SOUTH BALLINA TO EVANS HEADS
To explore is to get out
of the comfort zone, to venture to new terrain, to try new things, to explore
the places that excite you and frighten you a little.
Ballina is a coastal
town around 20 minutes drive south of Byron Bay, about 90 minutes south of the
Gold Coast and just over a 2-hour drive from Brisbane.
South Ballina Beach
stretches on the NSW north coast down from South Ballina – across the Richmond
River from the main town of Ballina – becoming Patchs Beach and ending at Evans
Head about 30kms away.
From Brisbane I
headed via the Pacific Highway straight down to Ballina, then drove onto the
ferry from Burns Point in West Ballina across the Richmond River to Seabreeze
Caravan Park on the South Ballina peninsula.
Another option is to
drive past Ballina to Wardell where you can drive over a bridge across the
river, then enter at Patchs Beach. If you’re looping back north, you can catch
the ferry back from South Ballina as it runs until half past midnight.
I caught up with the
4wd club at the caravan park and we all started to air down and line up to
enter the beach at South Ballina.
Entry is
directly either at South Ballina or down further at Wardell and Evans
Head is via well formed, well maintained all-weather tracks that provide easy
access for 4WDs – though the Patchs Beach entry track is better suited to high
clearance vehicles, small 4WDs may find it a little tough.
Speed limits apply to
the entire stretch of the beach. 30km/h limits apply to the beach, while you
must dip down to at least 15km/h when you’re within 50m of any other beach user
– although the conditions may require a lower speed than this, so just keep
your eye out for any other beachgoers (or their pets!) when you’re cruising
down the shore.
29 cars lined up on
the beach for the group photos, the sun was out and it was just on high tide.
After an hour of letting the kids have a little swim we headed to Evans Heads.
If you’re planning on
setting up for lunch on the beach, you can set up a day camp back away from the
surf, Patchs Beach is even dog friendly..
Swimming
is recommended between the flags at South Ballina or Evans Head, as these
beaches are patrolled during summer holidays. The waters in between are open
beaches and tend to have strong rips, so it’s best not to venture in for a
swim. Besides, it’s more suited to casting a line for whiting than doing the
butterfly.
If you don’t have any
luck fishing, you can go for a hike in nearby Broadwater National Park, and
picnic on the beach, where, in spring and winter, you might be able to spot
whales or dolphins frolicking off the shoreline.
And to see the
shoreline from a different perspective than the driver’s seat, tour operators
offer horseback riding along South Ballina Beach, as well as other beaches
around Ballina.
Evans Heads, about 30
km to the south of South Ballina Beach, is a great spot for lunch or an
extended stay. There is a patrolled beach and access to even more beach
driving options on other beaches from here. Just be careful of the tides,
as depending on the day, there can be coffee rock exposed on the beach, making
the beach trip to Evans Head impossible.
Lennox
Head, just north of Ballina, is a surfers dream, and you can also take your 4WD
straight onto a section of Seven Mile Beach – although you do have to purchase
a permit, unlike the beaches in South Ballina. (These permits are available
from an electronic ticket kiosk opposite the Lennox Head Surf Club.)
.png)
.png)
.png)
0 Comments