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Most Popular Coastal Wedding Venues in NSW

January 3, 2022

Tips, Wedding, wedding venues

New South Wales has some of the most stunning coastline in the whole world, so it’s no wonder that it’s become something of a destination for couples looking to have waterfront wedding. If that’s you, you’re in luck – there is no shortage of amazing venues! Let me walk you through 29 of the most popular coastal wedding venues in NSW.

Most Popular Coastal Wedding Venues in NSW

This list has a huge range: from massive glamorous hotels to intimate private venues, from wild and remote locations to places at the heart of city life, from boho and beachy to stunning and formal. Whatever you’re dreaming of for your wedding, there are coastal wedding venues in NSW that can make your vision a reality.

#1 – Seacliff House, Gerringong

Groom plants a kiss on the bride as she smiles and closes her eyes while posing in their wedding reception venue at Seacliff House, Gerringong

This luxurious coastal wedding venue in NSW is on five acres of beautiful green dairy country, just minutes from the beach. Hold your reception outside with a breathtaking backdrop and then use their newly-converted event barn to host the evening’s festivities. With five bedrooms in the main house and five more in the newly-built cottage, you and your bridal party will stay in style. For more inspiration, check out this beautiful Seacliff House wedding I was lucky enough to shoot.

#2 – The Cove Jervis Bay, Booderee National Park

Bride looking stunning as she poses with her beautiful floral bouquet in front of their wedding arch at The Cove Jervis Bay, Booderee National Park

This is one of the coastal wedding venues in NSW that will give you the feeling of a true destination wedding. Head through the Booderee rainforest to reach this resort, complete with a pristine private beach! Pledge your love on the white sand before heading back to the resort for an epic outdoor reception. Get an idea of what it could all look like when you take a peek at this The Cove Jervis Bay bridal shoot!

#3 – Terara Riverside Gardens, Terara

Two hours south of Sydney, this is one of the most popular coastal wedding venues in NSW. With beautiful lawns and gardens right on the banks of the Shoalhaven River, it’s easy to see why! When I shot this romantic Terara Riverside Gardens wedding, I was struck by the wonderful relaxed atmosphere and the quality of the event space – it’s definitely one to check out.

#4 – Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach

A boutique luxury hotel right on the beach, Halcyon House is one of the coastal wedding venues in NSW that delivers an intimate and edgy experience. Perfect for a beachside elopement or a micro-wedding, the stunning Tweed Coast is an unbelievable backdrop for this level of thoughtful design.

#5 – Driftwood Shed, Terara

Bride and groom smile at each other while holding hands and standing side by side at Driftwood Shed, Terara

I actually have a longer write-up of Driftwood Shed because it’s one of my favourite coastal wedding venues in NSW. It has the perfect combination of quirky personality and enough freedom for you to put your own stamp on the five-acre property, complete with a white marquee, ocean views, and a 6-sleeping cabin.

#6 – Bangalay Villas, Shoalhaven Heads

As featured in Vogue, Marie Claire, and countless others, this exclusive 16-villa resort is a masterclass in luxurious simplicity. With world-class catering and incredible access to the rolling dunes, renting out the whole resort for your wedding would give you the kind of glamorously intimate event most couples can only dream of.

#7 – Headlands Hotel, Austinmer Beach

Bride and groom hold hands during their wedding ceremony at Headlands Hotel in Austinmer Beach

Headlands Hotel offers self-contained apartments as well as rooms, which makes it a great place for wedding guests to stay over. That’s far from its best perk, though – the oceanfront views have to take that laurel. With stunning bluffs just a stone’s throw away and panoramic views from its glass-plated dining hall, this retro-inspired hotel is a modern twist on an Austinmer beach wedding.

#8 – Q Station, Manly’s North Head

This unique venue has some of the most striking views of all these coastal wedding venues, with ceremony sites that include wide views over Sydney Harbour. You can get married down by the wharf, in their beautiful glasshouse, or overlooking the headlands – and then hold your reception in a selection of historic rooms, with the Governor Bourke Ballroom being the grandest and most striking.

