Lismore
Population 27,200
Situated between rainforest and sea, Lismore is in northern New South Wales,
inland from Ballina on the Bruxner Highway.
Climate
Average temperatures: January max 30C (86F) - min 19C (66F); July max 20C
(68F) - min 6C (43F). Average annual rainfall, 1349mm (53 ins); wettest
months December-May.
Characteristics
The commercial, cultural and sporting capital of the North Coast region.
Lismore is the administrative centre for Federal and State Government
departments, as well as being the commercial and retail hub of the region.
The surrounding countryside is extremely fertile and all types of agriculture
are found in the region. Tropical fruits, such as bananas, avocados,
pineapples and macadamia nuts, are widely grown. Dairying is also popular
and the hills away from the coast are still timbered. There has been
much controversy in past years over logging.
How to Get There By Air
Hazelton Airlines, 13 17 13, fly to/from Sydney.
By Bus
Greyhound Pioneer, 13 2030, stop at Lismore on their Sydney/Brisbane Pacific
Highway route.
Kirklands Coaches, 1300 367 077, provide daily services to/from Brisbane
and nearby regional centres.
By Rail
There is a regular Countrylink service from Sydney to Lismore, 13 2232.
By Road
Via the Pacific Highway and the New England Highway from Sydney (787km
- 489 miles) and Brisbane (222km - 138 miles).
Visitor Information
The Lismore Visitor Information Centre, cnr Ballina & Molesworth Streets
(the main street), (02) 6622 0122 or 1300 369 795, has literature, maps,
souvenirs and accommodation booking services, and is open 9.30am-4pm Mon-
Fri, 10am-3pm weekends and 9.30am-4pm on Public Holidays. The online references
for more info are: email tourism@liscity.nsw. gov.au and website www.liscity.
nsw.gov.au
Accommodation
Here is a selection of accommodation available in Lismore, with prices
for a double room per night, which should be used as a guide only. The
telephone area code is 02.
Caravan Parks
Lismore Tourist Caravan Park, Dawson Street, 6621 6581. (Pets allowed by
discretion), 92 sites, barbecue - powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans
$30-35 for two, cabins $40 for two.
Lismore Lake Caravan Park, Bruxner Highway, 6621 2585. (Pets on application),
138 sites, pool, barbecue - powered sites $13 for two, cabins $35-45
for two.
Road Runner Caravan Park, Caniaba Road, 6621 6705. (No pets allowed), 133
sites, tennis, pool - powered sites $14 for two, cabins $40 for two.
Eating Out
The Gollan Hotel, cnr Woodlark and Keen Streets, serves meals, as do most
of the hotels. For tasty and reasonably priced meals, try the Golf Club
and the local RSL Club. A few additional suggestions are:
Mandarin Palace Chinese Restaurant, 153 Keen Street, 11.30am-2pm and 5pm-8pm
7 days, closed Public Holidays.
Ho Ho International, 67 Wyrallah Road, 6621 5518. Chinese and international
cuisine, open 11am-2pm and 5pm-9pm every day ex-cept Tuesdays.
Paupiettes, 56 Ballina Street, 6621 6135. Open 6.30pm-9.30pm Tue-Sat only.
Mexican Magic, 6 Carrington Street, 6621 8206.
Giorgios Vegetarian Italia, 73 Magellan Street, 6622 3177.
The Tempted Palate, 34 Moles-worth Street, 6621 6566.
Lismore Seafood Inn, 25 Eggins Lane, 6621 3736.
The Loft, 6 Nesbitt Lane, 6622 0252.
Bangkok Lismore, 44 Ballina Street, 6621 3375.
Thai Lotus Classic, 207 Ballina Street, 6622 0062.
If the budget is wearing thin, look for McDonalds on the corner of Laurel
Avenue and Brewster Street or call Pizza Hut on 13 1166. Otherwise try
another of the several take-away establishments in the city, most of which
are on Keen, Ballina and Union Streets.
Points of Interest
Lismore was the queen of the river towns last century, as it was as far
up river as the trading schooners could reach. The red cedar and other
rainforest timber logs from 'The Big Scrub' were floated downstream to
Lismore.
Cedar Log Memorial - a giant cedar log is displayed in the small park behind
the City Hall as a permanent memorial to the first cedar loggers of the
Richmond Valley.
Claude Riley Memorial Lookout, 3km north-east along the New Ballina Cutting,
offers a fine view of the city.
