Ballina to Lismore driving time & distance: Expert road trip guide
The drive from Ballina to Lismore in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is 32km in distance and takes about 30 minutes. The Ballina to Lismore driving time is slightly shorter from the Pacific Highway, and five minutes longer from Ballina Airport.
Ballina and Lismore are two of the biggest towns in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. They’re really not that far apart, either.
Ballina to Lismore distance and driving time
The drive from Ballina to Lismore is about 32km in distance from centre to centre. In average traffic, this makes for a Ballina to Lismore driving time of half an hour.
5 Ballina experiences to book in advance
- Go on a dolphin watching cruise – sightings are very reliable.
- Take a guided coastal walk – learning about the natural environment on the way.
- Clink glasses as the sun goes down – on a Richmond River sunset cruise.
- Take a cruise to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve – with a marine biologist pointing out the dolphins, turtles and dramatic cliffs.
- Learn to surf – on a private surfing lesson.
Where to stay in Ballina
The top Ballina accommodation options are:
- For charm and personality: Ballina Manor Boutique Hotel.
- For a holiday park with family-sized cabins and lots kid-friendly facilities: Discovery Parks Ballina.
- For a relatively cheap, good quality motel: Almare Tourist Motel.
- For riverside location: Ramada Hotel and Suites.
Most of the journey is along the Bruxner Highway, which passes through Alstoneville and Wollongbar. Before entering central Lismore, you’ll also pass through Goonellabah, which is effectively a suburb of Lismore these days.
If you’re coming north from Sydney along the Pacific Highway, you don’t need to enter Ballina. The junction with the Bruxner Highway is further east near Uralba. So it’s a little quicker to get to Lismore from the Pacific Highway than it is from Ballina.
Ballina Airport to Lismore driving time
If you’re coming from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, which is slightly to the north of Ballina, the Ballina to Lismore drive is slightly longer. From the airport, it’s 35km to Lismore, which should take about 33 minutes. Steve’s Ballina Byron Transport is among the companies offering airport transfers for those not driving themselves.
Of course, this is not the most celebrated stretch of the Northern Rivers region. Most visitors are more likely to head north along the Pacific Highway towards Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads.
But there are a few things to do in Lismore. These include the Lismore Memorial Baths, Heritage Park Railway and Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens.
More New South Wales travel
Taste cider amongst the gardens at Bilpin Cider in Bilpin, the Blue Mountains.
Sleep by the beach at the Kingscliff caravan park in Kingscliff, Tweed Coast.
Take the Cockatoo Island ferry to the biggest island in Sydney Harbour.
What can I see on the drive from Sydney to Ulladulla?
Explore the Kosciuszko National Park from Nimbo Fork Lodge near Gundagai.