ALSTONVILLE

Alstonville is a charming village set amongst the fertile, green rolling hills on the plateau West of Ballina.

DID YOU KNOW?

By 1883 Alstonville

boasted 2 pubs, 6 stores, 2 black-smiths, 9 sugar mills, and 4 saw mills.

Alstonville is known for their rich volcanic red soil perfect for growing avocados, macadamia nuts, tropical fruits and coffee. The historic buildings have all the charm of yesteryear, housing a number of art and antique galleries, an historical museum and places to relax and enjoy the locally grown coffee. Originally known as Duck Creek Mountain, the village of Alstonville is central to many farms, orchards and nurseries and is famous for its Tibouchina trees which line the streets and add a vibrant green and mauve colour throughout the village when flowering. A must visit is the Summerland House Farm. Call into The Federal Hotel for that cold beer on a hot day and meet the locals.

Ballina is located about a 30-minute drive south of Byron Bay. The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is located here and regular jet services are provided to Sydney and Melbourne. The Ballina area was first home to the wider Bundjalung Nation and was a meeting place for the Bundjalung people. The Bundjalung people in the area were treated to a smorgasbord of seafood and bush tucker. The remnants of elaborate fish traps still exist on North Creek. These traps consisted of rock walls surrounding small pools, fish would become trapped as the tide began to ebb. The beaches of Ballina are magnificent surfing beaches. Lighthouse Beach and Shelley Beach are easily accessed. Entry to South Ballina beach is accessed via the car ferry and offers outstanding surfing and beach fishing. Ballina’s etymology is not entirely certain. One view holds that it is a corruption of a clan name for the Bullina band of the Arakwal. It has been argued that in this tribe’s Bundjalung language, bullinah meant “place of many oysters”. This theory argues that the Aboriginal name reminded the predominantly Irish settlers of “Ballina”, so the name’s origin could be an accident.

A Day In Ballina

PLAY - REFURBISHED BALLINA POOL & WATERSLIDE - Ballina Swimming Pool & Water Slide is located in the Ballina CBD next to the Richmond River. The pools can be used for swimming lessons, children’s play, lap swimming and rehabilitation or just for fun.

EAT & DRINK - BALLINA RSL - Ballina RSL Club offers uninterrupted views of the majestic Richmond River and is proudly recognised as the premier family and community club in the Northern Rivers. Our stunning contemporary interiors are stylish and chic yet inviting, relaxing and comfortable.

Visitor Information Centre

6 River Street, Ballina, NSW https://www.discoverballina.com.au/

BALLINA’S BIG PRAWN

Ballina is home to the world’s largest prawn (made of concrete and fibreglass). On 24 September 2009, Ballina Shire Council voted to allow the demolition of the Big Prawn, but this permission was never acted upon. Bunnings Warehouse purchased the site and refurbished the Prawn as part of the redevelopment. The Prawn now sits on a stand next to the entrance of the Bunnings warehouse car park. Ballina’s Big Prawn is another of Australia’s iconic big things. Built in 1989, the Big Prawn has undergone a makeover and was reopened in July 2013. It now has a tail!

Markets

-3RD Sunday Community

– Farmers Market - Sundays 6am - 11am

- December Twilight Market

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

6 River Street, Ballina NSW 2478 www.discoverballina.com.au

Markets

TUESDAY – Lismore Organic Market at Alexandra Parade Lismore

WEDNESDAY - Nimbin Farmers Market

THURSDAYs - Lismore Produce Market at the Conservatorium Carpark

Lismore Car boot Market TBA see fb for announcement

2nd SUNDAY Channon Craft Market

4th SUNDAY Nimbin Market 9-4.30

EVENTS

March TBA Lismore Eat the Street – eatthestreetlismore.com.au

March 3-4 Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge - runningcalendar.com. au/event

May 5-7 Nimbin Mardi Grass – nimbinmardigrass.com

May 13 Lismore Gemfest at Showground - gemclublismore.org.au

June 17-18 LisAmore! - lismorefriendshipfestival.com.au

June 24 Lismore Lantern Parade - lanternparade.com.au

July 1- 8 NAIDOC Week, March & Fun Day - naidoc.org.au

September 21 Lismore Cup lismoreturfclub.com.au

Sept 23-24 Nimbin Show - nimbinshowsociety.org.au

October 14-15 Nimbin Roots Festival – nrfest.com

October 19-21 Lismore North Coast National Show – agshowsnsw.org.au

December Tropical Fruits NYE Party – tropicalfruits.com.au

See more on- visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/lismore-area/lismore/events - visitnimbin.com.au

Lismore is nestled on the banks of the Wilsons River between the rainforest and the sea. The population in the Lismore urban centre in 2023 is 30,028. The city of Lismore lies in the Bundjalung people’s nation area. It has been suggested that the Aboriginal people called the area Tuckurimbah meaning “glutton.” Resurrection from the Devastating 2022 Floods - Lismore has long been the commercial hub of the Northern Rivers area, and is often referred to as the heart of the region. Since the recent devastating floods in March 2022, Lismore has struggled to come back to life, but the sheer gumption of the locals including business owners, the Lismore Council and all levels of Government are determined to rebuild Lismore with focus on preventing this sort of disaster ever happening in the future.

One local business rebuilding is Norco with hundred-year-old dairy farmers providing milk and produce from their rich green pastures. Surrounding Lismore is unparallel breath taking rainforests, water falls, walking tracks, and country drives through villages like Bexhill, Clunes, Goolmangar, Corndale, Federal and the Macadamia Nut capital of Australia, Dunoon. Explore Lismore’s heritage buildings, arcades, and unique shopping experiences, including colourful weekly markets. Check out the funky cafes, bars, and restaurants where you will savour the tastes of the Northern Rivers. The laidback lifestyle, idyllic climate, and spectacular natural beauty of the region, attract and inspire many creative souls. Do not miss a visit to one of many studios and galleries including the Lismore Regional Gallery

A Day In Lismore

EXPLORE - MINYON FALLS is a plunge waterfall on the Repentance Creek which descends more than 100 metres over the huge rhyolite cliffs which were once part of the Tweed Volcano. The water flow eroded the underlying basalt away, to create the waterfall. The National Parks and Wildlife Service manages the Nightcap National Park, and provides a 50m boardwalk to the lookout which is wheelchair accessible, several picnic tables and barbecue facilities at the top of the falls. In the Minyon Falls area, a camping ground is provided 2 kilometres west at Rummery Park.

NIMBIN is notable for the prominence of its environmental initiatives such as permaculture, sustainability, and self-sufficiency, as well as the cannabis counterculture. This internationally famous village is vibrant and colourful with its unique streetscape of indigenous, rainforest and waterfall murals. Drive through the lush, green hills of the hinterland, and discover macadamia, fruit and coffee plantations, pristine waterfalls in majestic rainforests, friendly country pubs, cafes, and postcard-perfect villages.

A Day In Nimbin

EXPLORE - NIMBIN ROCKS - Visit the amazing Nimbin Rocks. Stoney Shute Road & Nimbin Road, Nimbin, New South Wales.

SHOP - THE NIMBIN HEMP EMBASSY - The Nimbin Hemp Embassy is a non-profit association incorporated under the name Nimbin Hemp and established in 1992. The Embassy’s objectives are cannabis law reform through educating the community about hemp products and cannabis, and promoting a more tolerant and compassionate attitude to people in general. They aim to support local hemp products, arts, and crafts people by providing a retail outlet for local clothing designers, artists, candle makers, soap makers, potters, and woodworkers. The Embassy Shop also provides cannabis information and education. The Embassy does not sell any drugs. They are drug law reform advocates.