Car Rental Ballina Downtown

Discovering Ballina can be done in a day, but should it? 

Tourists escaping a busy lifestyle are encouraged to slow down and explore Ballina’s many attractions with the flexibility of a hire car. Pitch a tent at a campground overlooking the bay or find refuge in a stylish Airbnb for a night or two. Whatever you choose, be sure to take your time - the locals sure do. 

Excursions galore, best enjoyed with the flexibility of a hire car

Any Aussie will tell you how iconic the ‘big things’ are in tropical northern NSW and Queensland. After shaking off the initial confusion, throw Ballina’s Big Prawn on your must-do list. Towering 9-metres high and weighing in at a whopping 35 tonnes, this colossal crustacean makes for a hilarious backdrop to some iconic Aussie holiday shots certain to garner a few likes on social media. Sure, it’s a little gaudy, but that’s the point (we think). You can find the not-so-subtle statue a short 5-minute drive from Ballina’s central township, best accessed via hire car. 

If a more refined cultural experience is what you’re after, look no further than the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum. Exhibiting the history of Ballina through interactive displays and fascinating exhibitions, take a wander back in time to learn a thing or two about Ballina’s naval past. One of the biggest draw cards of the Maritime Museum is the Las Balsas Raft, which sailed from Ecuador to Ballina nearly 50 years ago. 

Couples, this one’s for you. Lying in the heart of Ballina’s hinterland, discover Summerland Farm. This award-winning attraction is one of Ballina’s best-kept secrets. Relax and unwind amongst the avocado and macadamia orchards while you feast on a delicious hamper prepared by the farm staff. Enjoy a selection of gourmet antipasto ingredients such as a variety of cheeses, meats, dips, bread, and of course, seasonal fruits.  Situated roughly 20 kilometres inland, a hire car will get you to Summerland Farm in just 20 short, yet picturesque minutes. Why not slow down and enjoy the drive? 

Make waves in Ballina’s surfing hot spots

Ballina and its surroundings are a surfer’s paradise, with bragging rights to some of the country’s best breaks. Visitors come from all over the country with little more than a board and a wetsuit to ride the waves along the northern coast of NSW, hopping between cosy coastal townships with the convenience of a hire car. 

Lennox Head, a 13-minute drive from Ballina’s central township, offers world-class swells under generally calm conditions, making for a very pleasant day on the water. As the swells retreat, dry off with a coastal walk from Lennox Head to the Part Morton lookout, where panoramic views offer unobstructed views over the glistening horizon. Here, surfers congregate to reflect on the day’s achievements, welcoming the last of their comrades with an enthusiastic and oh-so-Australian “how good was that!?”. 

Perhaps a little intimidating for the unseasoned wave rider, intermediate surfers are encouraged to kick off from Ballina’s northern breakwall before testing their skills at Lennox Head.  Park up at Brighton Street and meander barefoot to the shoreline, where crowds gather both on and offshore during peak season.

Beginners don’t spend your day on the sand. Ballina is the ideal spot for your inaugural surf, especially with expert riders on standby to show you the ropes. Options include Ballina Surf School whose suite of packages range from personalised sessions to group lessons and corporate packages; as well as Soul Surf School, Women on Waves, and Let’s Go Surfing Ballina - amongst a few others. With tour companies offering both private and group coaching, we encourage you to strap on a leg rope and surf the smaller swells of Shaws Bay or Cape Byron Marine Park. 

Whatever your agenda for Ballina, don’t let a day in the surf pass you by. Made famous by the localities of the Ballina-Byron region, there’s no place better to immerse yourself in the laid-back lifestyle many visitors to Australia crave. Maximise your stay with the flexibility of a hire car and traverse the cosy coastal township like a local.