Extending from Tweed Heads to Brooms Head, the Northern Rivers Coast includes some of Australia’s largest waterways. Towns in this region include: Ballina, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay, Evans Head, Hastings Point, Iluka, Kingscliff, Lennox Head, Pottsville Beach, Tweed Heads and Yamba. Find self-contained accommodation, motels or holiday parks for families, couples or singles. Follow the café and culture trail, enjoy galleries, festivals and markets, visit fishing villages, historic towns and cosmopolitan beaches, relax in surf, lakes and rivers.

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New South Wales – Northern Rivers Coast – Byron Bay

Ballina information

Located 739km north of Sydney on the mouth of the Richmond River, Ballina has white sandy beaches and crystal waterways. Previously established for its timber and as a port, Ballina is today a vibrant holiday resort with fishing and sugar industries.

Attractions and activities include ideal surfing conditions, catamarans and river cruises, Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum, Tea Tree Plantation, cycle tracks and lighthouse.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, apartments and holiday units, guesthouses, B&Bs and backpackers, holiday parks, cabins and camping.

Brunswick Heads information

Located 779km north of Sydney at the mouth of the Brunswick River, Brunswick Heads is a quiet and peaceful holiday area attractive to families. Previously established for its timber, Brunswick Heads today has a large commercial fishing fleet and is popular for seaside holidays.

Attractions and activities include beautiful surfing beaches, safe swimming and paddle-boats, golf, tennis and canoeing.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, holiday units and apartments, holiday parks, cabins and hotels.

Byron Bay information

Located 772km north of Sydney, Byron Bay is a coastal town with an alternative lifestyle. Previously established for its timber and agriculture, supported by its rich soil, Byron Bay’s main industry today is tourism.

Attractions and activities include Cape Byron Headland Reserve with its lighthouse, walking tracks and hang gliding, Harley tours, horse riding and flying trapeze school, kayaking, diving and golfing, whale watching, dolphin watching and surfing, tandem sky diving, markets and body therapies.

Accommodation options for visitors include caravan parks, backpackers and cottages, B&Bs, hotels and apartments, cabins, motels and holiday units, farm stays, guesthouses and holiday houses.

Evans Head information

Located 713km north of Sydney on the mouth of the Evans River, Evans Head is a low-key holiday area with safe surfing beaches and sandy river flats. Previously established for its oyster farming, Evans Head today has an intense prawning and fishing industry with a large number of vessels moored in Evans Head Harbour.

Attractions and activities include rock beach and ocean fishing, golfing, kayaking and surfing, galleries, river walking and cycling tracks and 4WD. Explore Broadwater National Park, Razorback Lookout and Bundjulung National Park (one section is used by the RAAF).

Accommodation options for visitors include Caravan parks, motor inns and apartments, holiday units, camping and hotels.

Hastings Point information

Located 805km north of Sydney, Hastings Point is a quiet and peaceful holiday area attractive to families.

Attractions and activities include beautiful surfing beaches, safe swimming and paddle-boats, golf, tennis and canoeing.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, holiday units and apartments, caravan parks, cabins and holiday resorts.

Iluka information

Located 683km north of Sydney, Iluka is nestled idyllically on the northern mouth of the Clarence River. Iluka is surrounded by Bundjalung National Park, World Heritage listed Rainforest, the mighty Clarence River and the South Pacific Ocean.

Attractions and activities include beautiful surfing beaches, safe swimming, canoeing and paddle-boats or walk up to the spectacular lookout and enjoy the view or watch for whales on their annual breeding migration.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, holiday units and apartments, cabins.

Kingscliff - Casuarina information

Located 821km north of Sydney, Kingscliff is a fast growing area and extremely popular holiday destination. Previously established for its timber, Kingscliff today has world-class tourist resorts.

Attractions and activities include off shore diving around Cook Island, swimming, fishing and surfing at uncrowded beaches, visit Melaleuca Station for steam train rides, and agri-tourism complexes Tropical Fruit World and Pioneer Plantation, explore Mount Warning National Park, Cudgen Lake and Cudgen Nature Reserve.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, cabins and villas, holiday parks, holiday units and hotels, B&Bs and resorts.

Lennox Head information

Located 751km north of Sydney on the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head has near perfect surfing conditions. Previously established for timber, dairy and sugar cane, Lennox Head is today a quiet coastal village.

Attractions and activities include wind surfing, sailing and canoeing on Lake Ainsworth, beach, river and ocean fishing, parasailing, kite surfing and hang gliding, river cruises, ocean tours and walking in National Parks.

Accommodation options for visitors include Caravan Parks, cabins and holiday units, motels, apartments and backpackers.

Pottsville Beach information

Located 803km north of Sydney, Pottsville is an extremely popular holiday destination.

Attractions and activities include swimming, canoeing, fishing and surfing at uncrowded beaches.

Accommodation options for visitors include motels, cabins and villas, holiday parks, holiday units and hotels, B&Bs and resorts.

Tweed Heads information

Located 825km north of Sydney at the mouth of the Tweed River, Tweed Heads is a tourist area on the NSW and QLD border. Previously established by timber getters and cattle graziers, Tweed Heads’ industries are tourism, commercial fishing, bananas and sugar.

Attractions and activities include surfing, snorkelling and boating, canoeing, kayaking and water skiing, rock climbing, horse riding and golf. Visit Crystal Castle at Mullumbimby, the lighthouse at Point Danger or the cycling and walking tracks along Bingham Bay. Try crab trapping, pelican feeding, deep-sea fishing charters or gem fossicking in Tweed River.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and holiday units, holiday parks, cabins and B&Bs.

Yamba information

Located 751km north of Sydney, Yamba is a quiet holiday destination on the southern side of the mouth of the Clarence River. Previously established for its timber, Yamba now has a large commercial fishing fleet for prawns, fish and oysters.

Attractions and activities include sail boarding, jet skiing and canoeing, sailing, kayaking and surfing, extreme jet boating, paddle boats and paddle bikes, recreational fishing, swimming in the rock pools and river cruises, rainforest walks, Sunday Markets and the Yamba lighthouse, Yuraygir National Park walking tracks and camping, deep sea fishing charters, diving and whale watching, visit the Story House Museum or take the ferry to Iluka and tour the Wombah Coffee Plantation.

Accommodation options for visitors include houseboats, motels and hotels, villas, apartments and cottages, lodges, holiday parks and holiday units, B&Bs and cabins.

Contact the Visitor Information Centre at Byron Bay (02 6680 8558) for more information on the Northern Rivers Coast, NSW.