1. It stops you in your tracks from the road
First impressions matter, and Catalina Club’s exterior is hard to miss.
Sitting right on the highway, the building has serious curb appeal thanks to its giant wave-shaped façade that leans into a relaxed, retro, Palm Springs feel.
It already catches attention as you drive past, and there’s more planned for the exterior in the next phase. So exciting!
2. The inside is just as gorgeous
The interior has been fully refurbished and feels modern, welcoming, and easy on the eyes.
There are no endless rows of carpet, no giant open halls, no airport terminal energy. Instead, the spaces feel warm and intentional, with plenty of attention paid to layout, comfort, and detail.
Even the bathrooms follow suit with finishes that feel more like a home than a commercial space.
3. The Golf course is a knockout
The Catalina Club golf course is a pretty big deal.
It’s home to a full 27-hole parkland course that is open to the public and consistently ranked as one of Australia’s Top 100 public access courses.
But, despite its rep, it’s welcoming for people of all ages and skill levels. Social golfers, first timers, seasoned players, juniors, and veterans all share the same green space.
It’s also an accessible course that caters to wheelchair users and folks with mobility needs.
They run clinics for golfers of all ages, host tournaments with players from all over the state and beyond and have a driving range and putting green as well.
4. The Sun Terrace is stunning
The terrace stretches the entire length of the back of the building and is west-facing, making it a prime location for sundowners.
As the sun drops, you’re overlooking manicured fairways, native gardens, and roaming kangaroos who come out to say g’day.
It is such a wonderful place for a late afternoon sesh with pals that will likely turn into staying for dinner as well.
5. All the different zones around the venue
Rather than feeling like one huge room, Catalina is split into distinct spaces that suit different moods.
There’s a dedicated sports bar, main lounges, dining areas, the café, that terrace we were raving about, and corners for quieter drinks or chats.
Each area has its own vibe, which makes it easy to pick the kind of visit you’re in the mood for.
6. The Sports Bar and its seriously big screen
Sports fans will love, love, love it here.
The sports bar is home to one of the largest TV screens around, which makes it the place to be for cheering on whichever player/team you follow.
They screen everything from international matches, racing, footy, golf (course) and loads of other turf sports, plus there’s loads of seating and a fab atmosphere.
The bar is also named after local legend Athol Mann, who was one of the original groundsmen at the club and shaped the way the course is even today.
The Mann family (who still live in the region) were actually invited to collaborate on the cocktail menu in the bar, using flavours and scents that Athol and his fam loved to influence the menu. How cool is that?!
We love that the Catalina Club is continuing their commitment to honouring its history even inside its modern spaces.
7. Regular live music
Not a week goes by that there isn’t some movin’ and groovin’ at Club Catalina.
There is live entertainment every Saturday night, and daily performances run through peak summer between Boxing Day and Australia Day. There are also one-off shows across the year for days like Australia Day, Anzac Day, and Melbourne Cup Day.
As dusk hits, musicians take to the stage, creating the kind of relaxed, welcoming soundtrack that genuinely suits the space.
The lineup includes local favourites, touring artists, and interstate acts.
8. The Wine offering is huge
The wine selection is impressive to say the least.
The wine cellar is actually one of the largest in the region, and has loads of options available by the glass and bottle, plus international imports and non-alcoholic choices.
Everything is designed to stay accessible rather than intimidating, and with pairing suggestions listed on the food menu to help you pick the right drop for your dish. We love a bit of learning with our munching.
9. The cocktails are divine
The cocktail list is a winner. With a resident mixologist based at the club, expect a rotating list of freshly made cocktails and mocktails, including drinks that use ingredients from the course itself…. Whoa.
Choose from a mix of classic cocktails or exclusive signature creations you won’t find anywhere else.
As we mentioned earlier, some recent cocktails have even been inspired by the club’s founding families, tying the drinks menu back into Catalina Club’s long local history.
10. The Restaurant is award-winning
1920 restaurant has actually taken out the Perfect Plate award two years running and has sooo much yummyness on the menu, including seven-day-a-week wood-fired pizzas…. drool!
Alongside that are modern seasonal dishes focused on local seafood, regional produce, and pasture-fed options from inland NSW.
Menus change with the seasons, so repeats are a definite.
Heads up, peeps: weekend bookings are beyond essential, especially during holidays. But don’t worry, you can make those bookings online on their website or by giving them a call.
11. The cafe and dessert game is strong
The cafe area is its own busy little hub serving excellent coffee alongside a dessert created by local patisserie specialist Baker Dave (a legend in the region). Dave even uses filtered local rainwater in his handmade cakes, wow.
Add to that pastries from other awesome South Coast bakeries and fresh doughnuts delivered daily from Marrickville in Sydney, and it becomes very hard to just ‘grab a quick cuppa’ here hehe.
12. The children’s play area
It’s so lovely that families are genuinely thought of at Catalina Club.
The kids’ play area has an indoor playroom and a lighthouse slide outside.
Free supervised sessions run from early evening Thursday to Sunday, plus daily throughout the school holidays, allowing the grown-ups to enjoy a coffee or a bite, knowing kiddos are getting entertained nearby.
13. The gift shop is a must-visit
Right in the foyer, you’ll find a curated gift shop that supports local producers.
Get your hands on coffee, choccies, golf equipment, exclusive wines and Catalina Club’s very own bespoke candle range.
The candle fragrances are so interesting because they are inspired by the evolution of the golf course landscape from the 1920s onward, recreating scents from different eras of the club’s history.
From a scent inspired by the workshop of NSW Open winner Charles ‘Chas’ Grey to the native plants that shaped the original 1920 course, each fragrance tells a small part of Catalina’s story.
Made locally with scent partner Black Wolf, the candles are a simple way to experience a little piece of the course, no golf clubs required.
Oh, and as a bonus, they also have gift cards. They’re printed using a restored printing machine originally built in 1920, the same year the club was founded, tying even gift giving back to its story.
14. The history of the club is represented everywhere
The name Catalina itself comes from the seaplanes that once flew between Rose Bay and Batemans Bay, landing on coastal waters near the club. Rather than letting that story fade, Catalina Club actively works it into its branding, products, and identity today.
From those cocktail tributes and candle collections and bar naming, the past lives comfortably alongside the modern here, and we adore every second of it.
15. Getting there is easy, even for EV drivers
Positioned directly on the highway, Catalina Club sits right on the main route between Sydney, the Shoalhaven, the Illawarra, and the Sapphire Coast.
It also has Tesla Superchargers onsite, making it one of the most convenient recharge stops along the coast.
Add in courtesy buses running back to nearby accommodation, and getting to and from Catalina Club is a breeze.
16. It’s not for profit
Catalina operates as a not-for-profit club, which means revenue funnels back into the venue, its people, and the wider community.
Local charities, sporting programs, disability access initiatives, junior golf squads, and community events all receive ongoing support.
Local businesses backing locals is ALWAYS something we can get behind.
17. The friendly service
We hear all the time about how fantastic the service at Club Catalina is, and we have to say, we wholeheartedly agree.
From the first hello at the door right through to dining service and the bar staff, there’s just so much warmth here. Reviews say the same thing, with people always mentioning how friendly and attentive the team is. It’s the kind of place worth coming back to again and again, simply because it feels good to be there.
Catalina Club is a full destination that manages to mix heritage, hospitality, good food, and great design.
And that’s exactly what keeps people coming back from hundreds of kilometres away.
So if it’s been a while since your last visit, or you’re wanting to see what all the fuss is about, then we recommend getting on over, maybe for a round of golf, drinks in the bar or a meal with family.
See you there!