#9 – Sails by Rydges, Port Macquarie

Bride looking elegant as she smiles at the groom who is holding her hand during their wedding shoot at Sails by Rydges

If you’re looking for coastal wedding venues in NSW with more of a civilised, harbour feeling, a supposed to a wild beach experience, you should absolutely check out Sails by Rydges. It’s a simple yet excellent harbourfront hotel with great views out over the water. Take a look at what a Port Macquarie wedding could be like in this hotel.

#10 – Fig Tree Restaurant, Byron Bay

One of the most elegant coastal wedding venues in NSW, Fig Tree Restaurant has a venerable history. It offers sophisticated and beautiful weddings, with ceremonies underneath its iconic fig tree and cocktails and canapes under its olive groves!

#11 – The Boathouse Shelley Beach, Manly

The Boathouse offers ceremony packages that can be set up at your choice of location along the nearby beaches – whether you want it on the sand or the grass around the harbour. Afterward, enjoy an intimate sit-down dinner of a drinks reception on the upper, roof level of this lowkey oceanfront venue.

#12 – City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong

Bride and groom smile at each other as they embrace during their wedding shoot at City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong

Perfect for the true beach wedding, City Beach Function Centre is designed specifically to be one of the best coastal wedding venues in NSW. The modern, simple architecture lets lots of natural light pour in and means that the white sand beaches and blue ocean water really shine. See it in action at this Wollongong wedding!

#13 – Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, North Wollongong

Couple kissing in the reception area at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, North Wollongong

The rooftop terrace at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach makes it one of the most striking coastal wedding venues in NSW. It has one of the highest capacities, too, able to host events of up to 350 guests. All of the coastal wedding venues in NSW on this list have great views of the water, but it’s rare to find this combination of ocean proximity and true luxury.

#14 – Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay

This boutique hotel carries a sense of artisanal excellence that is breathtaking. Perched right on the water, it’s set up for a seamless flow from a beachfront ceremony right into one of their crafted reception spaces – perfect for a small and exclusive wedding.

#15 – Dunbar House, Watsons Bay

This stately and historic home on the edge of Sydney Harbour is the oldest of all the coastal wedding venues in NSW on this list, and it’s perfect for a couple who are looking for more of a sophisticated and impressive wedding day experience. With a multitude of beautifully restored spaces to choose from, one highlight has to be the gilded bar!

#16 – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay

The elegant and refined Shoal Bay Country Club supplements its epic cuisine and excellent service with a purpose-built event space – the Whitesands. It’s the perfect blank canvas for your vision, with white walls and windows that offer 180-degree views of the ocean.

#17 – The Sebel Harbourside Kiama, Kiama

Couple looking at each other and holding hands as they walk down the coast at The Sebel Harbourside Kiama

The Sebel Harbourside Kiama is an idyllic spot with, as the name suggests, peaceful views of the harbour and some gorgeous historically-listed buildings. They offer both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, with some amazing rooms to choose from, especially if you want a more intimate celebration. Tahlia and Kieran had a beautiful 15 person wedding here at Sebel Harbourside – take a look for some inspiration.

#18 – The Pavillion Kiama, Kiama

This dedicated events venue in Kiama is one of the best coastal wedding venues in NSW for a simple, beautiful wedding. Opening out onto a beach, the wide windows of the pavilion offer great views and the space itself is ready for you to turn into the reception of your dreams – while an array of beaches, lawns, and churches in the area could be perfect for your ceremony.

#19 – Gunners Barracks, Mosman

This is one of the most unique and striking coastal wedding venues in NSW. The Gunners Barracks are perched in the lush bushland above Sydney Harbour, commanding iconic views. The structure itself is packed with historic charm that has been updated with modern amenities for an ideal wedding reception experience.

