An easy drive inland from Ballina, the village of Alstonville is surrounded by macadamia plantations and lush green rolling hills. It is home to Summerland House With No Steps and Amaze ‘n’ Place, two family friendly visitor attractions.
Located a scenic 10 minute drive from Byron Bay, Bangalow Village in the Byron Bay hinterland is a must-do regional experience. Its chic main-street offers great boutique shopping, art galleries and cafés. Macadamia Castle is located on the Pacific Highway near Bangalow and offers a great day out for families.
Set on The Richmond River and Pacific Ocean, Ballina is a rapidly growing coastal town 25km south of Byron Bay. Famous for its fishing and seafood (home to The Big Prawn), Ballina offers an array of activities for the water lover. Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport, the closest commercial airport to Byron Bay, has daily direct flights from Sydney and three weekly flights direct from Melbourne. Thursday Plantation is located in Ballina and offers a range of natural skincare products, including the famous Tea Tree Oil. The centre also holds an annual exhibition, the Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show. The Ballina Fishing Park offers a unique fishing experience in the beautiful surrounds of the Richmond River estuary. You can catch and release, or keep.
This tiny yet scenic village in the Byron Shire is the gateway to Minyon Falls and Nightcap National Park. A popular location with sea-change baby boomers, this seemingly sleepy hamlet has its own invented culture, often showing 16mm movies at the local hall on Saturday evenings
Quaint Bruswick Heads, or ‘Bruns’ to the locals, is a quiet seaside village of simple pleasures. This relaxed village offers many fishing spots, a great historic pub and several family friendly festivals throughout the year.
Lismore is the regional capital of the Northern Rivers and a 45 minute drive from Byron Bay. Known as the ‘Rainbow Region’, Lismore is the gateway to several World Heritage National Parks and many hinterland towns and villages including Nimbin. Lismore is a relaxed and vibrant university city with an abundance of live performances, festivals, art, sport and music. The Lismore Regional Art Gallery is the fifth oldest regional gallery in New South Wales. It is a busy and popular gallery with regularly changing exhibitions.
Known as the hippie capital of Australia and sister city to Woodstock in the USA, Nimbin is a small village bursting with art, culture and life. Not for the faint hearted, Nimbin is an authentic alternative village nestled in the scenic Nimbin Valley. Visit the Nimbin museum in the main street to learn of the history of this unique hamlet or visit on the way to several surrounding World Heritage National Parks.
The village of The Channon is about an hours’ drive west of Byron Bay. The Channon is famous for its colourful monthly market, held on the second Sunday of each month, as well as beautiful Protestors Falls in Nightcap National Park.
This growing seaside town, home to the beautiful Seven Mile Beach and Lake Ainsworth, is famous the world over for its amazing surf break at Lennox Point. Pat Morton Lookout on Lennox Headland is a great spot to view the surfers at the Point and whales can be easily seen in season. There is a walking track that leads east along the headland to one or two other prime whale viewing positions.
Set against the backdrop of Mt Chincogan, Mullumbimby has been home to many ‘tree changers’ relocating to this country town from Sydney and Melbourne. ‘Mullum’ is a 20 minute drive north of Byron Bay and a short drive from Crystal Castle, a worthwhile visitor attraction. Mullumbimby’s historical society museum displays an interesting history of the region.