About

Overview & Vibe

DONOVANS runs two wedding venues on the Coffs Coast under one chef-owner, Matt Donovan. The flagship is the Surf Club Restaurant & Bar on Surf Club Road, steps from the sand with uninterrupted Pacific Ocean views — first place in the 2026 Wedding Venue Surf Club category for the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers, after seventeen years of beachside weddings. The second is Link Eatery & Grounds at Toormina, a sub-tropical garden beside a lagoon.

Setting & Style

At the Surf Club the reception is a versatile Events & Dining area with two all-weather decks over the ocean, taken on exclusive hire for the evening, with room for dining, dancing and live music. The private conference room doubles as the bridal party’s preparation space. The venue styles the room itself — timber-top tables, high bars, lounges, centrepieces, glassware, linen, menus and signage, with soft drapes, dried botanicals and lighting. At Link, ceremonies happen in the gardens or beside the lagoon, indoors or out, with twinkling lights after dark and a pavilion hall under exposed timber trusses.

Ideal For

Couples who want an ocean backdrop with the styling, coordination and catering handled in-house, or a garden and lakeside setting from the same kitchen.

The Need-to-Knows

Five wedding packages, all at the Surf Club: Buffet with Dessert and Seated at 120–150 guests, Cocktail and Premium Cocktail at up to 350, and a Superior package from 30 to 350 designed with the chef directly.
The venue claims “some of the lowest venue hire fees on the Coffs Coast” without giving a figure.
Bar hours are part of the package — 5.5 hours on the seated, buffet and premium cocktail packages, 4.5 on the standard cocktail.
The Surf Club bar is operated by the Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club, with proceeds going to local life-saving.
An in-house wedding coordinator is assigned; setup, pack down, styling, staffing and the sound system are included.
Link has free on-site parking and is fully accessible; only service dogs are permitted there.
Accommodation is a separate three-bedroom guest house near Park Beach, for getting ready rather than for guests.

Standout Feature

A chef-owned surf club with uninterrupted ocean views, styled in-house to the point that, as the venue puts it, you would never guess you were in a surf club.

Amenities

Uninterrupted Pacific Ocean Views
Two All-Weather Decks
Steps From The Sand
Events And Dining Area
Exclusive Evening Venue Hire
Private Conference Room As Bridal Prep Space
In-house Wedding Coordinator
Owner And Executive Chef Matt Donovan
Licensed Bar
Bar Manager
Timber-top Tables
High Bars
Lounges
Centrepieces
Glassware And Linen
Menus And Signage
Soft Drapes And Dried Botanicals
Romantic Lighting
Full Setup And Pack Down
Styling Included
Staffing Included
Sound System
Room For Live Music Or DJ
Ample Parking
Sub-tropical Garden Grounds
Lagoon Setting
Pavilion Hall
Indoor And Outdoor Ceremony Options
Fully Accessible
Free On-site Parking At Link
Wedding Get-Ready Guest House

Ceremony Setting

beachfront
outdoor
indoor
garden
lakeside
deck

Dietary Options Supported

No details available.

Nearby Landmarks

Coffs Harbour Beach – The venue sits on it
Park Beach – Patrolled year-round, next to the guest house
Coffs Creek – Runs to the harbour beside the venue
Coffs Harbour Jetty and Marina – Just south along the foreshore
Muttonbird Island – Nature reserve at the end of the harbour breakwall
Coffs Harbour CBD – A five-minute drive inland
Toormina – Where the Link Eatery and Grounds sits, south of the city

On Site Accommodation

Not at either venue. DONOVANS operates a separate three-bedroom guest house near Coffs Creek and Park Beach, marketed specifically as a wedding get-ready retreat rather than guest accommodation - it sleeps up to six. It has indoor and alfresco entertaining areas, landscaped gardens, premium linen and towels including beach towels, an espresso machine, a pizza oven, a winter fire pit, lawn games, an outdoor beach shower, air conditioning in the living area and ceiling fans in the bedrooms, free wi-fi and driveway parking. A complimentary DONOVANS venue voucher comes with every stay. It is a short walk to a beach patrolled year-round, a five-minute drive from the Coffs Harbour CBD and five kilometres from Coffs Airport.

Price Notes

Pricing is provided on enquiry. No prices are published. The venue states it offers 'some of the lowest venue hire fees on the Coffs Coast' and 'flexible options for every budget, from cocktail-style to bespoke dining experiences', but gives no figure for either.
The package structure is published in full, all five at the Surf Club. Buffet with Dessert Wedding - two courses served over 1.5 hours, bar open 5.5 hours, 120 to 150 guests. Seated Wedding - three courses served alternate drop to tables over 2 to 3 hours, bar open 5.5 hours, 120 to 150 guests. Cocktail Wedding - 8 dishes served over 2 hours, bar open 4.5 hours, up to 350 guests. Premium Cocktail Wedding - 10 dishes served over 2 hours, bar open 5.5 hours, up to 350 guests. Superior Wedding - the couple sits down with the Owner and Executive Chef to design the dining experience, 30 to 350 guests.
What the all-inclusive package covers is itemised even though its price is not: timber-top tables and high bars, lounges, centrepieces, glassware, linen, menus and signage, with the space styled using soft drapes, dried botanicals and romantic lighting. Full venue setup and pack down, styling, staffing and the sound system are included, along with an in-house Wedding Coordinator through planning and on the day, and exclusive venue hire for the evening celebration. The private conference room doubles as a preparation space for the bridal party. The bar is operated by the Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club with proceeds going back into local life-saving efforts, and a Bar Manager works with the couple on drink selection. At Link, coordination is by The Link Events team with catering and a licensed bar by DONOVANS Link Eatery & Grounds, plus free on-site parking and full accessibility.

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Contact

Website: donovansvenues.com.au
Phone: (02) 6652 9870
Address: 23 Surf Club Road, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia

23 Surf Club Road, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia Open in Maps