Ballina is the perfect place for a family holiday and there are heaps of activities and attractions to keep the kids busy. The Far North Coast of NSW is renowned for its family-friendly beaches but, there are many other things to do when you get sick of the sand. We take a look at 5 things to do with kids in Ballina.
Family Friendly Beaches and Swimming in Ballina and Surrounds
We already mentioned the family friendly beaches, but which ones are the best for kids? Grandview Apartments are only a short walk to the best beaches in Ballina. Shelly Beach is one of the most popular beaches to take the kids. With its rockpools and white sand, the kids can play here for hours and not get bored. You can get some hot chips and drinks, including some great coffee at the nearby Lighthouse Beach Café or Belle’s Beach Café.
An absolute must-visit is Lake Ainsworth in Lennox Head, a tea tree lake (the colour of coca-cola) that families have been frequenting for decades. Perfect for when the beach is a little windy, or you don’t want the waves, Lake Ainsworth is a perfect spot to have a BBQ and spend a morning or afternoon watching your little ones swim or play on the foreshore. Lennox also offers some great cafes and lunch options, and don’t miss Lennox Gelato for an icecream!
Macadamia Castle
The Macca Castle in Knockrow is only a 15-minute drive from Ballina and is a must-visit for the younger kids. With lots of animals and several opportunities to get up close and personal with them, the kids will absolutely love feeding the kangaroos, nursing the rabbits or even holding a snake! The train rides, kid’s playground and mini golf will keep the whole family occupied for hours. The café has good coffee and lunch options, but the pancakes are worthy of a special mention – get up there a little earlier and have them for breakfast!
Summerland Farm
This macadamia and avocado farm near Alstonville in the hinterland is a great day out for the family. Kids can meet the farm animals, play in the adventure playground and water park or jump on a tractor ride. The café has some beautiful home-made cakes and coffee, or you might like to pre-order a hamper to eat outside in the gorgeous surrounds while the kids play. The shopping at The Grocer, The Gift Shop and The Potting Shed is also a must to grab some local produce and treasures that the area is renowned for. Summerland Farm was formerly known as House With No Steps and is one of the most successful disability enterprises in the world – they employ a large percentage of disability workers, and this gorgeous farm has a huge heart.
Visit the Markets
Most Saturdays and Sundays, and on several weekdays, there is a market to head to somewhere around the Northern Rivers. Colourful, vibrant and usually with several activities to keep the kids amused you’ll find candle making, rides, buskers, music and lots of goodies to buy. The Bangalow Markets are a favourite of many locals and are on the last Sunday of the month with Byron on the first Sunday of the month, but check out our guide for other days.
Go For A Bike Ride
Ballina has some of the best biking and walking paths on the Far North Coast. The Bicycle Emporium in River Street, Ballina (the main street) hires bikes for all ages, including baby seats on the back of mum or dad’s! Ballina Council has a map with all the different routes you can take but come and see us and we’ll point you in the right direction. Many paths are right near your Ballina holiday accommodation at Grandview – and we have plenty of room in our secure parking to park your bikes!
Biking is a great way to get to know the local area and cover more ground than you would otherwise. It might also be a great way to suss out the spot where you can throw a line in and try to catch that night’s dinner!
There are a host of other things to do with the kids in this area, including The Crystal Castle, a drive to Brunswick Heads for their fish and chips and play in the park (hire a kayak or little boat and cruise up the river), a visit to Byron Bay to listen to the drumming and play in the popular park on Main Beach, Ballina Skate Park, Ballina Cinema, Ballina Bowling and of course the most awesome Ballina Waterslides to mention a few.
There’s always something on in our vibrant local area – make the most of your family holiday at Grandview Apartments Ballina. We specialise in Family Reunion accommodation – ask us for special group family rates.
