Fast facts
- Bustling holiday town and service centre, home of the Big Prawn
- At the mouth of the Richmond River, close to superb beaches
- 753 km north of Sydney, population 18,000
Why go there
Ballina is popular with visitors looking for a quieter and more family-oriented holiday on the North Coast. The town has a range of accommodation options, especially for those looking for less expensive seaside holidays. It also provides easy access to some of the State's most scenic national parks.
History
An abundance of food and a subtropical climate make this area very appealing. Middens at the Chickiba Creek area of East Ballina show at least 2,000 years of continuous occupation by Aboriginal people.
During the period of European settlement, Ballina was a busy shipping port for timber and the sugar cane that was grown along the banks of the Richmond River.
Things to do
- Surf the legendary break at Lennox Head, which is known as the ‘Surf Capital of the Far North Coast’.
- Stroll along the forest boardwalk of the Victoria Park Nature Reserve.
- Take a meandering drive through the villages of the hinterland.
- Explore the Richmond River on a boat cruise.
Events
- The Ballina District Orchid Show in May sees the passionate orchid growers of this subtropical region show off their very finest blooms.
- Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show in September presents a fascinating survey of contemporary works.
Don’t miss
- Thursday Plantation, famous for its tea-tree maze and quality therapeutic products.
- A whale-watching cruise departing from Ballina to see humpback whales as they migrate along the coast.
- Beach fishing off South Ballina Beach.
- A helicopter flight or Harley Davidson Motorcycle cruise from Ballina.
- Horse riding on South Ballina Beach.
