Ballina and Byron Bay

Been in Ballina for a few days now, and have been using it as a base to explore the whole surrounding area. So here are my general impressions -

Byron Bay - real let down. There had been much hype, and I was expecting more. The town itself is small and crowded and twisty. It is full of tourists, mostly European, looking for that laid back hippie lifestyle it is famed for. But it has forgotten its roots. Now it is just a "try hard" with New Age shops on every corner, massage and aromatherapy, and the coolest hippie clothes, all at exorbitant prices of course. Real hippies would never survive. It has a nice beach, but then so does almost every other town around here.

The one really special thing about Byron Bay is the lighthouse which stands upon a high cliff, and has amazing views over the whole area. This is also the most easterly point of Australia.

Ballina - Lovely town - quiet, laid back, relaxed. Wide streets that open onto the Richmond River, and a lovely long walking path to the stone wall where it opens to the sea. Many lovely beaches, both river and surf, but not really warm enough to swim yet. It is the home of the Big Prawn, and many regular sized prawns also at the fisherman's co-op.

Lennox Heads - really small town between Ballina and Byron, even quieter and more relaxed than Ballina. It has a surf beach, which apparently is quite famous, and a lake - Ainsworth Lake, which is surrounded by tea trees, giving the water a distinct red, brown colour. Tea trees are big in the area, and there is a plantation in Ballina called Thursday Plantation. They produce all sorts of products with tea tree, including insect repellents, hand creams, shampoos etc. Definitely need the insect repellent - lots of mozzies here.

Alstonville - this is a small town west of Ballina. Just out of town is a place called Summerland Farm, which is an amazing place. It is a working farm with macadamia and avocado plantations, as well as having a restaurant, cafe, reception centre, and also a waterpark and mini golf for the kids. So why is this so amazing? It is run by a group called House with No Steps, which was founded by a man who had contracted polio and become a quadriplegic. His goal was to provide a place that would enable people with disabilities to reach their potential and lead productive and satisfying lives. Here disabled people are trained in areas such as office administration, farming, fruit packing, agriculture, garden maintenance, restaurant and hospitality services, retail and tourism services.

And they do a great job. The grounds are beautifully kept, the restaurant was elegant, the food was great, and the waiters were courteous and polite - all disabled, mostly with Down's syndrome. They do a high tea which I think is a must, if you come through here Faye.

Between Ballina and Byron Bay is another macadamia plantation called the Macadamia Castle. Again, it is now just another excuse for a children's entertainment centre, like the Big Banana, and to sell macadamia products at inflated prices. The best thing about it was the decor, and the Big Knight that guards it. Stopped by for a photo opportunity.

GeorgeY's bit

At Byron Bay we found a very nice French patisserie, again, and had a very nice treat and practiced a bit more. Then had to go to the Lighthouse for a tour. Our volunteer guide read us some of the old folded paper she had on her, but was not sure about most questions and promised to look them up sometime later. Quite a contrast to the Norah Heads guy, full of (QI) Quite Interesting facts and details.

We also went to the furthest Easterly point on the mainland where the council quite thoughtfully has erected a permanent camera pole with a screw for self timer images. As we planned to travel from east to west, we had our pics taken just for the record. Normally there is no great importance to this point except on New Year's and New Millennia…etc. Those with a petty sense of achievement like to crowd here, and for the same purpose, some even more petty go to NZ.

The Byron Bay Brewery is another micro-brewing business that makes everything on the premises, and has a range of 6 different products. To sample all of them we ordered the Surfboard, which is a surfboard shaped tray with 6 holes holding six beer sample. That was a problem because each sample is 100mL and with only 2 of us, and me driving, it was a difficult task. Tough job, but takes some guts to achieve. To help us to cope we ordered lunch. Problem was, each lunch came with a free schooner of beer as well. Couldn't let them go to waste, so managed to syphon them off into an empty soft drink bottle. Went well with dinner the next two nights.

Outside the Macadamia Castle there is the Big Knight, and I was asked to stand next to him for a photo. I stood between his legs and looked up for macadamias.

Ballina is on the Richmond River's last section, where it meets the sea. Depending on the tides some very good fishing is possible. Rode the motorbike around to explore the beaches, lakes and rivers all the way to Lennox Head. Back at Ballina, was startled by a massive splash which I thought was a whale, or at least a dolphin. Turns out to be a large group of mullets practicing synchronized leaping from the water. At closer inspection the river had mullets of sizable mass in large concentration. Ran to the Tourist Info Centre and organized a fishing license. Went back and grabbed the fishing rods, then quickly back to the same place. Nothing. Next day, nothing. The day after, you guessed it. The rule is "Always be ready."

Our next door neighbours campers are a young European couple touring. The lad is Swiss and the girl is, you guessed it, French. I need to practice English before I forget it all. Any one English here? Parlez vous l'Anglais? J'ais besoin de pratiquer un peu s'il vous plais.