Ballina is a pretty coastal town on the Far North Coast of NSW. It’s nowhere near as popular as Byron Bay, which is a 30-minute drive north, which means the beaches are quieter and the atmosphere is more laidback.
There are many reasons to visit Ballina – from 25 kilometres of cycle paths to the Big Prawn – and they make for a great weekender. But, if you stay for a bit longer, then you can add a day trip or two to your holiday. Here are three you won’t forget.
YAMBA
For a high chance of seeing dolphins, turtles and whales, spend a day in and around Yamba. It’s a little coastal town that lies a 70-minute drive south of Ballina, on the mouth of the Clarence River.
Start with a refreshing dip in the Yamba Ocean Pool – or, for waves, at Main Beach – before heading to the Pacific Hotel, which overlooks the sea, for lunch.
Other lovely beaches in the area include Brooms Head, for a family-friendly rockpool; Dump Beach for walking the dog; and Angourie Beach for excellent surf (though it’s too rough not swimming).
To dive into local history, head to the Yamba Museum, where you can wander around the Yaegl Cultural Garden, before taking a self-guided historical tour around town, finishing up the lighthouse – a great spot for watching the sunset while picnicking on fish and chips.
KILLEN FALLS, BALLINA
Killen Falls is 20-minute drive to the west of Ballina, which takes you through green hinterland, filled with rolling hills and lush forest.
From the car park, there are two routes to the falls. The first is a 330-metre stroll to the top of the falls, where a platform gives you stunning views 18 metres down, to where the falls drop into a deep, dark pool. The second is a one-kilometre hike to the base, where you can visit a cave behind the falls. It’s a little steep and slippery at points.
Ballina Shire Council does not recommend swimming, as water quality varies. However, you can spend hours picnicking, spotting turtles and birds, and being surrounded by the Big Scrub rainforest. This is the original rainforest that covered the Northern Rivers area – but only one per cent of it remains.
NIMBIN
In 1973, Nimbin hosted the Aquarius Festival for the first time – a ten-day-long event attended by musicians, artists, conservationists, activists and alternative thinkers. More than 10,000 people went along, and some of them decided to stay for good, setting up communes, permaculture farms and environmental groups, which fought against the logging of the rainforest that surrounded the town.
More than 50 years later, Nimbin is still dedicated to alternative lifestyles. It’s a one-hour drive northwest of Ballina, via Lismore. Spend your day visiting galleries, listening to live music on the street, (possibly) catching a show in the School of Arts, and sitting on the big, shady, old-school verandah of the Nimbin Hotel.
GETTING TO BALLINA
One of the many advantages of Ballina for visitors is that it has its own airport, just five minutes’ drive from town. So, if you fly in from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra, you can jump in a SIXT rental at Ballina Airport, and be at your accommodation in a jiffy.
Another option is to stay in Ballina on a road trip – maybe from Sydney to Byron Bay in an EV (there are plenty of spots to recharge on the way), or, for a slightly longer adventure, from Sydney to Brisbane.
