Coffs Harbour for an up-close encounter, or take a coastal drive and spot them from shore at scenic lookouts like Shelly Beach or Sawtell Beach.

Even in peak season, the park’s layout and large, leafy sites mean you’re not crammed in. There’s room to spread out, and a sense of privacy you don’t often find in coastal holiday parks.