Take a trip to the beautiful sub tropics of Northern NSW for a fantastic family holiday or short break. Northern NSW is home to iconic Byron Bay, however for this post we are going to look at Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park as the perfect base for your Northern Rivers family getaway.
Ballina is located a short 30 minute drive south of Byron Bay and sits on the mouth of the Richmond River. It is the perfect spot for a family seaside holiday where there is plenty of fishing, surfing and cycling.
While you won’t exactly be roughing it at Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park, you will find that the camping facilities are superb with fully serviced sites right on the lake front.
Accommodation
The park caters to all types of holiday makers from the Holiday House with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms situated on the lakefront to your fully serviced camping sites. The following is a rundown of what’s available.
Holiday House
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms sleeping up to 10 people. The Holiday House has its own private patio and BBQ for outdoor dining. Inside features a fully equipped kitchen, dining and lounge room. Also included is a TV/DVD, Foxtel, air conditioning and is perfect for large families, groups and business accommodation.
Hub Cabins
The Hub Cabins are a small group of 4 cabins located closely together and is designed to cater for groups of holiday makers such as extended family reunions, several families holidaying together and companies getting together for business conferences.
The Hub Cabins each have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, TV/DVD, air conditioning and fully equipped kitchen. The main attraction is the private and central undercover BBQ and dining area where all guests and can get together and socialize into the early hours of the morning.
3 Bedroom Lakefront Bungalow
Luxury 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom bungalows right on the lakefront that includes a spacious living/dining area, fully equipped kitchen and a large outdoor deck with a private BBQ and accommodates up to 9 people. Also included is TV/DVD, air conditioning, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer.
Lakeside Luxury Waterfront Bungalow
Premium waterfront bungalow with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with separate toilet, a fully equipped kitchen, large undercover deck with private BBQ and a spacious lounge/dining area.
Deluxe Spa Villa
Yes, this villa has its very own spa. It also includes 2 bedrooms, 1 large bathroom (with the spa), air conditioning, washing machine and dryer, spacious lounge/dining/kitchen area and an undercover patio with outdoor dining. These are the only cabins set aside for families travelling with their pet dog. For further information regarding the park’s ‘dog policy’.
Waterfront Villa
Featuring 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, lounge/dining/kitchen area with TV/DVD and air conditioning. Also included is a large undercover deck with their own BBQ and outdoor table and chairs.
Deluxe Villa
Features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and an open lounge/dining/kitchen area with air conditioning and an undercover patio.
Villa
Great value family accommodation with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, an open lounge/dining/kitchen area and an outdoor undercover eating area. The villa sleeps up to 6 people.
Waterfront Studio
Perfect for a couple featuring an ensuite bedroom with a combined kitchen/dining/lounge area. It also includes air conditioning and an outdoor dining area with table and chairs.
Ensuite Cabin
Basic open plan cabin that sleeps up to 6 people and features air conditioning and an undercover eating/patio area.
Cabin for Two
Neat little cabin for two people that is open plan with a double bed, bathroom, TV, air conditioning and kitchenette.
Cabin (no ensuite)
Budget conscious cabin that sleeps up to 4 people with a double bed and bunks. An open plan with combined kitchen and dining area with a TV and an undercover dining area.
Camping/Caravan Sites
Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park has a wonderful range of fully serviced caravan and camping sites that caters to caravaners and campers alike. The park has a range of powered tent and caravan sites with some of them offering private bathrooms, lockable storage, shelving and hanging space. This is perfect for the security conscious where you can have the peace of mind of being able to lock up your valuables when you leave your camp site.
Another excellent feature for the camping and caravan sites is they include all the facilities the park has to offer which are listed below.
Park Facilities
The facilities at Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park is what makes this destination an absolute stand out for holiday makers – especially if you have children.
Water Park & Pool
The swimming pool is situated in the middle of the ‘entertainment’ hub of the park and is right next to the huge camper’s kitchen. It is heated in the cooler months and the main attraction is the children’s adventure water park with waterfalls, bridges, standing stones and large fiberglass mushrooms to spark any young imagination.
Mini Golf
An 18 hole mini golf course.
Kids Nook
An awesome fenced indoor play area for the under 5’s with tons of toys and play equipment. Next to the Kids Nook and within the same room is the games area with air hockey, a pinball machine and other electronic games.
Jumping Pillow
The jumping pillow is an absolute favourite with children of all ages and even some of the adults.
Camp Kitchen
The camp kitchen is located right next to the water park which is perfect to watch over the kids swimming in the pool and water park while you are cooking a meal. The kitchen comes equipped with 5 large 6 seat tables and chairs, televisions, microwaves, fridges, freezers and 5 large fully equipped cooking hubs.
24 Hour TV Room
The TV room has a big screen TV with Austar and is great for watching movies and getting together with family and friends to watch major sporting events like the State of Origin or the Grand Prix.
Laundries
Three separate laundries dotted around the park with coin operated washing machines and dryers. They include outdoor clothes lines and if you need washing powder or an iron, just ask at reception.
Bathrooms
Modern and clean bathrooms are available and the south bathroom block includes a baby bath.
Function Room
A fantastic conference room that includes internet connection and projection equipment. The room sits up to 35 people with tables and up to 70 people when it is arranged in a theatre setting. Catering is also available and bookings are essential.
Cinema
Children’s movies are regularly run in the cinema which has a huge screen and a surround sound system.
Gymnasium
The park includes a fully equipped adult’s only gymnasium so you don’t have to miss out on your regular exercise routine.
Local Attractions
With all the facilities Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park has to offer, you could stay for days without needing to leave. However, when you do want to venture further afield, Ballina and the Northern Rivers has plenty of attractions to keep you and your family busy.
The park is beautifully located on the shore front of Shaws Bay which is popular for swimming, fishing and canoeing. On the other side and about 700m away is Lighthouse Beach which is fully patrolled and has the newly renovated surf club with a lovely café/restaurant overlooking the ocean.
Right next to the park is the long jetty that blocks off the main river which is very popular for walkers and cyclists. The Jetty will take you over to the other side of Shaws Bay where you can stop off and relax in the family friendly beer garden of the Shaws Bay Hotel or continue on over the Missingham Bridge to the large skate park and safe swimming and fishing in the Richmond River.
Ballina is a relatively flat town and is perfect for getting out and about on your bicycle and has many dedicated bike paths which is a great way for getting around town.
If you are staying over a weekend, the Northern Rivers is famous for their weekend markets which are held in a different town every Sunday. The most popular markets are held at Bangalow, Byron Bay and The Channon. Click here to find out where the next Market Day is held.
Ballina is the perfect location to set up a base camp for you to explore the whole Northern Rivers hinterland. Most of the towns and villages are within a 30 minute drive in any direction with Nimbin and the Channon within an hour’s drive from camp.
For a full list of sites and activities in the Northern Rivers, check out the following areas on the Visit NSW website.
Admittedly, Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park would not be the best place for the die hard, love to rough it in the great outdoors camping enthusiasts but it is definitely the best place to go camping in style.
Image source: Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park