From cool new cafes to pristine beaches, we’re making the case for Ballina as a destination for lingering. These are the best things to do when visiting.
Gateway towns tend to suffer with self-depreciation. Their sense of worth hinging on being a requisite stepping stone on route to something else. As the launch point to the lauded wellness hotspot of Byron Bay, it’s fair to say that, historically at least, Ballina has long been in this camp. As the airport shuttles high-tailed it up the M1, taking the tourist dollar with it, Ballina just waved, shrugged and went back to the beach.
But whoa – what a beach! It’s little wonder Ballina locals were willing to let those linen-clad staycationers exit north, because the beaches here are veritable stretches of paradise worth keeping to oneself. Maybe that’s been the strategy all along? Maybe.
The renovated Shaws Bay Hotel is one of the establishments bringing fresh buzz to Ballina. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Yet, as someone who has history with Ballina, I can pretty much guarantee this isn’t the case. Believing it had less to offer, through the 90s, the town bloated with fast food chains and uninspiring urban development, while Byron became ever more the elegant sibling. The median age in Ballina back them seemed to sit around 65, nightlife only existed in the form of bingo at the Cherry Street Bowls Club, and your best option for dining out was the local Chinese joint.
Ballina’s beaches are both stunning and uncrowded. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
That version of Ballina is now under serious review. It has finally caught a glimpse of itself in the mirror and realised it’s actually the swan, not the duckling. And the best things to do in Ballina showcase the town’s diversity; yes, it has beautiful beaches (some of them barely touched), but it also has the Richmond River and North Creek, both converging to exit into the Pacific between two beautiful break walls, as well as its own pretty hinterland.
Next time you book a flight into the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, make sure you spend some time here first. You may decide its lowkey charms are actually what you’re after.
The best things to do in Ballina
Dine at a waterside watering holes
Dine overlooking the ocean at Capiche Restaurant. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Ballina’s various waterways glitter prettily throughout the day, offering ample opportunities to dine waterside. You could reasonably go from am-to-pm mooching from one water view to another. Start with coffee and breakfast at The Belle General right across from Shelly Beach. Move on to lunch just down the road at the Shaws Bay Hotel.
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Shaws Bay Hotel is located on the waterfront. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Timber and pops of colour feature at the venue. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Shaws Bay Hotel is beautifully designed. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Set smack on the water’s edge at Shaws Bay, the kids can run down to the little beach, while you enjoy an Aperol spritz and truly elevated pub fare. Here the gorgeously restored heritage building serves Hamptons-meets-Amalfi style cues with an Aussie beach town undertone.
Next, head riverside for afternoon snacks and sips at Wharf Bar and Restaurant. Watch the sun glint off the Richmond River as anglers cast off from the jetty out-front at this easy-going bar and eatery. Come dinner, hit the nicely blistered crusts at Capiche, overlooking Lighthouse Beach.
Stop for post-beach bites
Fuel up on fish ‘n chips. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
But you don’t need to be saltwater-adjacent to eat well in Ballina. River Street is where you’ll find a collection of shops and cafes caught mid-upswing. Some are catching on, others are holding on, but among them is hip Hey Lady Diner, where you’ll find Japanese-inspired plates served for breakfast and dinner with some well-stirred cocktails at the latter. While on Cherry Street, Bertie’s lands excellent sandwiches, such as the coronation butter chicken, toasties and even cannolis.
Speaking of beaches…
Enjoy Ballina’s abundant beaches and waterfront. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
The Ballina coastline meanders northwards to Lennox Head with beach after long, sandy beach. From Lighthouse Beach to Shelly Beach, Angels Beach, Flat Rock, Sharpes, Boulders and Skennars, it’s a surfer’s dream. And that’s just in one direction! Southwards are the more remote, much-less visited stretches best accessed by boat. For ease, Lighthouse and Shelly are the closest to town and patrolled, making a visit one of the top things to do in Ballina. Sharpes and Flat Rock are great for walks and rockpools. For kids, head to Serpentine Beach or Shaws Bay.
Head to the hinterland
For days when you need a reprieve from the salt spray and sun, head inland 15 minutes to Tintenbar. Here, tucked off Friday Hit Road, is Killen Falls. This cascade thunders robustly after rain and you can take the short but steep trail down to its edge to enter a cave behind the shimmering curtain of water. It can get muddy and slippery when wet, so take care, but this pretty spot and trailing creek make it a must-do excursion.
Further along, you’ll find the village of Newrybar (long claimed by Byron, but actually in the Ballina Shire). Once home to the beloved Harvest restaurant, this quaint rural outpost is in the midst of a transformation, but while the old Harvest site is currently cocooned for a new and upcoming era, you can still grab a coffee from Combi or The Little General and peruse the merchandise at The Old Pacific.
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Explore Lennox Head
Shelter restaurant is a feast for the senses. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Just up the road from Ballina is the hip, surf-cool town of Lennox Head. There’s always been an endless summer vibe here with the main street running parallel to the beach and the flow of sandy feet between them constant. Along the way, toward the north end, you’ll find surf shops, a great fish and chippery, and the impressive fine-dining restaurant Shelter.
Eventually, you’ll end up at Lake Ainsworth, where the melaleucas hemming its edge perpetually stain the water the shade of Coca-Cola. It’s a sweet spot for a swim, so long as you don’t mind not seeing your own legs.
At the opposite end of town is the unmissable Lennox Point. Stroll the Lennox Point Walk, a 4.2-kilometre return track to fully absorb those cyan sea views.
Where to stay in Ballina
For low-key stays there are plenty of caravan parks in Ballina, including Reflections. Just a walk from Lighthouse Beach is the Ballina Beach Resort and for River Street stays, the Ramada Hotel and Suites make an easy pick, but your best bet for longer vacays is to find a cute, beachside Airbnb.
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Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.
It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.
Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.
Where the vines tell a story
Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)
The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.
Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.
Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.
Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.
At the table
Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)
If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.
Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.
Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotelis a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.
And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.
Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.
From the source
Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)
Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.
Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.
Mark your calendar
Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)
For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.
Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.
