A flotilla of canoes from the Pacific Islands has reached Coffs Harbour on a voyage to highlight the need for more action to tackle climate change.

It is the first time a fleet of traditional voyaging canoes has sailed to Australia.

The Mua Voyaging canoes have navigated by the stars on the 4786 kilometre voyage from the Cook Islands, Samoa and Fiji to Coffs Harbour.

The fleet arrived in the harbour last night.

Mua coordinator Colin Philp said the fleet will sail into Sydney Harbour next week.

"Our final destination is the International Union for Conservation of Nature Sixth World Parks Congress ( IUCN ) which begins in Sydney on Wednesday November 12, 2014.

"We're sailing there with a message from the Pacific calling for global action on climate change.

"Trying to form partnerships that will help preserve our Pacific Ocean, which is so important to our livelihoods."

Mr Philp said the three 16-man crews of the 'Marumaru Atua', from the Cook Islands, 'Gaualofa' from Samoa and 'Uto ni Yalo' all feel they are at the frontline of climate change.

"That's one of the reasons why we're coming here, we've all got personal stories to tell, about our own homes and the things we're seeing change in our lives already.

"We want to share that with everyone.

"I come from a small island in the south east of Fiji.

"The change in our fisheries, both the tuna fishery and our local coastal fishery.

"We can see the huge change just in my lifetime."

