GOOD
T H E
F O O D
$14 Friday 9am til 11pm Saturday 10am til 11pm Sunday 10am til 6pm
Ballina Tenpin Bowl 16 Clark St Ballina, NSW 2478. 6686 5342
The Ballina Coast & Hinterland Dining Guide is brimming with information about mouth-watering local eateries. Whether you’re wanting somewhere memorable for a special occasion or a casual spot to relax and spend a few lazy hours, there are plenty of options available. Ask a local BALLINA Visitor Information Centre 1800 777 666 6 River Street, Ballina
discoverballina.com
Opening Hours
Weekdays: 6am to 6pm Saturday: 8am to 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 9am to 6pm
|
T R A V E L
4 River St, East Ballina, NSW 2478 Ph: 6686 3771
Waterslide Hours Waterslide opens weekends only during school term and everyday during the NSW School Holidays September thru to December: 11am to 4pm December thru to March: 10am to 5pm March thru April: 11am to 4pm
LAUGHING BUDDHA E H T RETREAT CENTRE Enveloped by natural beauty – tranquility bounded by bush, ocean & river.
I’ve ventured down the highway to Ballina more times than I care to remember. It’s usually a practical journey that involves shopping or collecting someone from the airport. Having done Clunes, Eltham and the surrounding hinterland in a small way, I realised while driving around these parts just how much more our countryside now provides for ‘us mere locals’ to take in. Apart from the sort of excitement created by the Big Prawn, now nine metres high thanks to Bunnings who shelled out $400,000 to restore the icon and give it a tail. The Prawn Fest drew my attention to Ballina and its diversions, and it clicked (thanks to the very helpful Visitor’s Information Centre folk) that the whole of the northern rivers is really a region of towns and villages. On closer inspection there are three major river valleys passing through the entire district and connecting over three hundred cities, towns, villages and communities; go figure! There is biodiversity; there are variations in climate and altitude, landscapes and geology; 21 National Parks (some World Heritage-listed); and apparently many of Australia’s rare plants and animals. I think we can all agree that the lifestyle in the northern rivers is laidback and friendly, mostly welcoming (unless you’re trespassing or have a CSG agenda) and life here is, for the most part, authentic and diverse. Ballina is a short drive from most places (apart from the obvious ones). Away from the coast, the hinterland is punctuated with the villages of Alstonville, Newrybar, Tintenbar and Wardell, where you’ll find parks and gardens, tea rooms, comfortable cafes, country pubs and galleries and shops
Left: Ballina Markets. Right: Riding bikes at Shelley Beach
filled with local arts, crafts and fresh local produce. Along the way you’ll drive by Newrybar, a boutique wonder with its famous 100-year-old bakery and Harvest eatery. Macadamia Castle, if you have kids, is always that diversion you long for when your eyeballs are hanging out like the proverbial organ stops and the kids can virtually pet themselves into a stupor. On the exit to Ballina is Thursday Plantation, the home of tea tree oil with some attractive grounds, a sculpture walk, a tea tree maze and rainforest walk – and all with free entry.
Micro Marketing Missingham Bridge Market, though a tiny market, is one of the first to run in the northern rivers and after 20 years it’s part of the Sunday scenery and worth a visit if you’re in Ballina from 6am. It’s well patronised as most of the stallholders have been doing it for the past 10 years. Food and seasonal produce is picked yesterday, made today and grown by the marketeers themselves. Expect only a little cooked food, pastries, cakes and slices, and value-added products. Weekly on Sunday from around 6am until 12 noon at Missingham Bridge, Ballina. For further information: marypinzone@optusnet.com.
the area including a map of the cycleway on their home page: www.thebicycleemporium.com.au. Hire bikes or service yours if the frames are under the house and rusty. Talk to Mark or Andrew Downey for any questions or queries: 6681 4054 or visit 2/158 River St, Ballina.
Healthy cycles Cycleways are a big drawcard for Ballina. The Heritage Trail includes signage on the European history of Ballina along with photos and information strategically placed along the path. Starting in the CBD area, it runs right along the edge of the river along to the north wall (the mouth of the Richmond River) and continues along the coastline completing a loop of Ballina around 11.5 kilometres. The Bicycle Emporium, a new retail bike shop in Ballina, provides a wealth of local information about the cycling opportunities in and around
Awaken on South Ballina Beach Ballina Beach Village sits right at the apex of the Richmond River and South Ballina Beach (the south wall is known as one of the best left hand surf breaks in Australia). The South Ballina beach itself is an impressive 30km
Bike hire From $25/half day
*
THE PATH IS THERE TO SHA “Sh d
2 Games + Shoe Hire for
GUIDE
W I N E
Matthew Michaelis
TENPIN BOWL
dining
|
For travel deals, information and reviews, whether it’s local, overnight, overland, over sea, over the top, under the radar, or just under the stars, it’ll be a trip!
Coasting down the highway
BALLINA
OPENING HOURS Monday–Thursday 9am til late
L I F E
Half day = 6 hours *
helmets & locks included
for and a e ng,
g
Cyclewa ys and shared pa ths
along the
Ballina Co
ast
Experience lakes, pristinthe Richmond River, Ballina’s by bike, scoote beaches and creeks, er or on foot. coastal headla nds
Free bike maps “From the River to the
Parks to the Beaches”
The Bicycle Emporium 2/158 River St, ballina • 6681 4054 • thebicycleemporium.com.au
“Absolute beach front Beautiful food Perfect for functions” About time you visited…
• Accommodation for events • Cabin & camping from 10 to 500 people accommodation • Specialising in quality • We offer a dedicated retreat catering, from yoga shala: dragon yurt vegan to full fare If you are considering holding a retreat please contact Rikki rikki@ballinabeachvillage.com.au or phone 66863347 or 0427847057. Check out: facebook.com/ballinabeachvillage
www.ballinabeachvillage.com.au
Ballina Beach Village, Dolphin Bay 440 South Ballina Beach Rd, SOUTH BALLINA Byron Bay 25 mins - Ballina Airport 10mins Gold Coast 1.5hrs - Brisbane 2.5hrs
22 November 18, 2014 The Byron Shire Echo
Monday to Wednesday: 7.30am to 3pm for Breakfast Lunch & Coffee Thursday – Saturday: 7.30am to late for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Coffee Sunday: 7.30 to 6pm for Breakfast, Lunch, Tapas & Coffee FULLY LICENSED | Website: www.lighthousebeachcafe.com.au Email: lighthousebeachcafe@hotmail.com
Ph: 66864380 65 Lighthouse Pde, Ballina NSW, 2478
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au