Bongil picnic area
Bongil Bongil National Park
Overview
Bongil picnic area is a picturesque outdoor venue for your nature-based wedding ceremony or private event. Host your special day amid this beautiful landscape on the banks of Bonville Creek, near Coffs Harbour.
- Venue is suitable for
- Corporate and business events, picnics, private party or function and wedding ceremonies
- Capacity
- Maximum people: 120
- Facilities
- Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets
- Fees
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$265 for a wedding ceremony. Other events are charged on a group size basis to a maximum of $265. Contact the Coffs Harbour office for more information on pricing.
- Availability
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Available for hire 7 days a week.
Venue not available for exclusive hire - Bookings
- Bookings required. To make a booking or for more information, email or call the Coffs Harbour office
- Other Information
- Bongil picnic area is closed from sunset to sunrise and the area is locked via a boundary gate.
Situated on the banks of the tranquil Bonville Creek, Bongil picnic area is set in a grassy clearing surrounded by tall pencil-straight blackbutt trees in Bongil Bongil National Park. Not only do these offer the picture-perfect backdrop for your wedding, but they also provide a lightly shaded spot to exchange vows.
Aside form being a flawless setting, Bongil picnic area makes a great accessible location for your next event. You and your guests can enjoy easy access to nearby reception venues in Sawtell and Coffs Harbour, where the celebrations can go on.
Choose from a number of locations for a memorable celebration. The viewing platform makes an idyllic wedding ceremony setting. From here, your guests can admire the view over Bonville Creek and the forested mountains beyond.
Bonville Creek is surrounded by native bushland and attracts plenty of birdlife. If you’re lucky, the local cormorants, whistling kites, ospreys, kingfishers and the beautiful rainbow bee-eaters that reside here might make an appearance. You may even be lucky enough to see koalas that sometimes frequent the picnic area. Once the formalities are done, check out the nearby North Bank walk or explore the park by canoe or kayak.
Nearby
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Tuckers Rocks Cottage
Tuckers Rocks Cottage is a self-contained beach house in Bongil Bongil National Park on the NSW north coast. A great place for a family holiday, the park offers excellent fishing and picnic spots.
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Bonville Creek
Bonville Creek is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and fishing in Bongil Bongil National Park, near Sawtell.
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Bongil Beach
Bongil Beach is a remote, walk-in beach, ideal for beach fishing and walking. It also offers scenic coastal views and bird watching in Bongil Bongil National Park, near Coffs Harbour.
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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.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/venues/bongil-picnic-area/local-alerts
Park info
- in Bongil Bongil National Park in the North Coast region
Bongil Bongil National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Venue info
All the practical information you need to know about the Bongil picnic area.
Getting there and parking
From Coffs Harbour:
- Take the Bonville exit from the Pacific Highway onto Pine Creek Way
- Turn into Williams Road north of Bonville
- Bongil picnic area is at the end of Williams Road
The gate to Bongil picnic area is automatically locked between sunset and sunrise.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There's a bitumen carpark at Bongil picnic area. There are 30 parking spots, including 2 accessible parking spots and bus parking is available. Access is via Williams Road, off Pine Creek Way.
Facilities
All rubbish must be taken with you when you leave. Please leave the area clean and tidy. If significant cleaning is required there may be a fee.
Toilets
There's an ambulant toilet at the picnic area.
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
You can bring and use your own portable gas barbecue if it has a drip tray.
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Step-free access
The picnic area is flat and step-free with paved pathways that lead from the carpark to the picnic tables and also to a lookout over Bonville Creek.
Although some of the picnic tables are set along the paved pathways, others sit away from the paths and you'll need to cross over flat grass to reach them.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
There are bench seats at the lookout over Bonville Creek.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Bongil picnic area is flat and step-free, with the following accessible facilities:
- 2 accessible parking spaces in bitumen seal carparks
- An ambulant toilet, set at the end of a paved pathway
- Accessible picnic tables, many under shelters
- Paved paths that lead to the toilets and past some of the picnic tables
- 2 bench seats at the lookout over Bonville Creek where you can rest
Some of the picnic tables are set away from the paved paths that run through the picnic area. People with reduced mobility may need some assistance to cross the grassy surface to reach them.
Permitted
Food and drink
- You may bring your own food as well as portable gas barbecues fitted with drip trays for cooking.
- On-site barbecues can be used for catering purposes and commercial catering is also permitted.
- Limited alcohol consumption by guests is permitted and amounts must be detailed on the application form.
Plant materials
- Only rice and petals, flowers and flower arrangements containing no seed material.
- A florist can arrange this for you on request.
Structures, staging, furniture, amusements and decorations
- Weighted free standing decorative items such as bridal arches, red carpet and columns are permitted.
- Small marquees, chairs and tables.
Commercial filming and photography
- Commercial filming and photography may be permitted on application. You’ll need to get the relevant photography license.
Power, lighting and amplified sounds
- There is no publicly available power
- One single speaker, portable PA system or music player with an amplifier no greater than 50 watts
- Volume must be kept at a level that does not interfere with other park users' quiet enjoyment of the park.
- Lighting may be permitted and must be detailed on the application form.
Prohibited
Balloons, plant materials and animals are not permitted, including decorations consisting of paper confetti and flowers or plant materials that contain seeds.
Horse-drawn carriages, tents, marquees and banners are not permitted. Please do not put up signage or cordon off structures or areas at Bongil picnic area.
Receptions post ceremony will not be accepted.
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Camping
Gathering firewood
Generators
Horses
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.