Forest Sky Pier Sealy Lookout

Not far from Coffs Harbour there is a lookout that should be included on any visit to the area. It's called Sealy Lookout and it's where you will find Forest Sky Pier, which offers a panoramic, 180 degree view of Coffs Harbour that on a clear day can include up to 100 kilometres of coastline.







The lookout is located only a few kilometres to the north of Coffs Harbour, within Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, itself part of Orara East State Forest. Getting there is easy and just involves turning off the Pacfic Highway onto Bruxner Park Road, then following the signs. On your way, you'll pass a series of bananas plantations, which I found was a great way to appreciate why The Big Banana represents the region.

Once you've reached Sealy Lookout, you will find the Forest Sky Pier jutting out 21 metres from the car park and standing 15 metres above the forest floor at an elevation of 310 metres. It offers views over Uldarra National Park, Coffs Harbour and the Solitary Islands Marine Park, and it's a picture that is well worth the small effort it takes to get here.

Throughout the rest of Bruxner Park Flora Reserve you can enjoy picnic areas at Halfway Creek and Swans Road Crossing (there are also facilities at the lookout itself). Walks in the reserve include the Rainforest Walk, a 1.6 kilomtre, 45 minute loop, and the Creek Trail, a 20 minute one way trip, which both start at the Halfway Creek picnic area. Korora Lookout is another attraction found here.



If you're interested in a view that can rival the one at Sealy Lookout, you should head to Dorrigo National Park, which is only about an hour away, to the south west of Coffs Harbour. The park is home to the popular Skywalk, which is located at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, and allows you to look out over the park and Bellinger Valley.

There are also many attractions to be enjoyed in Coffs Harbour if you don't want to travel too far away. These include the famous Big Banana , Dolphin Marine Magic (where you can spend an afternoon feeding all sorts of marine animals) and the Bunker Cartoon Gallery (which is Australia's only black and white cartoon gallery, and happens to be housed in a WWII bunker).



Where: Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, Orara East State Forest
When: 8.00am until dusk
Cost: Free

Categories
#new_south_wales
#coffs_harbour
#mid_north_coast
#lookouts
#views

%travelsix