Bonville

Bonville is a serene riverside hamlet just 10 minutes south of Coffs Harbour, beloved for its world-renowned golf course, pristine rainforest, and laidback country vibe. This tiny community sits on the banks of the Bonville Creek, where lush green hills meet the Pacific Ocean, offering a peaceful escape from the coastal bustle.

Highlights & What to See

• Bonville Golf Resort – regularly voted among the top public golf courses in Australia, this championship layout winds through subtropical rainforest with abundant birdlife. Even non-golfers can wander the resort’s gardens and spot water dragons lounging by the ponds.
• Bonville Creek & Rainforest Walk – a gentle 2 km loop trail that meanders through towering palms, fig trees, and past a tranquil boardwalk over the creek. Listen for whipbirds and kingfishers in the canopy.
• Bonville Farmers Market – held every Saturday morning at the local hall, stocking organic produce, artisan cheeses, and fresh-baked sourdough. Grab a coffee and chat with growers.
• Promised Land Rainforest Retreat – a short drive inland, this private nature reserve offers guided night walks to see glowing fungi and glow-worms.

Suggested Time to Spend

Bonville can be comfortably explored in half a day if you’re just visiting the golf resort and creek walk. However, to truly unwind, consider an overnight stay: play a round of golf in the morning, enjoy lunch on the resort terrace overlooking the fairways, then take a late-afternoon stroll along the creek. If you’re self-driving, it makes a perfect lunch stop between Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Coffs Harbour – 10 minutes north, with the iconic Big Banana, Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve, and excellent beachside cafés.
• Sawtell – a charming beach town with a relaxed village atmosphere, great fish-and-chip shops, and the scenic Sawtell Headland walk.
• Bellingen – 25 minutes inland, a creative hub set in the Bellinger River valley, famous for its heritage buildings, artisan galleries, and the enchanting Never Never Creek swimming holes.
• Dorrigo National Park – 45 minutes west, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, with dramatic waterfalls (Dangar Falls and Dorrigo Falls) and skywalk above the canopy.
• Nambucca Heads – 30 minutes south, known for the V-Wall art mural, Nambucca River oysters, and the headland walking track with whale-watching platforms.

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