Things to do in Byron Bay – A locals guide
A fully grown Humpback Whale can weigh more than 5 adult elephants, the largest land mammal.
15 Whales
Byron Bay
8-21
SSW 7KN
1.8m
Today there was plenty of action out off the coast of Ballina and Byron Bay. We enjoyed breaching, comp groups, muggings & tail slapping on our Byron Bay Whale Watching Cruises at 8:00am & 11:00am. Conditions are looking good this week, so be sure to book aboard our Byron Bay Whale Watching Cruise.
Ballina used to, quite literally, fly under the radar for most holiday makers to Northern NSW. It was the airport you flew into before heading straight up to Byron Bay or Lismore, or the place with the big prawn you drove past. But that is all changing.
The beautiful beaches and other waterways, like the Richmond River, have always attracted surfers, boaties, fishers and eco-tourists, but now contemporary cafe and foodie culture in Ballina has expanded the appeal to even more holiday-makers. Appropriate, too, given that the origins of the name Ballina have been traced back to the Bundjalang word ‘Bullinah’ – which has been translated variously to mean ‘the place of plenty’, ‘big stomach, plenty to eat’ or even by some as ‘the place of many oysters’.
The Ballina Shire has become Byron Bay’s idyllic neighbour; it is truly a hidden jewel of The North Coast! Here you’ll find some of the top things to do in Ballina curated by locals.
Ballina Shire has kilometres of spectacular shoreline with something for everyone: coastal hikes, family-friendly patrolled beaches, secluded swim spots, some of Australia’s best surf breaks, dog-friendly stretches and places to cast a fishing line.
Shelly Beach is probably the most popular family beach in Ballina, and for good reason. A picturesque, stroller-friendly path runs along the length of the beach to the lighthouse and surf lifesaving club that separates Shelly Beach from Lighthouse Beach (also known as Main Beach to some). There’s also an ocean wading pool accessible in the south, and – despite not having the breaks that some of the neighbouring beaches do – it’s a solid place to take a board out.
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For many surfers Boulder Beach is a bucket-list location. There are beach breaks and a right-hand break off the southern point, which when conditions are right can hold a loooong ride. There is a reason this beach is one of Australia’s few beaches that qualify as a Natural Surfing Reserve. For those who might not have the skill to surf it but don’t want to miss out, the cliffs at either end of Boulders Beach provide panoramic viewing platforms. Thrill-seekers of the fishing variety also enjoy this spot.
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Australia you gorgeous thing ☺️❤️ in softest threads by @z.thelabel #madeinaustralia
The most easterly point near Boulder Beach is a steep rock platform know as Iron Peg, a great site for fishing when the conditions are safe.
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BOULDER BEACH I SKENNARS HEAD What a shot 📸 @jedgracephotography #discoverballina
And if you’re looking for the perfect spot to wade around in shallow waters with the kids (pssst… it’s a personal favourite spot of the Hemsworths!) then the rockpools at Boulders are our pick.
Seven Mile Beach is another one of Australia’s best surf breaks, and a spot with something for everyone. Swimming, 4WD-ing, fishing, picturesque walking trails (some of which are even okay for four-legged walking friends) and when the tide is high it is very protected – a perfect spot for snorkelling. Amazingly seven miles is nowhere near the biggest stretch of beach in Ballina, South Ballina Beach is an awesome 30km stretch of beach that backs on to the Broadwater National Park; most of the beach is quite exposed so this is often a place to explore rather than swim.
Staying close to the town of Ballina, Sharpes Beach is another dog-friendly, patrolled beach that is worth taking a look at, and is also good for surfers and fishers. At the southern end it turns into Flat Rock, a fascinating rocky platform that is home to a variety of creatures. And if you’re in the mood for a good brew, S&M Espresso can be found at Sharpes Beach when the sun is shining.
Win the morning, win the day: set out on the Lennox Head Boardwalk up to the Pat Morton Lookout to see one of the best sunrises in the country. It’s a picturesque walk topped with a stunning vista of Seven Mile Beach. Most mornings you’ll see surfers taking advantage of the waves, and if you’re lucky during migration season you might also see whales making their journey.
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BOARDWALK I LENNOX HEAD A beautiful walk from town to Pat Morton 📸 @nickangeli77 #discoverballina
After the walk you will probably feel as though you have earned a breakfast break. Kopi is home to some of Lennox’s best coffee, and a delicious breakfast menu. Or for healthy vegan breakfasts, sweets and smoothies then Seed and Husk on Ballina St is the place to go – they also do a range of kombucha and chais that are well worth a try.
