Why go
- Town in New South Wales, Australia.
- Served by Lismore Airport (LSY).
History
Ballina is a town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, and the seat of the Ballina Shire local government area. It lies 740 km (460 mi) north of Sydney and 185 km (115 mi) south of Brisbane. Ballina's urban population at the end of 2021 was 46,190.
Where to stay
259 Keith Hall Ln, South Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · sugarbeachranch.com
25 Norton St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinamanor.com
329 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · thecubanaballina.com.au
229 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinaheritageinn.com.au
38 Flat Rock Rd, East Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · flatrocktentpark.com.au
2 Martin St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · wyndhamhotels.com
1 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · reflectionsholidays.com.au
1 Brighton St, East Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · reflectionsholidays.com.au
36/38 Tamar St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinatravellerslodge.com.au
25 Fenwick Dr, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · discoveryholidayparks.com.au
1 Ronan Pl, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinabyronislanderresortconferencecentre.com.au
103 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · australianhotelballina.com.au
35 Skennars Head Rd, Skennars Head NSW 2478, Australia · tasmanholidayparks.com
440 S Ballina Beach Rd, South Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinabeach.com.au
311 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · coastinnmotel.com.au
230 N Creek Rd, Lennox Head NSW 2478, Australia · montanna.com.au
586 River St, West Ballina NSW 2478, Australia
38 Anderson St, East Ballina NSW 2478, Australia
Indoor
210 Southern Cross Dr, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · freight.qantas.com
Indoor
35 Fawcett St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · riversideballina.com.au
16 Hibiscus Ave, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia
6 Easton Pl, East Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinaleisurelee.com.au
Indoor
278 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinaboardwalkmotel.com.au
16 Bangalow Rd, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · avlongardens.com.au
Bentinck St & Owen St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinapalms.com.au
339 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · almaremotel.com.au
486 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · chaparralmotel.com
95 Cherry St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · ballinahomesteadmotel.com.au
285-287 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · riverstreetmotel.com.au
56 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · slipwayhotel.com.au
297 River St, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia · hicraftmotel.com.au
471 River Street (Formally lot3 Pacific Highway), Next to Toyota, West Ballina NSW 2478, Australia
Indoor
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Coffee Shop, Lebanese, Persian, Turkish, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-14:30 · 31-43 River Street, 2478 · cafebokerballina.com.au
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-20:30; Sa 17:00-21:00 · 37-41 Cherry Street, 2478 · chebonrestaurant.com
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 17:00-24:00 · 62 Ballina Street, 2478 · chidocantina.com
Asian, Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Tu 08:00-17:00; We-Th 08:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-22:00 · 105 River Street, 2478 · heyladydiner.com.au
Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 07:00-11:30, 16:00+; Fr-Su 07:00-14:00, 16:00+ · 2 Martin Street, 2478 · saltbushballina.com.au
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · dominos.com.au
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · kfc.com.au
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · mcdonalds.com.au
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 95 Fox Street, 2478 · tacobell.com.au
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-14:00 · 12 Shelly Beach Road · bellegeneral.com
Restaurant · restaurant · 12-24 Fawcett Street, 2478 · wharfbarballina.com.au
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · 10 Deegan Drive, 2477
Steakhouse, Pub, Restaurant · Steakhouse/Pub restaurant
Seafood, Fast Food · Seafood fast food
Juice, Fast Food · Juice fast food
Italian, Restaurant · Italian restaurant
Coffee, Ice Cream, Cafe · Coffee/Ice Cream cafe
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant
Noodle, Restaurant · Noodle restaurant · 216 River Street, 2478
Japanese, Restaurant · Japanese restaurant · 208 River Street, 2478
Breakfast, Coffee, Modern, Seafood, Bar, Restaurant · Breakfast/Coffee restaurant
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 06:00-14:00
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Coffee Shop cafe · 1 Shelly Beach Road, 2478 · shellybeachcafe.com
Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant · raamonspizza.com.au
Chicken, Fast Food · Chicken fast food · 70 River Street · chickenmania.com.au
Burger, Restaurant · Burger restaurant · 97 River Street, 2478 · malibuburgersballina.com
Cafe · cafe · 12 Wigmore Arcade · bellecentral.com
Restaurant · restaurant · 222 River Street, 2478 · facebook.com
Italian, Pizza, Restaurant · Italian/Pizza restaurant
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant
Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Features: takeaway
Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 44 Bangalow Road
Cafe · cafe · 95 Cherry Street, 2478 · facebook.com
Restaurant · restaurant · 147 River Street
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant · 187 River Street, 2478
Cafe, Cafe · Features: air conditioning
Restaurant · restaurant · Ballina Street
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Cafe · cafe
1 more place in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) 3.2 km to the centre
Ballina, NSW, AU — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 3 airlines (Jetstar Airways, Regional Express, Virgin Australia) · direct flights to 3 destinations incl. Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 3 direct destinations
- Jetstar Airways JQ (A320) · 2 routes: Melbourne, Sydney
- Regional Express ZL (Saab 340) · 2 routes: Newcastle, Sydney
- Virgin Australia VA (737-800, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Sydney*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Lismore Airport (LSY) 30 km to the centre
Lismore, NSW, AU — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Regional Express) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Sydney (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
- Regional Express ZL (Saab 340) · 1 route: Sydney
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Evans Head Aerodrome (EVH) 30 km to the centre
NSW, AU — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Casino Airport (CSI) 49 km to the centre
NSW, AU — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Palmers Island/Yamba Airport 71 km to the centre
NSW, AU
Getting there by ferry
Burns Point Ferry
Ferry terminal · 3.7 km from the centre · Ballina Shire Council
Burns Point Ferry
Ferry route · Ballina Shire Council
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Lismore Airport (LSY); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BNK has direct flights to 3 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Burns Point Ferry, 3.7 km); routes include Burns Point Ferry.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Ballina. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach