The old Coffs Jetty is a 530-metre timber pier on the southern side of the harbour, built in 1892 to ship cedar and bananas out to coastal steamers before the highway and the railway took the trade. It is closed to traffic now but open to walkers — a flat, popular sunset stroll over the water, with anglers along the rails and pelicans on the bollards.
The working marina at the foot of the breakwater is where the dive boats, whale-watch cruises and a small fishing fleet are based. Several seafood cafes face the water, and the Coffs Harbour Fishermen's Co-op sells the day's catch off the boat in the late afternoon. It is the natural starting point for the walk out to Muttonbird Island.