The Ballina to Byron coastline is dotted with spectacular sheer cliffs, pristine beaches and rocky isles. One of the best ways to take it all in is on an ocean cruise. Out of the Blue Adventures (that’s us!) have mapped out a range of tours that showcase the best of the ocean scenery and the local wildlife. The crew on our state-of-the-art eco vessel includes an experienced marine biologist who offers interesting insights into the dolphins, turtles and birds you’ll see.
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Flying high off Cape Byron on our ocean adventure cruise @outoftheblueadventures
And if you’re visiting between June and November you might just spot something else! Whales migrate along the Ballina coastline during this time and our boat is the perfect platform to see enormous Humpbacks breaching from the water, and slapping their flippers or tails. If you’re lucky during this migration period you will see not only the adults (that can grow up to 18m) but also their young calves swimming alongside them.
One of the advantages of avoiding the crowds of the Byron beaches is the space to try something a little bit more adventurous. Earth Kitesurfing offer one-on-one lessons for both kitesurfing and foiling (or hydrofoil surfing) – riding a surfboard with a hydrofoil attached that causes the board to rise out of the water creating the impression you are floating above the waves. Harnessing the power of the wind with a kite or the kinetic energy of the waves with a hydrofoil both generate absolute thrills.
Of course being home to some of the world’s best surf spots there’s also plenty of opportunity for traditional surfing lessons. Let’s go surfing offer lessons for groups, individuals, and families and the local veterans will pick the best location with the best conditions for you on the day.
Or there’s Soul Surf – a mobile surf school that also offer half-day surfing adventures for groups of different sizes, and will pick you up from your accomodation and suss out the best beaches from Ballina to Byron.
Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR) was founded in Ballina by ‘The Pelican Man,’ Lance Ferris, and has since expanded all along the NSW coast line and has sister-groups all over the country. The organisation also run the Ballina/Byron Sea Turtle Hospital and aim to help wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation and research. They have saved thousands of turtles, snakes, pelicans and other seabirds over the years. Not only do they remove plastic from turtles’ stomachs, or cut fishing line that’s become caught on a Pied Cormorant, they also help to educate others about the risks facing marine wildlife, and what can be done to help.
ASR offers school holiday and small group tours of their Ballina facility which are informative, but also entertaining as kids and adults get involved with fun demonstrations and presentations. An Australian Seabird Rescue team member will talk to people about the life-saving work they do, tell stories while sharing photos and videos of rescues and releases, and show how they catch injured birds. Then there’s a tour of the facility where you can see the injured wildlife being nursed back to health, and a sea turtle nest display to learn about sea turtles nesting on our beaches in the summer. The programs are cheap – usually less than $10 per person – and the money all goes to helping ASR continue their important work.
The tours are great for adults as well as kids, but for those inspired by the work ASR do who are really keen and have a bit more time there are also training courses that could help you become a First Responder to Seabird emergencies.
At the northern end of Pacific Parade in Lennox Head lies Lake Ainsworth, a fresh water lagoon with a tea-like, reddy-brown colour. The colour comes from the Melaleuca Quinquenervia trees, or tea-tree paperbarks, that surround the water’s edge, steeping tannins and oils in to the water. It is popular for swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking and canoeing, and is a lovely spot for a picnic or a barbecue.
Locals swear by the water’s restorative properties, it’s said to have a rejuvenating effect on hair and skin. This is not a new phenomenon – for thousands of years indigenous people reserved use of the tea-tree lakes in the region as sacred spaces for women. The ‘protective,’ or anti-bacterial, quality of the waters made them the location for child-birthing ceremonies.
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If you fly in to Ballina you get a taste of the Northern Rivers from the sky, but if you want to take a proper look there are a couple of pilots who offer exceptional experiences.
Classic Aero Adventure Flights have some beautifully restored vintage planes that can take you on trips ranging from ‘mild’ to ‘wild’. For aeroplane enthusiasts a flight in a fully-restored, ex-RAAF Winjeel might not be complete without adrenaline-pumping aerial acrobatics. For those who are more interested in what’s outside the plane you can book for yourself and up to two others to take a leisurely ride over Ballina, Byron and the scenic Northern Rivers region.
For a really special occasion Air T & G Helicopters take couples on a relaxing flight along the beautiful coastline south of Ballina to a private picnic spot on a freshwater lagoon. They also offer shorter flights around Lennox, Byron and the Hinterland.
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Was so stoked to get this angle of a humpback swimming past South Wall, Ballina last year.
If you’d like a more serene experience, with the wind taking care of most of the work, give hang gliding or paragliding a try. If you did the sunrise walk at Lennox Point you probably would have seen a number of people with the same idea.
