Explore Australia

Rotary Rainforest Reserve There are 6 ha of original tropical rainforest in the middle of the city, but this is only a small remnant of the original 'Big Scrub' that stood here before European settlement. Over 3 km of paths, including a boardwalk, lead visitors past hoop pines and giant figs, with rare species of labelled rainforest plants. Rotary Dr.

Visitor centre: indoor rainforest walk, historical displays, and local art and craft. The surrounding Heritage Park has pleasant picnic areas and a mini steam train offering rides (10am–2pm Thurs and public holidays, 10am–4pm Sat, Sun and school holidays). Cnr Ballina and Molesworth sts. Richmond River Historical Museum: geological specimens, Aboriginal artefacts and pioneer clothing, implements, furniture and handiwork; Molesworth St. Lismore Regional Art Gallery: permanent collection of paintings, pottery and ceramics with changing exhibitions by local and touring artists; Molesworth St. Robinson's Lookout: views south across the river to South Lismore and north to the mountains; Robinson Ave. Claude Riley Memorial Lookout: views over Lismore city; New Ballina Rd. Wilsons Park: contains original rainforest with labelled trees; Wyrallah St, East Lismore. Riverside Walk: along the banks of the Wilsons River from the town centre to Spinks Park, where there are picnic and barbecue facilities. Koala Care Centre: looks after injured and orphaned koalas. Guided tours 10am and 2pm Mon–Fri, and 10am Sat; Rifle Range Rd. Cafe and Culture Trail: self-guide walk through sites of historical significance and cafes in the town centre. Heritage walk: historic buildings and churches; brochure from visitor centre.

Boatharbour Reserve: 17 ha of rainforest, wildlife sanctuary, picnic area and walking tracks; maps from visitor centre; 6 km E. Tucki Tucki Koala Reserve: woodland planted by local residents to protect the diminishing koala population, with walking track and Aboriginal bora ring nearby; 15 km S. Rocky Creek Dam: between Nightcap National Park and Whian Whian State Forest, includes spectacular views of the lake, boardwalks, walking trails, platypus-viewing platform, barbecues and a playground; 18 km N.

Clarrie Hall Dam - Fishing Sub-region 40 km

Angling is a buzz when you are into a hot bite. It is also a buzz when discovering new territory or out hooking with other anglers, observing their methods and techniques on their home waters. So it was when I fished... Find out more

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Coffs Harbour - Fishing Sub-region 166 km

My introduction to fishing north of Sydney was at Coffs Harbour, an area with a diverse range of options. The first time I fished here I was into land-based game and spent most of my time on the ledges of Mutton Bird... Find out more

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Lake Wivenhoe 179 km

Impoundment fishing for native species in southern Queensland has enjoyed phenomenal growth and it all began at Lake Wivenhoe. Situated about 80 km west of Brisbane on the Brisbane Valley Highway, Wivenhoe has a surface... Find out more

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South-West Rocks 229 km

When it comes to popularity, there are two types of fishing destinations: those that are hot all the time and those that wax and wane depending on the season. South West Rocks is in the first category. For as long as I... Find out more

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Mooloolaba 236 km

It’s 6am on the Mooloolaba waterfront behind Kawana Waters Hotel. The temperature is mild enough to be wearing shorts and a shirt. All is quiet amid the moored boats except for the eager anglers sitting around the... Find out more

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Diving and snorkelling around Byron Bay 38 km

Although there is not much in the way of shore dives or snorkelling around Byron Bay, the nearby Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is a top spot if you can get on a boat, with sea turtles, eagle rays, corals, grey nurse and... Find out more

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Tamborine Mountain Distillery 99 km

There is a multitude of chemical-free schnapps, gins and vodkas to try here, many of which come from the fruits grown on the farm. Try lemon myrtle vodka, the multifaceted choc’n’chili liqueur, forest... Find out more

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Rock climbing around Brisbane 150 km

Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point is perhaps the friendliest city rock-climbing spot in the country, with views over the Brisbane River, a range of climbs for absolute beginners and upwards, and established anchor points... Find out more

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Cycling and mountain-biking around Brisbane 150 km

Brisbane has a growing network of great cycling trails and some excellent rides for tourists – a five-to-20-kilometre ride along the shores of the Brisbane River comes highly recommended. There is also a great ride... Find out more

