The Bonville
Few rounds in Australia feel like this one. Cut through stands of towering flooded gum and dense subtropical rainforest on the hills behind Coffs Harbour, Bonville was conceived as the country's answer to Augusta, and it remains one of the most photographed and most loved courses on the continent. A par 72 of about 6,080 metres, opened in 1992, it pairs championship golf with a resort you can stay in.
Photo: Bonville Golf Resort via Google.
The verdict
Bonville is the rare Australian course that trades on beauty as much as on test. The land was 250 hectares of steep, forested country on the Mid North Coast, thick with flooded gum, blackbutt, bloodwood and pockets of rainforest, and the designer Ted Stirling, working with course builder Terry Watson, threaded eighteen holes through it without clearing the drama away. The result is a parkland in the truest sense, where manicured couch fairways run between walls of green and the birdsong is as much a part of the round as the bunkering.
It opened in 1992 with the stated ambition of becoming Australia's Augusta, and while no course should be measured against Magnolia Lane, Bonville earns the comparison for sheer presentation and the feeling of seclusion on every hole. A par 72 of about 6,080 metres, it is not the longest course you will play, but the corridors are tight, the elevation changes constant, and the greens true and quick. Best of all for the traveling golfer, it is a resort, so you can stay on site and walk to the first tee, which makes it one of the easiest great Australian courses to actually get on.
Bonville Golf Resort at a glance
- Opened
- 1992
- Designer
- Ted Stirling
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,080 m
- Access
- Public resort
Opening year, designer, par and length verified June 2026 from Bonville Golf Resort and leading course databases. The course was designed by Ted Stirling with builder Terry Watson and opened in 1992; it plays as a par 72 of about 6,080 metres, stretching to roughly 6,710 yards from the black tees. Bonville is a public resort course, so visitor green fees and stay-and-play package rates apply and change by season; this is an indicative 2026 picture, so always confirm the current rate and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Bonville's defining feature is its corridors. The flooded gums stand tall and close on most holes, so accuracy off the tee matters far more than raw length, and the smart play is often a fairway wood or long iron to find the short grass rather than a driver flirting with the tree line. Miss the fairway and the recovery is usually a chip back into play, which is why the course rewards the disciplined ball striker and frustrates the wild hitter, exactly as a great parkland should.
The elevation gives the round its rhythm. Holes tumble downhill and climb back up through the forest, and several greens sit in natural amphitheaters that funnel approaches and gather the eye. The par 3s are a highlight, each framed by rainforest and water, and the short par 4s tempt the aggressive line while punishing the greedy. By the closing holes the test sharpens, and a steady card needs concentration to the last putt.
Conditioning is the other signature. Bonville has long set a presentation standard that visitors remember, with fairways cut tight and greens running firm and fast, and the resort has hosted professional events that confirm the layout holds up under tournament scrutiny. For the visiting golfer the appeal is the complete experience, a beautiful, well kept course you can play and then sleep beside.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course open to visitors; green fees apply and stay-and-play packages with on-site accommodation are available |
| How to play | Book a tee time or a golf package directly with the resort, or through an accredited golf tour operator; resort guests receive priority access |
| When | Open year round; book ahead in the cooler, drier months and around school holidays when the resort is busiest |
| On the day | A walkable but hilly parkland with carts available; smart golf attire expected, and accuracy off the tee rewarded over length |
| Getting there | About 15 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour, roughly five hours' drive north of Sydney, with Coffs Harbour airport close by |
| Best months | Year round golf; autumn and spring are the most comfortable, summers warm and humid on the subtropical coast |
Access details verified June 2026 against Bonville Golf Resort; rates and arrangements change, so always confirm the current visitor policy and package pricing directly before planning a trip. See our Australia green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest answer is the resort itself. Bonville's on-site accommodation puts you a short walk from the first tee, with views over the course and the forest, and the stay-and-play packages are the easiest way to secure both a bed and a confirmed tee time in one booking. For a golf-first trip to the Mid North Coast, it is hard to beat for convenience.
Beyond the gates, Coffs Harbour and the beachside village of Sawtell offer a wider range of hotels, apartments and restaurants a short drive away, handy if you are traveling with non-golfers or want to pair the round with the coast. Bonville also makes a natural centerpiece for a touring trip north from Sydney, taking in the great city courses on the way before the rainforest finale here.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Coffs Harbour.
Build a New South Wales golf trip
We arrange tee times and stay-and-play packages at Bonville, then route the rest of your New South Wales golf around it, from the Sydney championship clubs to the Mid North Coast. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bonville Golf Resort questions
Where is Bonville Golf Resort?
Bonville is at Bonville, about 15 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, roughly a five hour drive north of Sydney or a short flight to Coffs Harbour airport.
Who designed Bonville and when did it open?
The course was designed by Ted Stirling, with Terry Watson as course builder and superintendent, and opened in 1992. The brief was to create an Australian answer to Augusta National, threading fairways through flooded gum and subtropical rainforest.
What is the par and length of Bonville?
Bonville plays as a par 72 of about 6,080 metres, stretching to roughly 6,710 yards from the black championship tees. The front nine is a par 35 and the back nine a par 37.
Can visitors play Bonville Golf Resort?
Yes. Bonville is a public resort course open to visitors, with on-site accommodation and stay-and-play packages. Green fees and package rates change by season, so always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly with the resort before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and length verified June 2026; access policy verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.