Bonville Creek

Bongil Bongil National Park

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Overview

Bonville Creek is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and fishing in Bongil Bongil National Park, near Sawtell.

Accessibility
Hard

You don’t need to be an experienced paddler to enjoy Bonville Creek. Just 10 minutes drive south of Coffs Harbour, this tranquil waterway will make you feel you’re a million miles away from town. It’s an easy paddle for canoeists, kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders of all levels.

This saltwater estuary also offers a sheltered fishing spot. If you're lucky, you might catch flathead, mullet or mangrove jack to cook up for lunch at nearby Bongil picnic area.

Bonville Creek, surrounded by native bushland, attracts plenty of birdlife. Bring your binoculars for a chance to see cormorants, whistling kites, ospreys, kingfishers and the beautiful rainbow bee-eaters. Shorebirds such as little terns and pied oystercatchers make their nests at the mouth of the creek.

For those wanting a longer paddle, canoes and kayaks can also be launched around the upper reaches of Pine Creek.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • Bongil picnic area, Bongil Bongil National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/OEH

    Bongil picnic area

    Bongil picnic area, south of Coffs Harbour, is a secluded spot for picnicking, canoeing, fishing and birdwatching by the banks of Bonville Creek, in Bongil Bongil National Park.

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/canoeing-paddling-experiences/bonville-creek/local-alerts

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Bonville Creek.

Getting there and parking

Bonville Creek is in the northern area of Bongil Bongil National Park, near Sawtell. To get there:

  • Take the Bonville exit from the Pacific Highway onto Pine Creek Way
  • Turn into Williams Road
  • Continue to the end of Williams Road to the carpark at Bongil picnic area.

For fishing or launching canoes or kayaks:

For launching larger dinghies or tinnies:

  • You'll need to use the public Bonville Creek boat ramp off Lyons Road in Sawtell (outside Bongil Bongil National Park).

Road quality

  • Sealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Bongil picnic area inside the national park, or at Bonville boat ramp on Lyons Road, which is outside the park. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.

Bicycle access

Cyclists and walkers can reach Bonville Creek and Bongil picnic area via the unsealed Lyons trail from Lyons Road, Toormina.

Facilities

Toilet and picnic facilities are available nearby at Bongil picnic area, located at the end of Williams Road.

Drinking water is not available in this area so it's a good idea to bring your own.

Carpark

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Paddling safety

To make your paddling or kayaking adventure safer and more enjoyable, check out these paddling safety tips.

River and lake safety

The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

Accessibility

Disability access level - hard

Permitted

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Prohibited

Powerboats and jet skis are not permitted in this area. Bonville Creek waterways have a 4 knot speed limit.

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Bonville Creek is in Bongil Bongil National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

A place where one stays a long time

Bundagaree Rainforest walk, Bongil Bongil National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/Seen Australia

Bongil Bongil National Park is the traditional land of the Gumbaynggir people, whose ancestral lands extend from Grafton in the north to the Nambucca river in the south, and from the coast west to the headwaters of the Nymboida river. The park provided abundant seafood and bushtucker, and was a site for gatherings and sacred ceremonies.

  • Bush tucker Bush tucker is a Stage 4 (Years 7-8) school excursion to Bongil Bongil National Park, which focuses on Geography. Join our Aboriginal Discovery rangers for an easy stroll along the forested banks of Bonville Creek, to investigate the rich diversity of plants and animals in the park.
  • Bush tucker Bush tucker in Bongil Bongil National Park is a school excursion for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) students with a focus on Geography and History. Join our Aboriginal Discovery rangers for an easy stroll along the forested banks of Bonville Creek, to investigate the rich diversity of plants and animals in the park.
  • Bush tucker in Bongil Bongil National Park Share the bush secrets of the traditional Gumbaynggirr People in Bush tucker – a Stage 3 (Years 5-6) excursion in Bongil Bongil National Park. Aboriginal guides will reveal their special connection to Country and their secrets for health, wellness and survival.

Beaches and waterways

Bonville Beach, Bongil Bongil National Parks. Photo: Rob Cleary/Seen Australia

The waterways within Bongil Bongil National Park carry water across the coastal plains from the steep foothills to the west, providing a home for many types of birds, animals and reptiles. For visitors, the waterways and beaches in Bongil Bongil National Park offer a range of water activities, including excellent fishing and kayaking. Try your luck on the Bonville river for flathead and whiting.

Birdwatcher's haven

Bundagaree Rainforest walk, Bongil Bongil National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/Seen Australia

In addition to being home to one of NSW's largest koala populations, Bongil Bongil National Park also boasts more than 165 species of birds. The park provides breeding, roosting and feeding habitats for a number of migratory birds like the little tern and the pied oystercatcher. The Bundageree Rainforest walk is the best place to see the birds of the rainforest, like the dramatically beautiful wompoo fruit dove and the colourful rose-crowned fruit dove that makes a loud and explosive "hookco" sound.

  • Pine Creek paddle route Adventurous canoeists, kayakers, and stand-up paddle boarders will enjoy this downstream route along pristine Pine Creek, a wildlife haven in Bongil Bongil National Park, near Coffs Harbour.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

    Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

  • Profile view of a grey-headed flying-fox flying past eucalupt trees. Photo: Shane Ruming © Shane Ruming

    Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

    The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.

  • Lace monitor, Daleys Point walking track, Bouddi National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Lace monitor (Varanus varius)

    One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.

Plants

  •  Grey mangrove, Towra Point Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer

    Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)

    Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.

  • Blueberry ash. Photo: Jaime Plaza

    Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)

    The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)

School excursions (3)