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Westlander 151 km

Take the overnight train ride from Brisbane to Charleville or Quilpie, travelling over the Great Dividing Range and through some of Queensland’s rich farming areas.... Find out more

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Mount Coot-tha Forest 152 km

The largest natural area in Brisbane, this 1500 hectares of open eucalypt forest holds more than 18 kilometres of walking tracks, 12 kilometres of mountain-biking tracks and a further 31 kilometres of multi-use tracks.... Find out more

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Cycling around Armidale and Coffs Harbour 165 km

A 5-kilometre bicycle track leads from Harris Park in Armidale to the University of New England. Bikes can be hired from Armidale Bicycle Centre or the University’s Sports Union. The 26-kilometre-return ride from... Find out more

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Bush-tucker tasting - Macksville 213 km

Sample some Australian bushfoods at Valley of the Mist near Macksville, a farm dedicated to sustainable methods. You will taste bush fruits, nuts, herbs and condiments and have a tour of the farm. You can also take a... Find out more

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Birdwatching - Port Macquarie to Lismore 221 km

There are a couple of top birdwatching spots in the New England area. One of the most spectacular is an all-weather bird hide among masses of waterbirds at Quipolly Dam, about 18 kilometres north-east of Quirindi. Mother... Find out more

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Cycling the Sunshine Coast and hinterland 231 km

Join a half-day or longer guided bike tour with Bicycle Tours of Queensland, particularly the popular Sunshine Coast ride or Maleny to Glass House Mountains. A back-up bus is included if it all gets too much.... Find out more

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The Glades Golf & Spa 82 km

Ask Greg Norman’s former chief designer Bob Harrison to name one course that makes him feel proud when he sees the final result, and chances are he’ll say The Glades. Upon joining the Gold Coast golfing... Find out more

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Lakelands Golf Club 86 km

As a player, Jack Nicklaus was a regular visitor to Australia for more than two decades. He won six Australian Opens and inspired a generation of young Australians to take up golf. When his playing career began... Find out more

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The Grand Golf Club 88 km

Think of the Gold Coast and flashing images spring to mind: beaches, theme parks, high-rise apartments, hordes of tourists. The Gold Coast hinterland has none of these, and could be thousands of miles away. The... Find out more

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The Links, Hope Island 104 km

When Hope Island opened for play in 1993 it was a unique addition to Australia’s golfing landscape. Here was a links-style layout seemingly uprooted from Scotland and transplanted on to the sunny northern... Find out more

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Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club (Pines course) 105 km

Sanctuary Cove’s Pines layout, designed by Arnold Palmer, has reigned for more than two decades as one of the Gold Coast’s best courses. At various stages during that time it has also ranked among the... Find out more

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Brookwater Golf & Country Club 133 km

Brookwater opened to considerable fanfare in 2002, with many observers quick to draw comparisons with Augusta National, venerable home of the US Masters. The varied terrain, inventive bunkering and undulating putting... Find out more

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Royal Queensland Golf Club 153 km

Of all the golf courses in this book, Royal Queensland has undergone the most dramatic changes in recent years. Originally opened in 1920, on reclaimed mangrove swampland on the north bank of the Brisbane River, ... Find out more

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Bonville Golf Resort 173 km

Bonville is Australia’s most beautiful inland course. Carved from 250 hectares of flooded gums and blackbutt forest, with small pockets of subtropical rainforest, Bonville is often described as Australia’s... Find out more

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North Lakes Resort Golf Club 178 km

Good course designers have tricks up their sleeves when it comes to spurring golfers to rise to the challenge. They can visually intimidate you with large schemes of bunkers or water hazards encroaching on the best... Find out more

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Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 198 km

Challenging the best players without alienating casual and beginner golfers is the fine line every course designer treads in coming up with a new creation. One designer who does it better than most is Ross Watson. His... Find out more

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Fire in the Belly

Recently awarded ‘Best Pizza Restaurant in Australia’, the people at Fire in the Belly have every reason to feel proud. Dedicated to elevating pizza far above the level of junk food, they use organic seasonal... Find out more

