The area
Things to do on the New South Wales North Coast.
Lighthouses, lookouts and beaches, all close by.
The coast between Ballina and Byron Bay mixes surf beaches, headlands and small towns. Richmond River Lighthouse and Pat Morton Lookout are easy stops. Byron Bay is just over half an hour away, and Cape Byron Lighthouse deserves an unhurried day.
Places
The area · Ballina
Thursday Plantation Visitor Centre
Visitor center connected to tea tree production. Check that it’s open before you go.
7 min by car
Thursday Plantation Visitor Centre
The area · Ballina
Northern Rivers Community Gallery
Community art gallery in downtown Ballina, a good pick for rainy days.
10 min by car
Northern Rivers Community Gallery
Family · Ballina
Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum
Museum of Ballina’s maritime history.
12 min by car
Family · Ballina
The Big Prawn
The giant roadside prawn, a classic Ballina landmark.
13 min by car
The area · Ballina
Richmond River Lighthouse
Lighthouse above the Ballina beaches. Guides mention sunrise views and whales during migration season.
15 min by car
Richmond River Lighthouse
Photo: Brett Matthews from Culburra Beach, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
The area · Alstonville
Crawford House Museum
Local point of interest in Alstonville.
23 min by car
Crawford House Museum
Family · Alstonville
Summerland House Farm
Macadamia and avocado farm with a water park, adventure playground and animals for the kids.
27 min by car
Summerland House Farm
Family · Ballina
Tassiriki Ranch
Ranch with horseback riding and cabins, inland from the coast.
33 min by car
Tassiriki Ranch
The area · Byron Shire
Cape Byron Lighthouse
Lighthouse in Byron Bay. Best as a full-day trip, not a quick stop.
33 min by car
Cape Byron Lighthouse
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
Distances and times are approximate, calculated from Aruna with OpenStreetMap and OSRM routing data, without traffic. Hours and ratings aren’t shown because they change: check with each place before you go. Data retrieved in November 2026.