Cheap flights to Byron Bay and Ballina

Virgin Australia operates flights to Byron Bay and Ballina every day, direct from Sydney.

Flights to Ballina Byron
Flights to Ballina Byron from Sydney from 79 AUD	Find Flights

Byron Bay/Ballina Airport Information

Ballina/Byron Bay Airport (Ballina Byron Gateway Airport) is located approx. 5 km north of Ballina’s town centre and approx. 30km south of Byron Bay, and can be accessed by various transport options, including:

Car Hire: Receive mates’ rates when you choose from a great choice of hire cars from our car partners
Taxi: Taxi transfers can be organised to and from Ballina, Byron Bay and other Northern River towns.
Shuttle Bus: Ballina Byron Gateway Airport’s shuttle bus service picks up travellers every day from Byron Bay, Lismore, Goonellabah, Wollongbar and Alstonville.

Guests travelling from Byron Bay to Byron/Ballina Airport (and vice versa) should allow at least 40 minutes for travel. Most areas of Ballina are located within 10 mins of the airport.

Things to do in Byron Bay/Ballina

Explore

New South Wales’ Northern Rivers is full of natural splendours. Lush rainforests line the shores of pristine surfing beaches, while imposing headlands shelter quaint seaside villages. Australia's most easterly point, Byron Bay is a jewel in the region’s crown; exuding raw creative energy, the town is a haven for artists and activists, scholars and freethinkers and adventurers and serenity seekers alike. Murals plaster downtown spaces; humpback whales splash their tales just off Main Beach; surfers stretch on the sand; buskers drum out a beat on the streets – making Byron Bay a vibrant melting pot of sub cultures and lifestyles. Nearby towns of Brunswick Heads, Lennox Head, Bangalow and Ballina all offer unique local gems also worth exploring.

Discover

Byron Bay is emblematic of utopia, fostering New Age philosophy, raw creative energy and ideals of escapism. A short drive south, the small surfing town of Lennox Head hosts one of the world’s best right-hand point breaks and a unique tea tree-stained freshwater lake. A few minutes into the hinterland, the Alstonville-Dunoon plateau is home to patches of ancient rainforests like Victoria Park and Booyong Reserve, and the cascading waterfalls of Dalwood Falls and Minyon Falls. While on the fringes of the Tweed Shire, imposing former volcano, Mount Warning witnesses mainland Australia’s first rays of sun each morning. Long days, almost-perfect weather, never-ending beaches, first-rate accommodation and delicious food, the Northern Rivers have something to impress even the most discerning city slicker.

Shop

Byron Bay has grown from a surfing paradise, to become a Mecca for surf apparel. Born and bred in town, Maddog is Byron’s most iconic surf brand – the place to go for surfboards and surf accessories. Over the past decade major surf retailers such as Billabong, Rip Curl and Quicksilver have set up shop in the Bay, helping the surfing industry dominate the region’s retail trade. Byron Bay has also grown leaps and bounds as a destination for the fashion-forward. A number of trendy local boutiques dot Johnson and Lawson streets, and surrounding side streets. Moving just outside the downtown area, The Byron Bay Arts and Industry Park is a hotchpotch of retail outlets, workshops, studios and exhibition spaces. Covering a few acres on the Butler Street reserve, The Byron Bay Craft and Produce Market features vibrant and lively performers, dancers, singers and musicians, amid rows of food and retail stalls.

Eat

Byron Bay’s urban influences, colourful individuality, and relaxed coastal vibe are particularly evident within the local dining scene. Beachfront cafes show off long reaching coastline views, while offering quick and affordable food and drinks. Eco-friendly eateries serve up organic coffee blends and healthy dishes. Fish and chips are a favourite local pastime, with many local shops, frying and grilling fish and chips with gourmet appeal. Seafood is a speciality and is in abundance, as are international cuisines – with everything from traditional Italian wood fired pizzas, spicy Thai and Mexican, tapas, Japanese and Modern Australian found along main drags like Johnson and Lawson streets. Highlighting the local food culture at its best, The Farmers’ Market showcases specialities like Bangalow farm cheeses, pecan nuts from the Nimbin Valley, Dunoon macadamias, Tweed Valley beef, and fresh Brunswick River whiting and prawns.

Drink

Byron’s three world-famous pubs, The Beach Hotel, The Great Northern and The Rails, all serve up great atmosphere, with performances by inspired and acclaimed musical acts. No visit to Byron Bay is complete without enjoying a cold beer at the Beach Hotel – known to locals as the Beachy or Top Pub – overlooking one of Australia’s most famous beaches. Another long-standing Byron favourite is The Buddha Bar & Restaurant in the Old Piggery Building, where generous internationally-inspired fare is complemented by local brews. From midday to 2am, on almost any day of the week, Johnson Street is abuzz with revellers enjoying cocktails at boutique bars, dancing on tables at backpacker nightclubs, or singing along to Australia’s biggest touring acts in backrooms of long-established gig venues.