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The Left Bank

Very popular with locals, the Left Bank has been recently refurbished and offers a modern courtyard area for alfresco dining – great on a summer evening, or even in winter under the new mushroom heater. For breakfast,... Find out more

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Paupiettes

Known as one of the best restaurants in the area, Paupiettes serves honest French cuisine blended with a contemporary Australian style and Asian influences. Specialities include duck confit, Moreton Bay bugs on... Find out more

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Mondo Organics, West End 149 km

Australia’s first organic restaurant when it opened in 2000, Mondo Organics serves a range of organic meats, including beef, chicken, duck and lamb, and the fish is chosen for the sustainability of the catch. The... Find out more

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Stone and Wood Brewing 36 km

The popular coastal holiday destination of Byron Bay is the location for one of the country’s newest and most exciting craft breweries – Stone & Wood. The partners behind the venture include a trio of... Find out more

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Burleigh Brewing Company 80 km

Queensland has generally suffered from a dearth of craft breweries so the Burleigh Brewing Company is a welcome and relatively recent addition. Co-owner/brewer Brennan Fielding boasts considerable experience as a... Find out more

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Mt Tamborine Brewery 98 km

As we went to press, one of Queensland’s more ambitious craft-brewing operations was about to come to fruition at Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland. The 24-hectolitre microbrewery is the original plant... Find out more

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Foster's Group (Yatala Brewery) 117 km

This brewery site, located at Yatala, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, was established by the Power Brewing Company, which launched Powers Bitter in 1988. Four years later a joint venture between Powers and... Find out more

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Castlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery 151 km

The pages of Australian brewing history are littered with take-overs and acquisitions, and while Castlemaine Perkins sounds like a merger, it was, in reality, yet another buy-out. As the name suggests, the Castlemaine... Find out more

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Sunshine Coast Brewery 239 km

Queensland’s longest-running microbrewery has been operating from an industrial estate on the outskirts of Maroochydore since 1998. It was established by Jim Robinson and Queensland craft-beer pioneer Graham Howard... Find out more

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Rummery Park camping area 26 km

From this roomy, friendly camping area you can take a short walk following Boggy Creek to the beautiful Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park. Other activities include birdwatching and car touring. To get here, turn off... Find out more

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Flat Rock Holiday Park 32 km

This is a simple camping spot 4 km north-east of Ballina on the Coast Rd (Lennox Head Rd) but it’s quiet and protected despite being within 3 minutes’ walk to Angels Beach. With Ballina and Lennox Head close... Find out more

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Broken Head Holiday Park 35 km

Villas, cabins, and powered and unpowered sites are all available at this beachfront haven at Broken Head, 7 km south of Byron Bay. Tucked in right next to the nature reserve, the holiday park also offers laundry... Find out more

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Massey Greene Holiday Park 41 km

This is in a top location, right on the Brunswick River and minutes away from Brunswick Heads town centre. The river offers swimming, fishing, snorkelling and boating, and there’s a surf beach only 10... Find out more

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Cutters Camp camping area 42 km

You’ll find Cutters Camp where Mebbin Forest and Caddell roads meet. Unsealed Mebbin Forest Rd is a 35 km scenic route with wonderful views of the region’s volcanic, forest-clad landscape; you’ll need a... Find out more

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Mount Warning Holiday Park 47 km

Surround yourself with lush and up-tempo rainforest and mountain streams in this verdant mid-north-coast holiday park at the foot of Mt Warning. Accommodation options include deluxe, ensuite and budget cabins, and... Find out more

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Black Rocks camping area 50 km

Black Rocks is on Ten Mile Beach, via unsealed Gap Rd, 5 km south of Woodburn. There are concrete bunkers from World War II here – a section in the north of the park is still used by the military for target... Find out more

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Sheepstation Creek camping area 51 km

With 40 camping sites, this sizeable camping area is just off Tweed Range Scenic Dr, 31 km north of Kyogle. The easy Rosewood Loop (6 km, 3 hours) and Palm Forest Walk (2 km, 1 hour) begin here: the former will take you... Find out more

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Forest Tops camping area 51 km

If you enter the national park along Tweed Range Scenic Dr, 30 km north of Kyogle you’ll see signposted access for this camping area. The medium-difficulty 10.5 km Booyong Walk (5 hours one way) sets out from here... Find out more

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Bells Bay camping area 53 km

Situated beside picturesque Toonumbar Dam, 31 km north-west of Kyogle via Afterlee Rd, Bells Bay is a vision in green, surrounded by swathes of forest. Boating (8-knot limit), canoeing, swimming and fishing for... Find out more

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BIG4 Ballina Central Holiday Park 29 km

This park is across the road from the water, at the end of the main street and just walking distance from the shops. The park has good amenities. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies at... Find out more

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South Ballina Beach Holiday Park 30 km

This is a very neat park on the south side of the Richmond River. It is in a quiet area and is one of the few parks along this stretch of coast where pets are permitted (except in Christmas and Easter holidays). Bookings... Find out more

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Lake Ainsworth Holiday Park 31 km

Located alongside Lake Ainsworth and across the road from the beach, this is a basic park in a great position. The surf club is nearby and the popular beach is great for swimming or walking. This is a council park on an... Find out more

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Ballina Headlands Leisure Park 32 km

On a popular holiday coast, this park is about 500 metres from the water and 9 km north-east of Ballina off the Beach Road. It is a good base when visiting the area and has a heated pool for winter months. Bookings are... Find out more

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Broken Head Holiday Park 35 km

This stretch of coast is a busy holiday area. The park is located on the beach and has good facilities, and popular Byron Bay is 8.5 km north. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies in... Find out more

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Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park 36 km

A popular beachside holiday park that is busy year-round, this place has good facilities and is 6 km south of Byron Bay. It is close to some popular surfing and swimming beaches. Bookings are required in peak periods and... Find out more

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Silver Sands Holiday Park 37 km

This is a huge beachside park with good facilities just a short walk from the centre of town. It has many permanent holiday vans and is a very popular holiday spot for people from the nearby inland towns. Bookings are... Find out more

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Glen Villa Resort 38 km

This is a high quality park with good facilities, about 400 metres from the town centre. It has the unusual policy of permitting just two people per site. No bookings are taken, and a minimum-length stay applies at... Find out more

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First Sun Holiday Park 38 km

Every now and then we discover a park in a fabulous position. This place is on the beach at Byron Bay, within walking distance of the town centre, the restaurants and the nightlife. The park is busy year-round and is... Find out more

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Ferry Reserve Holiday Park 40 km

This park is very easily accessible from the Pacific Highway northbound, but requires doubling back through town for southbound travellers. It is situated on a picturesque estuary, popular with anglers. The grounds and... Find out more

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Elindale House B&B

Elindale House is a classic and beautiful country B&B, taking care of every last detail, including a silver service hot breakfast. Centrally located in Lismore, it has luxury ensuite guest rooms with four-posted... Find out more

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Melville House

Melville House is a fourth-generation family home offering Art Deco–styled B&B accommodation close to the heart of Lismore. All the guest rooms are well-appointed, spacious and have marble bathrooms. The shared... Find out more

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The Lismore Wilson Motel

Heritage-listed, encircled with pristine sub-tropical gardens and offering 25 contemporary, relaxed guest rooms on the edge of Lismore’s town centre, this motel is a favourite. There is also a communal... Find out more

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Emerald Valley Villa 28 km

Nestled in the hinterland some 25 minutes drive from Byron Bay, this is way up the high end of ecotourism in this country. You can rent your own five-star palace (they call it a villa), complete with pool, courtyard,... Find out more

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Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat 62 km

Located near Murwillumbah and surrounded on three sides by World Heritage–listed national parks, this secluded couples-only resort on the Queensland border has minimal-impact, self-contained bungalows and cabins.... Find out more

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The Mouses House, Springbrook 65 km

Set in a beautiful rainforest at more than 800 metres above sea level, this luxury resort has 11 self-contained chalets, hot tub, sauna, tennis court and bikes, a sensible environmental policy and eco-accreditation. It... Find out more

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Cottages on the Creek 67 km

This 2-hectare establishment is managed as a Land for Wildlife property and the two, onebedroom spa cottages have composting toilets, protecting Currumbin Creek with its turtles, catfish, platypus and yabbies.... Find out more

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Destiny Boonah 104 km

Set on 80 hectares of Land for Wildlife property, this self-contained three-bedroom cottage is solar- and wind-powered. You are encouraged to bring a mountain bike or go bushwalking on the property, which is located near... Find out more

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Brisbane Marriott Hotel 151 km

By no means the greenest accommodation in this book, the Marriott still deserves inclusion as one of the better options in large hotels. It gained the Green Globe Benchmarked Bronze status and is AAA-rated for its water-... Find out more

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Lily Pily Country House, Bellingen 188 km

The owners of this stylish B&B have spent seven years revegetating and securing wildlife corridors along the riparian zone here, planting some 4000 trees and 2000 reeds, resulting in an increase in bandicoots,... Find out more

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Glass House Mountains Eco-Lodge 212 km

The simple, down-market rooms here include the use of old train carriages for a communal kitchen and group area. An old church has also been recycled, and all greywater and blackwater is used on site to irrigate the... Find out more

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Coolgardie Rest Area 23 km

89 km N of Tyndale (L) or 14 km S of Ballina (L) Large areas just off the highway on both sides. Limited shade. GPS: S28 56.104 E153 28.307 ... Find out more

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Woodburn Park Area 29 km

Middle of town Parking area on the highway beside the river. Good facilities. GPS: S29 04.297 E153 20.575 ... Find out more

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Tuckombil Road Rest Area 33 km

40 km S of Ballina (L) southbound only Large area just off the highway. GPS: S29 06.209 E153 20.400 ... Find out more

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Tyagarah Rest Area 35 km

38 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S28 35.902 E153 32.663   ... Find out more

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New Italy Rest Area 38 km

56 km N of Tyndale (L) or 47 km S of Ballina (R) Large shady area adjacent to the highway near the museum and cafe. GPS: S29 09.205 E153 17.930... Find out more

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Yelgun Rest Area 43 km

50 km N of Ballina (R) or 42 km S of Tweed Heads (L) Large area just off the highway. GPS: S28 29.489 E153 31.356   ... Find out more

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Sleepy Hollow Rest Area 49 km

61 km N of Ballina (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S28 25.457 E153 31.220 ... Find out more

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Tabbimoble Creek Rest Area 52 km

65 km S of Ballina (L) southbound only Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S29 16.940 E153 12.911... Find out more

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Maclean Park Area 73 km

At Ferry Park Small area on the riverbank just off the highway. GPS: S29 28.366 E153 12.318... Find out more

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McPhillips Creek Rest Area 107 km

50 km N of Woolgoolga (R) or 10 km S of Grafton (L) Large area just off the highway behind a few trees. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S29 44.599 E152 59.460   ... Find out more

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Mann River Rest Area 110 km

115 km E of Glen Innes (R) or 45 km W of Grafton (L) Small area with good views over the Mann River. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S29 34.652 E152 33.417... Find out more

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Glenugie Creek Rest Area 111 km

45 km N of Woolgoolga (L) or 15 km S of Grafton (R) Large area just off the highway behind a few trees. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S29 47.091 E153 00.522   ... Find out more

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Mulligans Hut Camp Area 118 km

T/O 69 km E of Glen Innes (R) or 91 km W of Grafton (L) Small secluded campground situated in a natural bush setting 9 kilometres south of the highway in Gibraltar Range National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE:... Find out more

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Bellbird Camp Area 119 km

T/O 73 km E of Glen Innes (L) or 87 km W of Grafton (R) Small campground 4 kilometres north of the highway in a secluded bush setting deep in the forest of Washpool National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE:... Find out more

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Halfway Creek Rest Area 126 km

28 km N of Woolgoolga (R) or 32 km S of Grafton (L) Large area just off the highway near the roadhouse. GPS: S29 56.102 E153 05.709   ... Find out more

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Boundary Falls Camp Area 128 km

T/O 60 km E of Glen Innes (L) or 100 km W of Grafton (R) Small secluded campground 2 kilometres north of the highway in the forest of Gibraltar Range National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Unsealed access. ... Find out more

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Bluff Rock Rest Area 130 km

80 km N of Glen Innes (R) or 12 km S of Tenterfield (L) Small area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S29 09.277 E152 00.108... Find out more

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Woolgoolga Rest Area 144 km

Middle of town Small parking area just off the highway. GPS: S30 06.797 E153 11.436... Find out more

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