Pro-Flyte will keep you aerial for half an hour to an hour in a hang glider, launching from either Lennox Head or Cape Byron Nature Reserve depending on the wind direction. A quick briefing is all that’s required to get you in the air in a tandem setup with an experienced glider, and once you’re flying all you have to do is tuck your legs into a harness so your body can relax.
For paragliding Poliglide offer a premium instructional to get you up on your own, or tandem flights for those just wanting to get a taste. There is also the option of paramotoring, a glider with a propeller attached to keep you going further for longer.
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Prefer to sit back, relax and take in the astonishing scenery while meandering down a lazy river brimming with wildlife?
Ballina is home to The Richmond River – a river that meets the ocean.
The small nature reserve here is home to a wealth of flora and fauna worth seeing. Out of the Blue Adventures (that’s us!) offers a gorgeous sunset boat ride, providing drinks and snacks as you cruise past the mangrove-lined banks of the river. The reserve is not only home to over 160 different bird species, but you may also see dolphins or turtles swimming in this vibrant estuary!
A Majestic Sacred Kingfisher enjoys the sunset on the Richmond River:
Once you’ve set foot back upon land, we suggest checking out Wharf Bar & Restaurant, conveniently situated right on the wharf where you’ll dock. Enjoy happy hour cocktails as the sun begins to set from 4-6pm, or sample some of the freshest seafood in the region or an authentic wood fired pizza – YUM!
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Just a little taste of what we have to offer on our function canapé and pizza menu! 💚
Nestled in the hinterland above Lennox Head sits Newrybar – a quaint town that is basically just one street, but the shops and boutiques on that street have made it must-see. Most famously Newrybar is home to Harvest – a restaurant and cafe with an attached edible garden that focuses on delicious and sustainably prepared food. Much more than a coffee spot it incorporates a bakery with a 118-year-old wood-fired oven, an artisanal delicatessen, a corner-store type service providing organically grown essentials, as well as community activities and events like yoga or producer pop-ups. It’s even a wedding venue!
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The food in the restaurant is phenomenal – the chefs worked with forager and wild food researcher Peter Hardwick to create a menu full of local curiosities.
On the drive back to Ballina stop in at Killen Falls. There’s a short walk to a lookout at the top of the falls, and if the weather is nice it’s worth the 1km return journey to the swimming hole at the bottom. You’ll walk on a path through Big Scrub Rainforest – some of the last of its kind left in the Northern Rivers – to a secluded bathing spot, with a cave that has been eroded out behind the falls.
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If the offering at Harvest whet your appetite and you’re hungry for more the next stop is Shelter. Like Harvest, Shelter also has a menu that uses ethically sustainable, seasonal products sourced from local producers and suppliers. Open seven days for breakfast and lunch, from Thursday to Saturday you can grab a dinner booking where you’ll be able to taste the best seafood in the area, prepared by some of the best chefs in the area, alongside a range of other mouth-watering mains.
In Ballina the Belle General on the beach front has not only one of the best cups of coffee in town but the best breakfast by a mile. Run by two sisters and their cousin, this place is always well ahead of the dietary curve and has a menu with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options galore. You will rarely leave without one of their house-made cakes, but it’s surprising how often these sweet-tasting treats are sugar-free!
After a day at the beach or exploring the rivers you might find yourself looking for a different type of watering hole. Seven Mile Brewing Co is Ballina’s father and son brewing team, and the taproom is the perfect place to get a drink. Their American Pale Ale, Cali Cream, and West Coast IPA are usually front and centre in the best bars and bottle shops throughout the Northern Rivers, but the brewery’s taproom gives visitors a chance to dabble in a wider range of seasonal beer releases such as Stouts, Weißbier (German Wheat Beer), and some experimental brews.
The rotating roster of food trucks and other catering options gives the perfect excuse to keep going back as you first workout what pairs best with a German Bratwurst, then Jom Makan’s Caribbean-inspired comfort food, and the next week it could be Junkyard BBQ’s slow-cooked delights or an Italian night.
On the esplanade following the Richmond River you’ll find the Bicycle Emporium, who hire a range of bikes for different purposes: Dutch-style town bikes, kids bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes. Ballina is a cyclist-friendly place, with plenty of cycleways and shared paths to accomodate leisurely rolls past the beaches and boutiques. The coastal boardwalk from Sharpes to East Ballina along the break wall is a picturesque journey that doesn’t require ridiculous pedal power. Thrill-seekers or road-cyclists might consider trips through the National Parks, or through the long, winding roads in the lush hinterland.