#20 – Tumbling Waters Retreat, Stanwell Tops

This boutique hotel resort delivers jaw-dropping wedding experiences where every detail is taken care of. Their gardens have ocean views and make stunning ceremony sites, while a reception venue with floor-to-ceiling windows makes the most of the luscious scenery.

#21 – Zest Beachhouse, Point Piper

This award-winning waterfront wedding venue is the perfect choice if you’re looking for coastal wedding venues that create an elegant, Hamptons beach atmosphere at the Royal Motor Yacht Club. They offer impeccable styling as part of their wedding packages, no matter what your aesthetic, making it easy for you to celebrate in relaxed luxury.

#22 – Zest at the Spit, Mosman

Everything I said of the Zest Beachhouse at Point Piper holds true here, but this venue leans more towards a rustic and laid-back edge to its glamour. The food really deserves a shout-out here, with an amazing team creating delicious wedding day menus.

#23 – Moby Dicks, Whale Beach

Crowning a hilltop, Moby Dicks Whale Beach venue offers sweeping views out over Whale Beach. It is run as a dedicated wedding venue, which means you have more freedom to create your vision here than you might have at a hotel venue. With sleek modern design and vibrant gardens, this venue is a brilliant backdrop to your big day.

#24 – Beachside Dojo, Manly

Thoughtfully designed from top to bottom, the Beachside Dojo combines subtle Japanese design elements with elegant Australian charm. Tucked into the woods above Manly beach, it has panoramic views and spaces full of light. For a luxuriously intimate wedding experience, be sure to consider it.

#25 – Caves Coastal, Caves Beach

When you think about NSW beaches, you’re probably thinking about something like Caves Beach – pristine, fine sand, rugged cliffs, and deep blue waves. Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows offer beachside access to the rolling dunes. It has the capacity to plan an epic affair or a more intimate gathering, with excellent accommodation in its beautiful bungalows.

#26 – The Beach House East Coast, East Ballina

The best way to describe this stunningly-curated event venue is that it is rest for the soul. Raw limestone floors, artisanally-woven ceilings, white walls, and white sand – this is one of the most skillfully designed coastal wedding venues in NSW. And to top it all off, a portion of every hire fee is donated to their Environmental Trust for the preservation of this epic coastline.

#27 – Seagants Mess, Mosman

With multiple levels of decks looking out over the deep blue of Sydney Harbour, Seagants Mess is a haven of elegant beauty. As an added perk, this venue has a private wharf – so if you want a grand entrance to your wedding reception via the water, you can absolutely make that dream come true.

#28 – Athol Hall, Mosman

Bride and groom share a kiss at their wedding ceremony with trees and view of skyline behind them at Athol Hall, Mosman

This is one of the coastal wedding venues in NSW with the most historic charm. With a tree-shaded lawn leading down to the ocean, it has iconic views of the Sydney skyline. On the outside, it looks like a charming colonial-style home, but inside it has been transformed into a wonderful barn-style wedding venue. See it in action at this Athol Hall wedding I shot for Jodie and Andy.

#29 – Long Reef Golf Club, Collaroy

One of the top beachfront golf courses in Sydney, it’s no surprise that this is also one of the most striking coastal wedding venues in NSW. The location really makes it special – right on the headland, with absolutely enormous ocean views in all directions! You can get married to the sound of the waves hitting the rocks, have your first dance on the outdoor dance floor as the sun sets over the ocean, and party the night away in style.

Exploring Coastal Wedding Venues in NSW

I hope you’ve been inspired by looking through all these amazing coastal wedding venues in NSW – there’s truly one for every budget and every style of wedding. Each one of them allows you to celebrate your love in the midst of the most incredible beauty – the wild coastline I call home.

For more amazing wedding venues, take a look at my guide to the top Wollongong wedding venues of 2022!

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Translucent Photography is an Australian Wedding Photographer specialising in Candid & Authentic Wedding, Elopement & Family Photography. Based near Wollongong on the NSW South Coast, we often capture moments across the Southern Highlands, South Coast, Illawarra, Canberra & Blue Mountains regions.

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