Tucked in along the picturesque coastline of New South Wales Australia lies the charming village of Bonny Hills. A place where everyday worries get lost in the seas and crashing waves become your soundtrack.
Bonny Hills located 20km south from Port Macquarie was originally home to fishing enthusiasts from the Wauchope hinterlands.
Dairy farmers and those working in the timber mills would treat themselves to the beauty spot known as Bonny Hills. Now the shacks may be gone, but Bonny Hills hasn’t lost its tranquil charm.
Bonny’s (known by the locals) is an opportunity to trade the hustle of daily routines for a slower, more contemplative pace giving you the space to truly appreciate the simple joys in life…whethere it be the beautiful coastline, or the magnificent national parks in the region.
It won’t take long and you too will feel part of the people. It’s for this reason that families have been returning year after year for their summer holidays.
Rainbow Beach
Rainbow beach (which is seasonally patrolled) is hard to miss and provides the one of the most insta worthy of sunrises around. It’s where you’ll see beach umbrellas, sandy bodies and little surf groms shredding the swell on a daily basis.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie to the surf, you are bound to be grinning from ear to ear when you surf the breaks around Bonny Hills.
Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park
Did you know the Mid-North Coast is home to a well-known mountain biking park?
Another hidden gem and it has something for everyone. If you enjoy cycling, then get in touch with the crew of volunteers and head to the park.
Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Club was officially opened in July 2017. It is located at the corner of Houston Mitchell Drive and Spring Creek Road. There is plenty of parking, toilets, undercover shelter and the starting point to access the trails.
Sixty-Five km of Trails
There are about 65 km of cross-country trails throughout the Queens Lake State Forest plus six gravity trails…totally blessed to have a huge number of different forests, catering for all levels of ability. The trails are graded by colour… Green – easy, Blue – intermediate, Black – advanced and Double Black – advanced and experienced riders only.
If you are starting out with your mountain bike, the 10 km loop which is green, and the 20 km loop is also green/blue. There is a ‘child friendly’ loop called ‘Gromm Hill’, a small hill and perfect for the little people to learn their gravity skills.
The trails are free for anyone to use, and for those who want to use it more than a few times, please join the club though Ozcycle Australia, which means you are fully insured for injury in any mountain bike park.
Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders the non-profit club for the park, run by volunteers, simply to provide this outstanding park to all riders near and far. All funds raised through events, local business sponsorship and memberships are put straight back into maintenance and new trails.
Jolly Nose Club is a family friendly club and run a social ride every Thursday at 5.30pm during daylight saving, catering for all abilities and ages. What a fantastic way to wrap up your Thursday, meet people who love mountain biking with a cool drink and something to eat at the end of the ride.
For The Foodies
Now, let’s talk about food, because we all know exploring makes you hungry. Bonny Hills Garden Centre and the Bonny Hills Garden Centre Café is just one of the delicious cafes you will want to go to. Experience a peaceful ambiance, yummy cafe treats and a well-stocked gift shop.
Enjoy brunch on the gorgeous deck and spot sleepy koalas in the gum trees. With the cafe backing onto the reserve, it’s got chill vibes written all over it.
Where to stay
When it comes to where you should stay there are a number of caravan parks such as Reflections Holiday Park with views of Rainbow Beach right to Port Macquarie, with cabins and caravan, camping sites that are well priced for families.
You will also find great airbnb options, group accommodation and luxury accommodation options such as the stunning eco-retreat known as Mansfield Estate.
Make sure you speak to the team at Beachscape Property they can assist you in finding a place to live, selling your house, looking after your long-term, short-term leases, or holiday-rental as a property managers.
Love a great take-away, we have you covered.
If you are really wanting to get the local experience you must visit The Top Shop, located next to the local skatepark. The top shop will have you rethinking your favorite hot chips you’ve ever tasted. Golden, crispy and with just the right amount of salt (salt is key to any good chip), not to mention fuel and groceries for visitors and locals alike.
Escape the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy the simplicity of making memories with the people you love by visiting Bonny Hills.