And if you’d prefer a guided tour check out Life Cycles Travel who have a range of premium bikes and can cater to all skill and fitness levels. From 3 hour guided tours to ‘Gourmet Tours’ with plenty of stops along the way for the culinary-inclined, these tours are the ‘just get up and go’ of the cycling scene and the perfect introduction to the beauty of the area on wheels.
For something a little different the team at Pegasus Park Equestrian Centre can match you to one of their well-trained and well looked-after horses or ponies, and depending on your experience, will give you training and help mounting. They offer trail rides through the hinterland or along Seven Mile Beach, as well as private tours. The instructors cater the ride to your level of experience (first-timers need not feel daunted), and also double as photographers and videographers – they make sure you leave with lasting memories of you and your mount in the idyllic locations.
There’s a perfect horse for every size of rider:
Eloping north to take advantage of the beaches, clifftops or rainforest scenery is becoming more and more popular. The Lennox Wedding and Events Collective are a collaborative bunch of the best in the business that can make sure any day or night runs smoothly.
You might organise the ceremony yourself but look to the folks at Seven Mile Weddings to host the rest – their venue is catered by the award-winning team at Beef and Beach who can nail multi-course sit-downs or a roaming reception. Harvest from Newrybar offer their garden venue, or can bring their seasonally-inspired menu to a venue of your choosing.
For a luxurious experience the most famous venue in Ballina, and probably all of the Northern Rivers, is The French House – or Deux Belettes. A gorgeously appointed estate, featuring a farmhouse and guesthouse in 30 acres of rolling green hills. The enchanted garden only gets better every year – for the last 10 years they have been planting rainforest trees named and dated to represent the contribution made to the environment by wedding couples.
Skin and Clay in Lennox Head is the beauty salon for the beaches. They offer advanced skin care treatments with organic plant-based formulas or highly active cosmeceuticals, as well as facials, massages and pedicures.
If spoiling yourself or someone special with a banquet is more your style then seek out All That Platters, Ballina’s grazing table queen. A qualified chef that can cater for big breakfasts, long lunches or any occasion that could happily accomodate a smorgasbord.
For serious indulgence the internationally-awarded boutique resort founded by Olivia Newton-John (among others) – Gaia Retreat and Spa. You can spoil yourself with single day spa packages that include access to a dead sea salt and green tea mineral body polish in the steam room or a macadamia oil scalp massage. For a longer stay, check-in to one of the 22 decadent rooms or villas to achieve total relaxation, or get a program for specific needs such as detox, weight-loss, health or fitness, with access to naturopaths, yogis and personal trainers.
Byron has recently developed a reputation as a shopping destination, but to find unique pieces in genuine boutiques Ballina and the surrounding suburbs offer just as much, if not more than their northern neighbour. You will find many stores offering ethical, handmade, limited-run wares using organic and natural fibres in stores like Talisman, Sublime & Co, and perhaps the best of the lot – Tigani Lux. Mada Collective products consist of 100% natural, raw, traditional materials such as raffia, wild silk, sisal, soga (cotton) woven entirely by hand by artisans with ancestral know-how. Anchor Chief is the place with the latest surfboards, swimwear, and men’s and women’s streetwear.
Newrybar Merchants is a collaborative concept store that occupies a 1890’s dwelling in the historic town of Newrybar. It’s a creative hub where among a plethora of options some of the things you’ll find are sustainable homewares from uSchA, ethical kids’ clothing from Small Wonder, and spiritual and shamanic scents and items by On The Mesa Market.
Ballina may not be Berlin but there are plenty of places to catch live music on a weekend and grab a glass of something cold. The Point sits on waterfront real estate just metres away from the Richmond River, and is nice place to start afternoon cocktails but also offers a full dining experience. For live music both William St Kitchen and Bar and Shorty’s book a range of acts, while serving up Magaritas and Mexican, as well as contemporary Australian plates.
The best wine cellar might belong to Quattro. Sit outside sipping champagne with oysters and other fresh seafood, or move next to their wood-fired pizza oven and grab a glass of something heavier. There’s always cocktails both traditional and inventive here too.
Ballina is on the doorstep of a ridiculous quantity of National Parks, many of which are World Heritage Listed. Minyon Falls and Protestors Falls are both in the Nightcap National Park. You can scramble over rocks through Wollumbin National Park up to the summit of Mt Warning which was once part of an enormous volcano. The summit of Mt Warning is another beautiful place to watch the sun rise or set; it’s one of the highest places around. A little further north there’s the Tooloom National Park, a preservation of centuries old Gondwana Rainforest with lookouts across the Great Dividing Range.
As you head out to these more remote places it’s worth scheduling in stops at some of the townships along the way. The Macadamia Castle in Newrybar is worth a visit, and you might be surprised by the cafes and curios around in Bangalow.