Robinson's Lookout, also called Girard's Hill Lookout, is 2km south of
the city centre. It offers views of the city, the river and the surrounding
countryside.
There is a walking track that joins onto Wilson's walk, which starts at
Albert Park and is 6.5km (4 miles) long. It takes you through Wilson's
Park, a rainforest remnant with many trees identified by plaques where
you can spot local bird life.
The Lismore Visitor and Heritage Centre, 6622 0122, established during
the Bicentennial Year, features an unusual walk-through, indoors 'rainforest
experience'. Also incorporated in the centre are 'hands on' displays, models
and photographic features of Lismore's history.
Lismore Lake is 2.5km from Lismore on the Casino road. There are gas barbecues
and a swimming pool, children's playground and a BMX track. It is popular
with water skiers.
Heritage Park, near the Visitors Centre, has toilets and gas barbecues.
The Richmond River Historical Society Museum, 165 Moles-worth Street,
6621 9993, contains a fascinating collection of Aboriginal artifacts and
pioneer relics, as well as geological specimens.
The Regional Art Gallery, 131 Molesworth Street, 6622 2209, houses fine
collections of paintings, pottery and ceramics.
An Aboriginal Bora Ring adjoins Tucki Tucki Cemetery. The Ring overlooks
the Steve King's Plain and the mid-Richmond valley. It is one of several
tribal ceremonial grounds in the district, and has been fenced and marked
with a description board.
Historic River Cruisesaboard MV Bennelong, a fully licensed cruise boat,
sail regularly from Lismore. For bookings, call into their office in Boat
Harbour Road, Ballina, or &0414 664 552 (mobile).
At Alphadale, on the eastern edge of the city, Cowlong Road, is Mac-adamia
Magic. This is a macadamia nut processing complex where factory inspections
are welcome. The tourist annex specialises in macadamia products and provides
refreshments and souvenirs daily, 6624 2900. It is open 9am-5pm weekdays
and 10am-4pm open weekends.
Festivals
September is the month when it's all happening: The Spring Orchid Show;
The Lismore Cup, which is the highlight of the racing calendar in Lismore;
The Cedar Guitar Awards; The Spring Greyhound Racing Carnival and the
Annual Spring Garden Competition.
The North Coast National Show is held in the third week of October each
year.
Facilities
Rolling skating at Summerland Skate Centre, North Lismore; Lismore Grand
Prix, South Lismore, is a racing circuit where you are the driver, or
where you can enjoy mini-golf.
You can learn to water ski at the Lismore Lake Ski School; The Lismore
Bowl is open daily 9am-midnight for ten-pin bowling.
Lawn bowls, tennis, swimming, squash and golf are all catered for, as well
as the traditional spectator sports and seasonal activities, such as the
Speedway and Karting programmes.
Outlying Attractions Murwillimbah Region
If you wish to visit the Murwil-lumbah region, drop into the World Heritage
Rainforest Visitor Information Centre Murwillumbah, cnr Pacific Highway & Alma
Streets, open Mon-Sat 9am-4.30pm, Sun 9.30am-4pm. They share a web page
with Tweed Heads Information at http://www.tweedcoolangatta.com.au/,
and you can email them here at info@tweedcoolangatta.com.au
Mt Warning, 1157m (3796 ft), which towers above the Tweed Valley behind
Murwillumbah, dominates the scenery for miles around. It was named by Captain
Cook in 1770. The area is a National Park, and a walking track winds its
way to the top for panoramic views of the Tweed Valley and the coast. The
lower slopes are rainforest with heathlands higher up. Ask at the Information
Centre about where to start and the current conditions of the climb.
Nimbin
Situated inland, in the centre of an area where the 'hippy' approach to
life is very popular, one could say Nimbin was the birthplace of alternative
lifestyle in Australia in the late 1960s. It is 30km from Lismore.
The town has a unique style and character of its own, and unusual local
crafts may be purchased at the Nimbin School of Arts Gallery, 47 Cullen
Street.
Nimbin Rocks, or Needles, are unusual rock formations 3km on the Lismore
side of Nimbin. They are a sacred site of the Bundjalung Aboriginal Tribe.
The Tuntable Falls,13km (8 miles) from Nimbin, can only be reached by a
three hour return hike along the creek bed, and it is a walk only for the
fit and healthy.
