Ballina is sleepy coastal town about 2 hours drive south from Brisbane. The town is established alongside the Richmond River and is home to great surfing beaches, a cosy art and cafe scene, and is governed by a big fibreglass prawn. Some of those facts may be truer than others.
Speaking of facts, the internet tells me that everyone’s favourite Mentalist, Simon Baker, is a notable Ballina personality. When he’s home for a visit, you may spot Simon frolicking with dolphins near the break wall – or hanging out with the pelicans near the Ballina RSL Club. Tell him we say, hi!
After you’ve had a tasty lunch at the RSL (that Simon Baker knew you were going to order), head over to the Ramada Hotel and Suites by Wyndham Ballina Byron where you can book a comfortable room and soak in all the relaxing Ballina energy.
The Ramada Hotel Ballina is walking distance from the centre of town and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. There’s even a wine shop on site – Isola Wine Shop and Tasting Room!
What are you waiting for? Let’s check it out!
We booked into a one-bedroom river view suite, and stayed on the 5th floor. If you can book a room with a water view, we definitely recommend it! Hearing the water lap against the jetty is very relaxing – and it’s wonderful watching all the various fishing boats and leisure craft float by.
In the afternoon we sat out on the balcony and watched a flock of small birds swoop, duck and dive along the waterfront. A squabble of pelicans flew by, trailed by a trawler and what I can only assume – a Megalodon – swimming behind in its wake, eating all the dazed fish.
There are a surprising number of rooms in the complex, so getting to your accommodation requires a bit of detective work. But only entry-level sleuthing, you won’t need to tap-in Poirot to track down your bed.
When you do find your room, and have paid your hired investigator in prawns for their assistance, you’ll go through a shared door that opens into a hallway with access to 2 rooms. Don’t go to sleep yet!
Your keycard will let you through the shared door and into your unit. A laundry is in the hallway, for both units. Don’t sleep in there either.
When you enter your unit, the master bedroom is to your left. It has a king size comfortable bed that will assist in keeping your dreams royally fresh. Also, there’s an ensuite, which is also pretty fancy. Are you literally the king/queen? Yes. Yes you are.
A concertina door leads you through to a small dining table (I think that’s the only song it can play), with a view onto the balcony that has another seating area. The balcony extends and curves around to the lounge room, so you have a multitude of exits out to fresh air … *bows* … your majesty.
The lounge area sports a two-seater and a single seater couch, a coffee table, a desk area AND a TV where you can watch Joanna Lumley visit India on a spice trail (depending on network scheduling). We suggest you sit back and order some Indian food from the local Mumbai Masala Indian Restaurant while Joanna does all the legwork.
Moving into the kitchen area, there are little milk pods waiting for you in the fridge – but most excitingly, hot chocolate sachets AND two coffee pods for the Nespresso thing!
We are return visitors to the Ramada Hotel Ballina, and we enjoyed our latest stay very much.
All the facilities were clean and tidy, and the shower has great water pressure! This means that you rarely need to jump in the river unless you’re chasing Simon Baker.
From the Ramada Hotel, it’s an easy walk along the waterfront to the Baskin Robbins where you can get yourself a Chocolate Mousse Royale ice-cream and scan the river for pelicans. Woolworths is only a block away, so if you meet a pelican and need a small frypan or fish fillet to cement your new friendship – it’s within easy reach.
Only things we found to note, were that noise carries if other holiday-makers are out on their balconies. So if you’ve got any juicy secrets to tell, close the doors first or be prepared to hear gasps of amazement from your neighbours as they drink the tea you dish out.
The balcony furniture is so appealing that sometimes spiders make their home there. On the plus side, I did see a spider eat a fly, which I’ve only ever heard rhymes about – and it probably means he’s helping to keep the complex clean. It’s also something else to look at if you get sick of watching all the boats go by on the Richmond River.
Now, you’ll probably be needing something to read while you relax at the Ramada Hotel.
On our way through to Ballina this visit, we stopped in at the Book Warehouse in Lismore and picked up some interesting stories!
Our book haul included:
