About

Overview & Vibe

A function centre on the beachfront at Bonny Hills, twenty minutes south of Port Macquarie, looking straight out over Rainbow Beach. It is the function arm of the Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club — not-for-profit, run largely by volunteers, with all profits going back to the club and the bar's takings funding lifesaving and water-safety training.

Setting & Style

The Auditorium is one big flexible room of nearly 300 m² with ocean views and the bar built into it, so service reaches every guest. Off it runs The Deck, a glass-balustraded outdoor space designed for maximum view — sunset drinks before the room fills. The venue's own photographs show the room under a fairy-light curtain with a floral arch behind the bridal table, long tables dressed in white, and bar tables on the deck with the surf behind them.

Ideal For

Couples who want a genuine beachfront reception at a decent size, are happy to marry outdoors on the beach or reserve next door, and like the idea of the profits going to a surf club.

The Need-to-Knows

It is a reception venue first. The venue says so plainly: “Whilst predominately being a reception venue, we do love the ‘I Dos’ and offer our venue as a wet-weather back-up to all our couples.” Ceremonies go on Rainbow Beach or the Rainbow Beach reserve — and those are public spaces you must book through Port Macquarie-Hastings Council yourself.
Up to 200 cocktail or 160 seated — the seated figure is stated without a dance floor, so plan for fewer if you want one.
Packages are built on a minimum of 80 adults and include five hours' venue use and a four-hour open bar. Bubbles on arrival for every guest is in the standard beverage package; spirits are charged on consumption.
The published prices are old. Both brochures were created in November 2021 and last revised in March 2022 — over four years ago — so the canapé and menu figures in them are recorded as historical only. Ask for current rates.
Dietary needs are handled and the menus are marked. The venue states “all food intolerances catered for” and every dish carries gf, df, v or vego tags. Catering is by Bonny's Beach Cafe, which owns and runs the restaurant.
Styling is yours to choose. The venue keeps affiliations with mid-north-coast decorators but “you have the freedom to hire and book with the company you prefer”. Included in the room: a fairy-light curtain, a wine barrel as a cake table and an easel or two.
Ample off-street parking, which matters at a beach on a Saturday.

Standout Feature

A 300 m² room with the surf out the window and a deck to watch the sunset from — run by a surf club, for the surf club.

Amenities

Rainbow Beach Frontage
Ocean Views From Every Room
The Auditorium Nearly 300 Square Metres
The Deck With Glass Balustrade
Bar Located In The Auditorium
Four Hour Open Bar
Five Hours Venue Use
Fairy Light Curtain Included
Wine Barrel Cake Table
Easels For Welcome Sign And Seating Chart
White Tablecloths And Linen Napkins
Bridal Table Skirting
High Rounds And Timber Bar Tables
Room For DJ Or Band And Dancing
Adjoining Restaurant
Catering By Bonnys Beach Cafe
Dedicated Functions Manager
Ample Off Street Parking
Free Choice Of Decorator
Not For Profit Surf Club Venue
3D Virtual Tour

Ceremony Setting

beach
outdoor
function room
deck
waterfront

Dietary Options Supported

Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Vegetarian
Food Intolerances Catered For

Nearby Landmarks

Rainbow Beach – The venue fronts it; ceremonies are held on the sand
Rainbow Beach reserve – The other council-booked ceremony option, next door
Bonny Hills – The coastal village the venue sits in
Port Macquarie – About twenty minutes north
Lake Cathie – Neighbouring village between Bonny Hills and Port Macquarie
Wauchope – The inland town the surf club is named for
Camden Haven – The river villages south along the coast

On Site Accommodation

No details available.

Price Notes

THE PUBLISHED PRICING IS OVER FOUR YEARS OLD AND IS THEREFORE NOT RECORDED AS CURRENT. Both brochures on the site - 'Weddings by Beaches' (12 pages) and 'Parties by Beaches' (9 pages) - carry /CreationDate 4 November 2021 and /ModDate 7 March 2022, with an HTTP Last-Modified of 7 March 2022. That is more than double the campaign's two-year staleness threshold, so price_per_head is NULL. The figures they contain are recorded here as historical only and must be confirmed: 'COCKTAIL RECEPTION PACKAGE: Your choice of either 6 (from $40) or 8 (from $52) canapes from our hot & cold ranges; with the ability to substitute or add anything from our substantial & gourmet ranges for an additional cost. Cocktail packages are served over a 2 hour time period.' Substantial canapes: 'add $2.50 per item per head to swap a standard canape to a substantial canape. OR add $8.50 per item per person to add a substantial to your standard package.' Gourmet plates: 'add $5.00 per item per head to swap... OR add $11.00 per item per person to add a gourmet plate to your standard package.' Sides: 'add $6.00 per item per head for any additional sides.' Grazing tables: 'Our Grazing tables start from $10 per person and are perfect for a more casual, stand-up wedding. Our grazing tables have been designed as a snack, not as a supplement for your meal.' The venue hire page's own figures did not extract and no room-hire number is quoted here.
THE STRUCTURAL TERMS IN THOSE BROCHURES STILL STAND, because the staleness rule bites on prices rather than on facts (the Sen Vineyard precedent, Batch 133). 'All of the below package costs are based on a minimum of 80 adults unless stated otherwise.' 'Venue Hire: Includes 5 hours venue use, 4 hours open bar & basic room set-up.'
THE BEVERAGE PACKAGE IS DESCRIBED IN FULL: 'All Beaches wedding packages include 4 hours of open bar, including a variety of beverages from our extensive range. Standard Beverage Package: Included in our standard beverage package is 4 hours of free-flow standard beers & house wines. Our house wines include: 1 x Red Wine, 1 x White Wine, 1 x Bubbles, 1 x Rose, 1 x Moscato... All beverage packages include bubbles on arrival for all guests and a variety of soft drinks & juices. Premium Beverage Package: Included in our premium beverage package is 4 hours of free-flow standard & premium beers as well as all by the glass wines... Wines only sold by the bottle only are not included in this package. Spirits: Spirits are available for purchase & charged on consumption. Beaches reserves the right to refuse service in accordance with RSA rules & regulations.'
WHAT THE ROOM COMES WITH, AND WHAT YOU BRING. 'Sit-down Wedding: For a sit-down wedding we include round tables for your guests & long tables for your bridal table. All tables are dressed with white tablecloths and white linen napkins with skirting for the bridal table. Cocktail Wedding: For stand-up weddings we include a mix of small square tables (up to 5), high rounds (up to 3) and timber bar tables (up to 7). Additional furniture can be hired through one of our decorating partners (additional costs applicable)... A beaches reception also includes use of our fairy light curtain, wine barrel as a cake table and an easel (or 2) for your welcome sign and seating chart.' On styling: 'Beaches has many affiliations with decorators and theming companies along the mid north coast. With Beaches you have the freedom to hire and book with the company you prefer.'
THE CEREMONY IS NOT THE VENUE'S TO BOOK. 'With the beach front of Rainbow Beach & Rainbow Beach reserve just a stones throw from the our venue, both locations offer the ideal outdoor setting for your special day. Bookings must be made through Port Macquarie Hasting Council for the use of any outdoor pubic space.' A couple marrying on the beach deals with the council directly; the venue provides its own space only as a wet-weather fallback.
IT IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT RUN BY A SURF CLUB, AND SAYS SO. From the About page: 'Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club (WBHSLSC): Inauguration - 1958. New Club Premises Opening: 2010, Incorporating Beaches at Bonny Hills Function Centre and it's adjoining restaurant. Locally known as Beaches, the venue is an auxiliary arm to the WBHSLSC and all profits raised go directly to the club. A not-for-profit establishment, Beaches rely firmly on the loyal efforts of committed volunteers... Although not corporately owned and operated, Beaches proficiently trained staff take great pride in ensuring a high level of service.' The brochure adds where the bar money goes: 'The bar is operated by the Wauchope Bonny Hills SLSC with all funds generated going to support critical lifesaving effort & water safety training for the community.'
NO PHONE NUMBER IS PUBLISHED ANYWHERE ON THE SITE. The contact page gives only 'Beaches at Bonny Hills Functions Manager, beaches.functions@gmail.com' and a web form; both brochures give the same email and no telephone. phone_number is NULL rather than substituted, the same treatment as Barn1890 (Batch 115) and Rowlee (Batch 88).