The website at www.nimbin. net will
give you an idea of the limited facilities the town offers and a taste
of the prevailing attitudes of this small rural community. The email address
is: thecrew@ nimbin.net.au
Kyogle
Kyogle is a small town 50km (31 miles) inland north-west of Lismore that
is known as the Gateway to the Rainforest. From the township it is an
easy drive to the spectacular Border Ranges National Park.The town has
an Information Centre at the Shire Council in Strathedon Street, (02)
6632 1611.
The Channon
This is a charming village on Terania Creek, 20km (12 miles) north of Lismore.
On the second Sunday of every month, the famous The Channon Craft Market,
the original country market in the area, is held. Only hand-made articles
and produce are sold. There is always a colourful crowd with buskers and
street theatre, pony rides and games for the kids.
Terania Creek, about which there was so much controversy in the 1970s,
is now part of the Nightcap National Park, in which there are many walking
tracks through tropical rainforest and to Protesters' Falls.
The Wyymara Protea Plantation, 8 Cooks Lane, Dalwood, 6629 5270, has 2000
protea shrubs in production, with many different varieties of fresh and
dried protea flowers.
Brunswick Heads
Going back to the coast, Brunswick Heads is a fairly quiet tourist resort.
It is 21km (13 miles) from Byron Bay, and is popular with keen fishermen
and families. Apart from the attraction of the beaches, you will find
a sub-tropical Nature Reserve located near the Brunswick River.
Just north of the town is an alternative route along the coast, passing
many popular surfing and fishing beaches, to Kingscliff. When in town,
drop into Brunswick Valley Coach and Travel, Park Street, 6685 1385, for
local information. There is a good website at www.tropicalnsw/brunswickheads
Byron Bay
42km (26 miles) from Lismore is idyllic Byron Bay - New South Wales' worst-kept
secret. More than 500,000 tourists flock here each year, making it the
most visited destination outside Sydney. The city is renowned for its relaxed,
peaceful atmosphere.
The focus here is on recreation and relaxation, so most of the town's services
fall into one of these categories. Visit or contact the Information Centre
to find the interests that most appeal to you.
Cape Byron is the most easterly point of Australia, topped by an extremely
powerful lighthouse built in 1901. The Lighthouse is open daily 8am-6.30pm.
For further details, the Byron Bay Visitor Information Centre is located
at the Old Railway Cottage, Johnson Street, (02) 6685 8050. It is hopen
9am-5pm daily. You will find a useful internet reference at www.byronbayvbo.com
Alstonville
An attractive village that boasts a nice little bookshop, Alstonville is
19km (12 miles) from Lismore on the way to the coast. Near the village
is the Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a remnant of the 'big scrub' which
once covered most of the district.
The Summerland House With No Steps, Wardell Road, 6628 0610, is a unique
project providing job skills and training for the handicapped. It also
has avocados, macadamia nuts, tropical stone fruit, custard apples, lychees
and citrus fruits growing in plantations, and on sale, as well as a craft
cottage, retail nursery and fruit packing house. Devonshire teas and light
lunches are available hdaily 9am-5pm.
At Bexhill, 10km north-east of Lismore, is an open-air cathedral. The pews
are fashioned from logs, whilst behind the stone altar and cross are magnificent
views of the Corndale Valley.
Ballina
A resort town, Ballina has all the usual tourist facilities. Take the coast
road for a more pleasant drive to/from Byron Bay, rather than rejoining
the Pacific Highway. The Big Prawn can be seen several kilometres from
town.
The Maritime Museum, Regatta Lane, 6681 1002, records the maritime history
of the Richmond River and features the Las Balsa Raft which voyaged from
South America to Ballina in 1973.
Shaws Bay Hotel, next to the caravan park, 2 Brighton Street, East Ballina,
has a beautiful red cedar dining room and staircase which were carved in
Spain, open daily 10am-10pm, 6686 2034.
The Broadwater Sugar Mill, 19km (12 miles) south of Ballina, has tours
during the crushing season (June to December).
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is on the corner of La Balsa Plaza & River
Street. They have a startling range of literature on tourist interests
and should be your first point of contact. The centre is open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri,
9am-4pm on weekends. Phone them on (02) 6686 3484 or email them at balinfo@balshire.org.au
Evans Head
A charming coastal town, Evans Head is 55km (34 miles) south-west of Lismore.
North of the town is the Broadwater National Park, with unspoiled beaches
and heathland that becomes a blaze of colour in spring. On the town's
southern edge is the Bundjalung National Park, which is popular for surfing,
boating, picnicking and bushwalking.
