Pacific Marina Apartments

Pacific Marina Apartments suits divers who prefer room to breathe rather than a standard hotel room with just enough floor space for a suitcase. You get an apartment, a proper living area, a kitchen and a balcony or patio, with ocean or garden views depending on the accommodation.

The website is available in English, so you can get to the practical details before you arrive. Once you are back from the water, the arrangement is straightforward: put the kettle on, open the balcony door, and decide whether dinner means cooking or walking out to the Jetty precinct.

You are in Coffs Harbour, Australia, at 22 Orlando Street in the Coffs Harbour Jetty precinct. Jetty Beach is about 0.3 miles away on foot, while Coffs Harbour Jetty is roughly 0.4 miles away. The marina, shops and restaurant strip are all within the same walkable pocket of the town.

The location also works for a car-free day. Coffs Harbour railway station is about 0.3 miles away, and Coffs Harbour Airport is roughly 1.8 miles from the apartments. For a wider look at the coast, the Big Banana is around a ten-minute drive away, while the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary is about a five-minute walk from the property.

These are apartments rather than dressed-up hotel rooms. The one-bedroom option is the sensible choice for a couple wanting a separate living space, while the two- and three-bedroom layouts give families or dive buddies room to spread out without making the sofa the command centre of the holiday. The larger apartments also have two bathrooms, which matters when several people return at once and everyone wants a shower.

Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, toaster, kettle and kitchenware. There is also a dining area, a sofa and a separate laundry with washing machine and tumble dryer. That gives you the useful sort of flexibility: breakfast at your own pace, a proper meal when you do not fancy going out, and dry clothes without turning the bathroom into a laundry room.

A private balcony or patio comes with outdoor seating and either ocean or garden views. Reverse-cycle air conditioning covers the main bedroom and living area, with a fan as another option, while the private bathroom has a shower or bath, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. Add free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen television with cable and satellite channels, and a private entrance, and the evening is set up for recovery rather than ceremony.

There is no stated hotel meal plan or breakfast service, so the apartments' kitchens do much of the practical work. You have a dining table, an outdoor dining area and barbecue facilities, which makes self-catering a realistic option rather than a heroic act involving one saucepan and a blunt knife.

When cooking is not on the programme, the surrounding strip does the job. Seasalt Jetty and Pizza Vino are about 0.1 miles away, and Supply Speciality Coffee & Bar is around the same distance. The nearby restaurant line-up includes Italian food at Fiasco Ristorante + Bar, The Mermaid Beach House and Grazie, Papi, seafood and French cooking at Latitude 30, and Indian dishes at Indian Flavour. Lunch and dinner are covered; the choice is yours, and nobody needs to wear a tie.

Two outdoor pools give you somewhere to stretch out when the sea is not on the timetable, including a heated pool. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available, while the garden, patio and picnic area offer less chlorinated alternatives for reading, drying off or watching the afternoon disappear.

The coast supplies the more active options. Snorkelling, boat outings, canoeing and horse riding are available away from the apartments, and a golf course lies within 3 km. The property also has a tour desk, with excursions covering islands, waterfalls, markets, wildlife and snorkelling. For a couple travelling together, that is a useful mix: one day can be planned, the next can be reduced to a lounger and a cold drink.

Free secure undercover parking is available on site, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. An ascenseur and step-free access make the apartments easier to manage with luggage, while laundry facilities in the apartment are handy for a longer stay. The property is non-smoking, pets are not allowed, and quiet hours run from 22:00 to 07:00.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out is by 10:00. You need to provide your expected arrival time, photo identification and a credit card at check-in; arrivals after 18:00 require contact with the property. The minimum check-in age is 20, children of all ages are welcome, and cots are available for children aged up to two years, subject to the accommodation selected. Airport access is by a short drive from Coffs Harbour Airport.