Around 30 minutes south of Byron Bay, Ballina has some good beaches and is an alternative when Byron Bay is booked out, although it is more of a spot to come to make transport connections rather than a destination in its own right. Ballina’s attractions include a maritime museum and the Big Prawn.
Las Balsas Plaza, River Street, Ballina
Tel (02) 6686 3484
Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm
Ballina Airport (tel (02) 6686 8385) has several daily flights to Sydney and you can fly here with a Rex backpacker pass.
Ballina is on the Brisbane to Sydney bus route and also has local buses to nearby towns including Lennox Head, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby. Coaches stop at the Big Prawn on the Pacific Highway south of the town centre.
36-38 Tamar Street, Ballina
Tel (02) 6686 6737