Congratulations to Ballina's Seven Mile Brewing Co. who have been named the best medium - sized independant brewery in the country at the Australian Independant Beer Awards.
We're excited to announce advertising opportunities for the upcoming 2024/2025 Ballina Coast and Hinterland map. This is your chance to get your tourism-related business -whether it's a tour, attraction, restaurant, cafe, accommodation, or retail shopâin front of thousands of visitors!
Details:
- 40,000 A5 maps to be printed and distributed through the Ballina Visitor Information Centre, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, and local businesses.
- Limited spaces: 35 regular 70mm x 70mm slots and one exclusive A5 slot (whole back page, custom artwork option available).
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Destination North Coast, in collaboration with Business NSW, is thrilled to announce the return of the North Coast Tourism Awards.
Destination NSW grant - 2024/25 Regional Event Fund - Applications close 9 April 2024
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
The Channel Nine program âBeach House Huntersâ, hosted by Shelley Craft, is interested in featuring our region. The show follows a couple looking to relocate to a coastal area.
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
What's on this weekend around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland this Weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
The Ballina Tourism Team has begun creating a list of venues that are hosting lunch on Christmas Day.
To assist with us fielding enquiries regarding this questions, if you business is open could you please email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the information so we can load it to our event calendar as a source for visitors and locals to find the information.
To find out which operators are hosting a Christmas Lunch visit Discover Ballina - Christmas Day Lunch
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Don't miss the chance to be involved in the Ballina Coast and Hinterland Guide for the next TWO years!
Join Destination North Coast and Bookable Tourism for an engaging and comprehensive workshop that equips you with the essential tools to delve deep into understanding your ideal customer. Discover how they research and book and learn how to tailor your strategy to target them effectively. From this workshop, you will be able to build a step-by-step roadmap to help increase your revenue opportunities for your business.
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
The Ballina Tourism Team is thrilled to present the advertising prospectus for the Ballina Coast and Hinterland 2024 Visitor Guide - the official tourism publication for the region. The Visitor Guide is the Ballina Tourism Team's key marketing publication and is distributed through the extensive Visitor Information Centre Network as well as across the destination. The guide will also be stocked at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and at businesses across the Northern Rivers.
The Northern Rivers Community Gallery are delighted to to invite you to the Ballina Contemporary Art Market.
Ballina Shire Council is pleased to announce the 2024/25 Festival and Event Sponsorship Program is now open.
Destination North Coast have been successful in an application for a Small Business Month grant to run a series of in-region workshops in October 2023.
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend!
Join Destination North Coast and Bookable Tourism for an engaging and comprehensive workshop that equips you with the essential tools to delve deep into understanding your ideal customer.
Join Destination North Coast and Bookable Tourism for an engaging and comprehensive workshop that equips you with the essential tools to delve deep into understanding your ideal customer. Discover how they research and book, and learn how to tailor your strategy to target them effectively. From this workshop, you will be able to build a step-by-step roadmap to help increase your revenue opportunities for your business.
Find out What's On around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland this weekend! With NSW School Holidays starting there is plenty of local events and activities to keep you entertained.
Here is your Weekend Wrap Up of some of the fun things to do around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland.
Plenty happening these Spring School Holidays to keep families and kids busy.
Apart from our natural assets being a huge drawcard to the area, lots of operators have organised events, activities and workshops so make sure to check out what is on offer.
Here is your Weekend Wrap Up of some of the fun things to do around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland.
The NSW Government is making $3 million available for the installation of at least 500 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at kerbside locations.
A sunny weekend ahead with plenty happening in the area. The big event for the weekend is Sample Food Festival at Bangalow Showground showcasing incredible produce, unique culinary experiences and regional brewers and distilleries. An annual event that is always a great day out for all.
It's a big line up of events and entertainment this weekend! The annual Quota Craft & Garden Fair is two day event showcasing some amazing craft artisans and combined with a garden fair of quality plants and garden products from local growers, this fair has over 80 stalls brimming with colour. Hear from guest gardening speakers, and meet some talented stallholders.
A great line up of Arts & Cultural events this weekend! Kicking of Thursday is the 20th Bangalow Chamber Music Festival with 4 days of star quality chamber music. The North Coast Mud Trail is on Saturday & Sunday where ceramicists open their studios to visitors so you can meet the artists, discuss their work and processes and find out what inspires them to do what they do.
Local Tintebar distillery, Winding Road Distilling Co wins Best Rum 2023 at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.
The Byron Writers Festival kicks off this weekend with a great line up that includes predominately Australian writers and thinkers over the 3 days. This year it will be located at the beautiful Bangalow Showgrounds.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife are seeking Innovative and unique tourism offerings to complement and enhance the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk experience.
The NSW State Government has opened up two new event funding grants - one aimed at seniors and the other at the state's youth.
If you are struggling to keep up with the must-knows in digital trends? And are keen to know what works and doesn't in the tourism digital marketing landscape? Tourism Tribe may have the answers in this FREE interactive online training session.
This introductory 'Business with Nature' workshop is part of the Spring Regen 101 series and will give professionals working in different sectors the opportunity to learn from successful nature-based investment projects.
Sunset Sips is an event to welcome in Spring, celebrate incredible local businesses and come together as a business community. This Flagship Event is a community-wide occasion, open to all genders.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has recently released the Quarterly Tourism Labour Force Statistics.
The Federal Government is helping to rebuild Australia's tourism workforce by offering State and Territory governments and tourism bodies a share of $7.5 million for programs to attract workers to the visitor economy.
There's plenty happening this weekend around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland
The North Coast Tourism Awards were presented in a partnership between Business NSW and Destination North Coast and the Awards Gala Dinner was held last week at Plantation House, part of Tropical Fruit World.
We are thrilled to announce that the Ballina Tourism Team has achieved the Gold Award in the Excellence in Tourism Services category at the 2023 North Coast Tourism Awards.
Get your business in front of visitors flying in to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport! The advertising cycle commences on Friday September 1 2023 and expires on Thursday 29 February 2024.
The weather forecast is looking good for the weekend and we have some great tours available in the region.
The 'Value of Tourism to the North Coast' provides visitation, employment and economic impact data for the period of January 2022 to December 2022.
The NSW Government Architect's Connecting with Country Framework has been released to help better recognise Indigenous culture in planning and design.
Destination NSW have launched a new eDM campaign competition. The competition provides the opportunity for domestic audiences to win one of seven curated NSW holiday packages, that directly aligns to each of our hero feelings of DNSW's Feel new brand.
It's a big weekend for the music lovers! The major event this weekend is Splendour in the Grass which kicks off Friday and continues through the weekend.
The weather forecast is looking fantastic for this weekend which is wonderful as we have a few outdoor events happening.
The Northern Rivers Dirty Wheels Mountain Bike Club is currently working with Mountain Bike Clubs and Councils across the Northern Rivers to develop a strategy for the future of mountain biking in the region
It's the weekend, the weather is looking fantastic and as usual there is a great line up of events happening to keep everyone busy.
Some major events not to be missed next week include NAIDOC Week - a special time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions Indigenous Australians make to our country and society. This years theme is For Our Elders.
We are thrilled to announce the following Ballina Shire businesses have been selected as finalists in the North Coast Tourism Awards for 2023.
If you are looking to try something new, why not visit one of these recently opened or renovated businesses! Make sure to follow their socials and show your support.
Destination NSW has partnered with Ecotourism Australia, the nationâs peak body for sustainable and ecotourism, to provide eligible NSW visitor economy businesses fully funded access to the pre-certification Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard.
It's the Winter solstice and it's a big weekend for live events and entertainment
If you are looking to try something new, why not visit one of these recently opened or renovated businesses! Make sure to follow their socials and show your support.
We have been loading workshops, activities and tours for the past few weeks into our Winter School Holiday Activity Sheet and can guarentee there should not be any bored children these holidays!
Find out our pick of what events, activities and markets are on this weekend around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland and Northern Rivers. For a full line up, make sure to visit Discover Ballina What's On
The Ballina Chamber of Commerce 2023 Business Excellence Awards showcase the remarkable talent, innovation, and dedication that drive our local economy forward. They are a prestigious platform designed to honour businesses of all sizes and industries that have demonstrated exceptional performance, customer service, community involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit. By participating in these awards, you have the opportunity to gain well-deserved recognition for your hard work and accomplishments.
As a tourism operator, attending industry events is important for growth and success. The 2023 North Coast Tourism Symposium offers a prime opportunity to connect, learn, and gain valuable industry insights.
Find out our pick of what events, activities and markets are on this weekend around the Ballina Coast & Hinterland and Northern Rivers.â¯For a full line up, make sure to visit Discover Ballina What's On
It's time to bid farewell to our incredible team member, Prue Dee. Over the past eight years, she has brought an amazing energy to our Visitor Services team at Ballina Shire Council. From starting as an intern to becoming an integral part of our family, Prue has left an unforgettable mark. Prue's infectious enthusiasm and willingness to go above and beyond have made a real difference in the team. We'll miss your warm smile, your wealth of knowledge, and the way you made every visitor feel special. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!
Register your expression of interest for the Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism: eMarketing, designed to advance your business with digital support and training. The eMarketing content will provide NSW accommodation, tour and attraction businesses with knowledge and skills to maximise artificial intelligence (AI) tools, Canva, eMarketing platforms and video content to increase website visitation, formulate email marketing campaigns, generate new leads, and create a digital brochure to use as a lead magnet. |
The Destination North Coast Board traditionally rotates around the region for their monthly Board meetings and the June meeting will be held in Ballina.
After the Board meeting, they invite members of the Tourism Industry to a casual get-together and an opportunity to meet and network with the Board, the DNC team and industry peers.
The next Northern Rivers Food networking event, and the first for 2023 has arrived!
It's another weekend packed full of fun around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland
The Ballina Coast and Hinterland 2022 Visitation Report is now avaliable on discoverballina.com.au. The report outlines some pleasing results in the way of recovery from the COVID-19 disruptions however there is still a way to go to get back to pre COVID numbers.
Head down to Shaws Bay Hotel this Saturday for the Northern Rivers Beerfest! The day kicks off from 12pm with 14 participating breweries involved and live music from Versace Boys from 3pm.
The Ballina Coast and Hinterland has no shortage of businesses doing great things for the visitor economy and we would love to see them represented at the North Coast Tourism Awards. Businesses have the opportunity to nominate themselves across a range of categories including Excellence in Food Tourism, Outstanding Accommodation Experience, Excellence in Camping, Glamping and/or Caravanning, Tour and Transport Operator of the Year, Excellence in Cultural Tourism, Festival/Event of the Year + so many more FIND OUT MORE AND NOMINATE YOUR BUSINESS
Lots of big annual events happening across the Northern Rivers this weekend!
Lismore GemFest is on both Saturday & Sunday and showcases over 140 stalls, fossicking and displays to get involved in. Casino Beef Week kicks off on Saturday with 11 days of entertainment, education and an authentic country experience for the whole family.
Australia's sustainable farming expo, Primex, kicks off this Thursday and runs through until Saturday. Enjoy local produce alongside chefs, growers and food lovers at this iconic Northern Rivers field day event.
This weekend is a busy one with lots of popular annual events and some great community activities.
Ballina has always been a popular destination for the anglers and now you can fish in style with one of our NEW Fishing Shirts. The fishing shirts are a new item that targets a recreational activity enjoyed by locals and visitors. Being out on the water fishing, kayaking, stand up paddling or boating, the shirts keep you sun safe, are quick dry and best of all showcases iconic landmarks of Ballina.
Destination North Coast, in partnership with Business NSW are pleased to announce the return of the North Coast Tourism Awards.
Entries are now open with 17 categories available.
Have you collected copies of the NEW Ballina Coast & Hinterland street map to distribute from your business? The map includes detailed town maps for Ballina, Lennox, Alstonville/Wollongbar and Wardell, as well as a regional map overview.
Save the Date - It's On Again! Destination North Coast (DNC) is pleased to confirm the 2023 North Coast Tourism Symposium will be held at the Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, Thursday 27 July, 2023.
Autumn is in full swing and with the cooler mornings and nights it's a great time to get involved in local events.
It's the weekend and as usual there's plenty going on around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland.
We are halfway through the holidays and there are still plenty of activities and workshops for kids to get involved in. Make sure to get your copy of the School Holiday Activity Sheet.
The cooler months host a bulk of our major annual events so make sure you keep on top of what festivals, community events and shows that are happening in May. See below for a full list!
With Autumn school holidays in full swing, make sure to check out the workshops, activities and tours designed to keep the kids busy these holidays.
Aside from the Easter Bunny bringing chocolate (which let's be honest, is a highlight for most of us!), the Easter long weekend has lots going on.
The Ballina Tourism Team are excited to announce the arrival of the anticipated Ballina Coast and Hinterland Map. The map includes detailed town maps for Ballina, Lennox, Alstonville/Wollongbar and Wardell, as well as a regional map overview.
Australian Regional Tourism is pleased to announce that the City of Newcastle will be hosting the 2023 Australian Regional Tourism Convention (ARTC) to be held 10 - 12 October 2023.
Destination Byron made the first step towards a Regenerative Tourism future by creating a Byron Regenerative Tourism Workshop, to start a conversation on how local tourism can make a positive impact on the environment and community.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is moving full steam ahead repairing roads and visitor facilities in the Tweed Byron and Richmond River areas of the NSW North Coast.
Keep up to date with what's happening this weekend! Head down to the Ballina Skate Park on Friday & Saturday to watch all the action at the annual Fair Go Skate Fest, one of the longest running skateboard competitions in Australia.
Visitor economy businesses seeking to develop regional nature-based experiences may be eligible for a share in $3.5 million to support project expenses.
Ballina Shire Councils Tourism Team work to promote the Ballina Coast & Hinterland and wider Northern Rivers region as key tourism destinations. The team consists of five passionate staff members who all completed their studies locally at Southern Cross University in Lismore. With a diverse range of interests and skills each team member brings a wealth of knowledge with them.
The weekend is here and what a line up of events & workshops!
The Northern Rivers Business Hub was established as a critical response to support businesses impacted by the 2022 weather event. This support is continued in 2023 at the new location at Southern Cross University, Lismore. You'll find them at Unit 10, The Goodman Plaza. The Hub offers individual hotdesks, Internet access, printing facilities and co-working space as well as networking events and subject matter expert seminars to support your journey. Through the Hub, there is the opportunity to connect with Business Advisors and Government services for business. The Hub operates between 9-5 Monday to Friday. The Business Hub Coordinators look forward to welcoming you.
Applications for the Incubator Event stream and the Flagship Event stream of the 2023/24 Regional Event Fund will close at midnight on Wednesday 29 March 2023. Applications submitted after this date and time will not be accepted. To be eligible to apply, an event must run between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 and meet the fund criteria.
Want to learn how to write a grant or tender? Then this FREE Grant & Tender workshop with Kathie Heyman from NSW Business Connect Advisor is for you. Kathie is a seasoned business professional with over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, mentoring, public speaking, and workshop facilitation.
It's the weekend...Hooray! There's plenty happening around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland.
It's the weekend and there's lots happening around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland to keep you busy.
It's the first weekend of Autumn and there are lots of great events and activities happening around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland!
Do you host youth events or school holiday programs? Are you not for profit? Councils and eligible not-for-profit organisations looking to host activities over the upcoming autumn school holidays are urged to get in quick to secure funding under the NSW Government's Holiday Break program.
Event-goers across the country will soon be experiencing more of regional NSW thanks to the opening of the Regional Event Fund. The Regional Event Fund is managed through Destination NSW and offers three streams of funding:
Find out what events are on each month and share with your visitors so they can start planning their return trips around events happening in the Northern Rivers.
From world class sporting events, music festivals down to the local community events that happen each year, there is lots happening and plenty of events to support!
Download the 2023 ANNUAL EVENT CALENDAR
Photo credit: Sample Food Festival, Natalie Grono
It has been a wet and windy couple of days but things are looking up on the weather front this weekend and there's plenty happening around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland to keep you busy!
Destination North Coast are excited to invite industry stakeholders to the launch of the North Coast Destination Management Plan 2022 - 2030. WHEN: Tuesday 14 March 2023, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm WHERE: Byron Community Centre.
It's the weekend and there's plenty happening around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland.
TWO SPACES LEFT in the Ballina Coast and Hinterland Map Advertising opportunity.
A network of 13 magnificent Great Walks is being established in NSW national parks as part of a plan to transform our State into a bushwalking mecca, ready to rival other multi-day walks in Australia and beyond.
With the one-year anniversary of the February/March floods approaching, some community events have been organised as an opportunity to reflect on the monumental emergency rescue effort and the ongoing recovery of the people and places affected.
Weekend events highlights from The Ballina Tourism Team
Roll the dice on some of your favourite locations across the region with the special edition Ballina-Byron Monopoly game.A local twist to the family favourite game gives players the opportunity to buy up their favourite locations around the Ballina-Byron area including the Big Prawn, Richmond River and Lake Ainsworth. To purchase the Ballina-Byron Monopoly game, pop into the Ballina Visitor Information Centre at 6 River Street Ballina from 11 February 2023.
Finding a native animal in distress is often very overwhelming but help is available and it's important to know who you can call. This list can assist you in finding the right help. Share with friends, family, colleagues and visitors to ensure our wildlife have the best chance of survival once found.
The Adventure Cycling Strategy is a commitment to grow adventure cycling experiences in NSW.
Just off the road between Alstonville and Ballina, the spectacular Duck Creek Mountain Bike Park has re-opened, bigger and better, after an injection of funding and lots of hard work from dedicated volunteers.
Happy Weekend Folks! There's plenty happening around the Ballina Coast and Hinterland to keep you busy.
TAFE NSW Ballina campus is delivering an Aboriginal Customised Course in Cultural Tourism.
With a critical mass of international visitors now returning to Australia it is the ideal time to find out how to attract international visitors to book your tour, attraction or accommodation.
It's the weekend! Here's the event highlights from the Ballina Tourism Team!
Congratulations to Capiche and all the North Coast Restaurants recently promoted as Best New Restaurants in NSW for a summer roadtrip.
Making your products or services more accessible to visitors can open new and valuable markets for your business according to Austrade insights.
The Regional Job Creation Fund (RJCF) Round 3 provides opportunity for existing businesses to diversify into new markets and innovate in regional NSW.
Ballina's already dazzling dining scene has been enhanced with the addition of two new restaurants in the heart of Ballina.
The weekend is once again upon us! Here are the weekend events highlights from The Ballina Tourism Team.
The NSW Government is supporting the future of NSW's event industry by providing scholarships for aspiring event managers in partnership with Meetings and Events Australia (MEA). Applications for the SIT50316 Diploma of Event Management scholarship, are now open and will close on 22 January 2023 with scholarships will be awarded to one successful candidate per Destination Network.
The $100 million Regional Job Creation Fund Round Three will provide grants for regional businesses to expand their operations, and attract interstate and international businesses to relocate to regional NSW.
A new 2.1 km walking track to the enchanting Unicorn Falls in Mount Jerusalem National Park has recently been completed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The NSW Government will invest $10 million to help Aboriginal businesses diversify and grow.
A new bus network will be introduced to Lismore on 16 January 2023, as part of the Transport for NSW 16 Regional Cities Services Improvement Program.
It's the weekend and there's plenty happening to keep you busy.
Drivers are set to receive a huge boost in charging infrastructure across the state with hundreds of new bays to be built in the latest round of electric vehicle fast charging grants
Destination NSW has released its annual report for 2021-22, which highlights the NSW Government's major events and tourism agency's focus on reinvigorating the NSW visitor economy through marketing activity, stakeholder education and a vibrant events calendar.
The Ballina Visitor Centre team are currently receiving a high level of enquiries especially for last minute accommodation requests. If you are not already on our booking system or haven't updated your profile in a while, you could be missing business!
It's the first weekend of 2023 and there is plenty to see and do around the region!
And...that's a wrap for 2022.
This weekend is full of New Years Eve Fun throughout the Northern Rivers. photo credit: Nick Angeli
Kick off the festive weekend at Shelly Beach Cafe for their Friday Sunset Sessions. On from 3.30pm, it is a great way to sneak in a catch up with friends before the Christmas Day festivities begin (bookings are highly recommended).
On behalf of the Ballina Tourism Team we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
It has been another big and challenging year for region, but it was humbling to see the community pull together. The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is open everyday expect Christmas Day. Pop in and see the friendly team for local advice, recommendations and of course a great range of gifts.
While a full international recovery remains distant, the outlook for Australia's visitor economy is brighter than at any time over the past two years, according to Tourism Research Australia's (TRA's) latest tourism forecasts.
The Sharpes Beach Carpark Precinct Accessibility Upgrade will provide essential infrastructure and embellishments that will improve the overall visitor experience and accessibility of both the very popular Sharpes Beach and the connecting high impact tourism assets.
The Countdown is on until Christmas and if you are lucky enough to be organised then make sure you don't miss some of these local events.
It's another jam packed weekend this weekend, full of festive events, sport, theatre, live music and fun for everyone!
December is here and it's starting to feel a little bit like Christmas! There's Christmas markets, Christmas photos and Santa's Wonderland as well as exhibition openings, social sundays and Farmers Markets...wow! For a monthly overview view our December What's On Guide
Another action packed weekend! Lots of entertainment, opportunities for unique Christmas shopping and events to socialise with friends.
The Caravan Parks Grant will provide $10,000 to $100,000 matched dollar-for-dollar (or more) funding for eligible caravan parks to develop or improve infrastructure and assets.
We are thrilled to see our very own Lola Dining awarded ONE HAT in the Good Food Guide 2023 awards. This cozy, intimate restaurant in the heart of Ballina provides a unique dining experience that cannot be missed. Congratulations to the team at Lola Dining, well deserved!
Opportunity to comment on the Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk master plan is extended until 23 December 2022
Christmas is fast approaching and we have been receiving enquiries from interested locals and visitors wanting to know what is happening in the area!
The Northern Rivers region is a mecca for quality produce and creative artisans and the team at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre have done the legwork to bring them to you.
The weather is looking beautiful and with a great lineup of events across the region, it's going to be a great weekend!
Another great weekend line up!
Tintenbar Up Front kicks the weekend off with their Open Mic night. It's an amazing night of surprise at the Tintenbar Hall.
The Minister for Environment and Heritage, the Hon James Griffin MP, and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Tourism, the Hon Benjamin Franklin MP, have announced that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wollumbin Consultative Group.
The visitor economy was the recipient of $48 million of dedicated funding from this week's Federal Budget as part of the Australian Government's commitment to support tourism sector recovery, upskill workers, support quality tourism products and deliver infrastructure upgrades
The NSW Government has launched a "one-stop-shop" concierge service to help start or grow hospitality businesses across the State.
We have your weekend sorted! Head along to Newrybar this evening for Fun Friday at Harvest. A free mini festival at Harvest with great tunes, great food and good vibes! From 4pm until 8pm, it's a great way to kick off the weekend.
The weather this weekend is looking terrific for the Alstonville Agricultural Show which offers two jam packed days and nights with activities the whole family will enjoy - great food, entertainment, music, rides and animal displays.
Plenty to see an do this weekend with the Sanctuary Springfest at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, ART ON BUNDJALUNG MARKET in Kyogle and film screenings across the shire. To find out what's on daily then visit our online calendar and to view our monthly market and event guide download our What's On in Octoberguide.
We have loved having Di from Fozie's Fishing Adventures in to speak with the Ballina Tourism Team and Volunteer Ambassadors over the past two weeks to discuss with us their deep sea fishing adventures.
The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program aims to support multicultural festival and events across NSW. Investing in community projects and activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life.
The mental health coaching program has been developed by Beyond Blue to give small business owners support during challenging times. Over 6 sessions, a NewAccess coach will work side by side with business owners to overcome difficult issues and provide practical skills to help them manage stress. This program is for anyone aged 18 years or over who owns a small business, from any industry, including sole traders. Closes 31 December 2022. APPLY
The NSW Government has released the final draft of its revamped agritourism policy which is designed to make it easier for farmers to cultivate new tourism experiences.
Ballina Shire Council is pleased to announce the Festival and Event Sponsorship Program for 2023/24 is now open.
We had the pleasure of meeting Geoff this week, owner of Byron Bay Motorcycle Tours, who spoke to the Ballina Tourism Team and ambassadors providing information and insight into what services he offers.
It's a music kind of weekend! The Byron Music Society presents Johannes Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre on Sunday afternoon. Don't miss out on listening to the choir and orchestra, tickets available here
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is pleased to announce the airport's new and improved car park system is live from Tuesday 11 October 2022. "Our airport continues to be one of the busiest regional airports in Australia and is central to our local economy. This car park system upgrade is another important enhancement to our airport precinct and is set to improve the travel experience,"
Although the school holidays are winding up, there are still plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained those final few days. Find below some of the events, workshops and exhibitions that are also happening this weekend.
Dinner is Served has been around for a little while but have recently expanded their services to include an onsite cafe. Dinner is Served has built a strong following for its chef prepared meals that are ready to heat and serve - convenient for busy families and also visitors flying in to the region.
With the long weekend upon us and school holidays continuing, there are plenty of people in the region enjoying everything our wonderful destination has to offer. To find a full list of what's on daily then visit our online calendar
This is a free workshop for anyone considering a new business and owners of a micro-business under 2 years old.
Reflections are driving an ambitious program of park developments in 2023 and 2024 which will see premium and luxury cabins, innovative tiny homes and glamping opportunities installed across their parks. This will significantly grow visitor spending in the regions of the parks from $98 million in Financial Year 2020/21 to $128 million after planned investment and delivery of strategic initiatives over the next two years. Read media release.
The Ballina Tourism Team are very excited to announce a new line of merchandise including hoodies, hats, mugs, stickers, tea-towels, patches and kids t-shirts and more! We are also expanding our range of local produce and giftware to bring a great selection of tea, coffee, sauces, chutneys, jams, nuts, chocolate, soaps, skincare and more!
The NSW SES is transitioning to the Australian Warning System (AWS) from 30 September 2022. Flood and tsunami warnings will include a warning level - Advice, Watch and Act or Emergency Warning. Each warning will be accompanied by a clear action statement so you know what to do when disaster strikes - Read media release.
Are you running an event? Whether it's a market, long lunch, art class or live gig, you can list your event for FREE on the Ballina Coast & Hinterlands official What's On Calendar. To create a FREE event listing, simply head to Discover Ballina and complete the details.
Ballina Shire Council is pleased to announce the Festival and Event Sponsorship Program for 2023/24 is now open.
School Holidays have begun! Make sure to check out the Whats On calendarfor a full list of activities, events & workshops happening each day.
For those who may not be aware, the deadline for the funding applications for Electronic Vehicle Destination Charging Grants have been extended to Friday 11 November 2022, 5pm.
Start the weekend off by heading in to the hinterland for the first Fun Friday at Harvest in Newrybar. Head down to Seven Mile Brewing Co to enjoy a cold local beer and listen to some live music as The Valery Trails launch their new album. For a bit of local history, Crawford House Museum has their latest exhibition on display - 50 years of soccer in Alstonville and the family fun Bangalow Billycart Derby is being held on Sunday.
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell together with Social Services Minister the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP recently announced $3.3 million to establish a Visitor Economy Disability Pilot to help people living with disability secure sustained jobs in tourism.
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell this week led a Tourism Jobs Summit in Canberra to discuss ideas for addressing workforce challenges in the visitor economy. Some of the key actions identified were reforming the migration program; encouraging people with a disability and those on an Age Pension into the workforce; incentivising employers to improve on-the-job training; and promoting tourism as a career of choice.
Read the report
Join Digital Business Expert, Liza Lyttle and Entrepreneurship Facilitator, Rachel Turner as they unpack the various forms of Digital Media, give you tools to design a simple digital strategy and teach you how to leverage no and low cost options to ensure your Digital Success.
Part discussion, part workshop, the Northern Rivers Future Forum is where your journey to the Leading Australian Resilient Communities Program (LARC) begins.
Get your theatrical culture fix with a ticket to Love for One Night, a NORPA production at the Eltham Hotel. The popular Bangalow Billycart Derby is a great day out and the Richmond Christian College is hosting a family evening with a Cinema Under the Stars and the National Circus Festival will finish the month off.
The days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming and the weather is warming up which means Spring School Holidays are around the corner and the Northern Rivers will be brimming with visitors and local families enjoying our region.
Fire danger ratings have been simplified and give you clear actions to take.
For all our food lovers (let's be honest, thats all of us!) the annual Sample Food Festival is on this weekend which is always a great day and the Ballina RSL has some great shows featuring this month.
Get your business in front of visitors flying in to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport over spring and summer! The advertising cycle commences this week from 1 September through to the 28 February 2023 and is the ideal time with so many visitors travelling to the Northern Rivers to have your brochure displayed in the arrivals terminal.
Do you want your business in front of the passengers arriving in the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport over summer? Then now is the time to jump on board the upcoming advertising cycle which commences 1 September through to the 28 February 2023 - and its only $150!
Need new images for your website or to promote the Ballina Coast & Hinterland? As a local industry operator did you know you have access to our image gallery? View our gallery here
August is action packed with events! Stand Up Comedy nights, Bangalow Music Festival, Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Regatta, Byron Writers Festival and the latest production from Ballina Players will start at the end of the month.
It's August! Where did July go? Coming up soon on the 13-14th of August is the North Coast Mud Trail to display the very talented local artisans of our area.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Ballina Coast and Hinterland will be featured in a six week long digital marketing campaign as part of the larger 'Feel New' tourism campaign by Destination NSW.
Destination NSW has just announced two new directors one of which being in the Northern Rivers area. Find an extract of their announcement below:
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has established a webpage to keep the community informed of flood recovery progress in our North Coast National Parks.
The NSW Government has reviewed and updated the Draft North Coast Regional Plan 2041.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Do you have video footage or clips of your business? Share it with the Ballina Tourism Team!
Using your content, we hope to showcase places to eat, sites to visit, tours to enjoy and places to stay through social media reels. We will tag your business if we use any of your supplied footage.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
This year's North Coast Tourism Sympousium is fast approaching with an exciting line-up of world-class speakers
Last week the release of the 2021 Census results provided an insight into the changing profile of Australian families.
Anyone whose certification expired from February 2020 can renew their RSA, or RSA and RCG together, for free, until February 2023 without having to retrain in full.
Northern Rivers Food will again be bringing us the highly anticipated Harvest Food Trail - a very special self-drive experience over the weekend of July 30-31 2022.
One of the most highly anticipated junior surfing hit the shores of Lennox Head last week!
Don't forgret to purchase tickets for the North Coast Tourism Symposium being held in Grafton on Thursday 28 July 2022.
The Australian Visitor Centres - Explore Australia App makes your journey easier. The detailed maps are available online and offline, they show locations of other Points of Interest, including accommodation, campgrounds, food and drinks, attractions, wineries, local deals, road warnings and much more.
Destination Byron's Annual Tourism Symposium is back after restrictions saw the 2020 and 2021 events cancelled. Scheduled for 29 June 2022, Elements of Byron will welcome local and national visitor and tourism industry leaders, stakeholders, and attendees.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Are you interested in getting more advice on how your accommodation property can invest? Don't miss out on the Accommodation Reinvestment Mentoring Program.
Ballina Shire businesses are encouraged to complete the Regional NSW Business Survey to identify key priorities for supporting job creation and economic growth in our region.
Event managers, community groups and businesses interested in organising events are encouraged to apply now for a share of $360,000 available under the NSW Governments Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Destination NSW has created an extensive resource for tourism operators. Develop great tourism experiences,
Destination North Coast (DNC) and Stafford Strategy will be conducting 2hr workshops outlining regional visitor forecasts to 2030 and perceived existing product gaps to support future new investment in the
Destination NSW has partnered with Tourism Tribe to offer this fully funded Digital Skills Accelerator for Tourism program to assist NSW tourism businesses, including accommodation, tours and attractions to digitally transform their marketing.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
The last opportunity to provide input on how we can best develop and grow the value of the tourism sector across the North Coast is via the below online workshop and short stakeholder survey.
Find out how to get involved with the campaign to maximize your involvement in the event! + still time to register
What many may know as the Lighthouse Beach Cafe is now Capiche - newly refurbished, new owners, new cuisine and already GREAT reviews!
After 9 years working as the Ballina Visitor Centre Team Leader, Alicia is moving on from council.
Most operators would have had the pleasure of working with Alicia over that time and I am sure will remember her for being energetic, patient and well organised. Her knowledge of the industry and passion for tourism was inspiring.
The North Coast Destination Management Plan (DMP) review session is being held in Ballina next Tuesday 3 May, 2022 so to have your say about the future of tourism in the North Coast it is important you come along.
Destination North Coast is calling on food, beverage and agri-tourism business to plan and deliver food related events, experiences and special deals as part of the North Coast Festival of Flavour 3-5 June 2022. This is a fantastic opportunity for the North Coast to strengthen its reputation as an emerging foodie destination.
Promote your business to visitors arriving through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport in the current DL brochure advertising cycle. Located within the arrivals terminal at the Airport, the brochure board is restocked by volunteer tourism ambassadors.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Tourism Australia has announced a $12 Million content creation initiative aimed at supporting tourism businesses across Australia in recovery and driving increased visitation by helping operators better market their experiences and attractions.
Destination North Coast wants to hear from local tourism operators, event organisers, local government and industry stakeholders to gather input and plan for the future of tourism and the visitor economy in our region to 2030 as they review the North Coast Destination Management Plan (DMP).
Destination North Coast recently announced a change of date for the North Coast Festival of Flavour to the 3 to5 June 2022, so it's not too late to get involved!
Visitors will taste the very best of the North Coast at farm gates, markets, breweries and more. Get involved by planning a foodie event or special deal at your place of
Tourism Australia (TA) has announced adopting a dual-naming approach for capital cities and other specific locations around Australia by using the known Aboriginal name alongside the English name.
Keep up to date with What's On around the area - local events, workshops & activities are loaded to the calendar which is a great reference for yourself and visitors to find out things to see and do.
Click HERE to view the calendar
Easter is generally a busy time around the Northern Rivers with lots of visiting family and friends. Keep the kids entertained by checking out activities that are happening over the holiday period on the What's On calendar or download the PDF - there is something for all age groups.
Destination NSW is holding a series of Aboriginal Tourism Experience Development Workshops in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC).
Want to know when the annual events are being held this year?
Make sure to download our Annual Events Guide for a full look at what events are happening around the Northern Rivers and the dates they will be on.
The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment has launched THRIVE 2030, the long-term national strategy for the visitor economy. THRIVE 2030 is expected to grow the value of the visitor economy to $230 billion by 2030.
The Business Connect program is a contemporary, high-quality support service for small businesses in NSW. The Business Connect program comprises one-on-one business advisory sessions during which your Business Advisor will work with you on your goals. â
BizRebuild is a business-led initiative, developed by the Business Council of Australia, to provide practical and on the ground assistance to small and local businesses left devastated by the bushfires and floods.
BizRebuild is offering vouchers to help small businesses affected by the March 2022 storms and floods, in eligible NSW and QLD local government areas.
The Ballina Tourism Team aim to drive demand for tour and activity operators by encouraging Australians to donate experience gift vouchers for Northern Rivers flood affected people. These gift vouchers would enable flood affected people to take a break and enjoy an experience.
Applications have opened for the NSW Governmentâs Small Business Support Program, which provides financial assistance for small businesses hit hard by the disruption caused by the wave of Omicron cases.
Tourism operators are invited to participate in a free online webinar to elevate your business's online reputation.
While our region starts on the road to recovery from the tragic floods, our hearts go out to our friends and neighbours who have lost so much.
Due to the Northern Rivers region being in disaster recovery mode, Destination North Coast has made the decision to postpone the Festival of Flavours event until late May or early June 2022.
The Ballina Flood Recovery Centre is now open and located at Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Parade, East Ballina.
Open from 9.00am to 5pm (7 days for first week), the Recovery Centre provides face-to-face support for Ballina Shire.
Disaster recovery assistance is available to businesses in eligible NSW local government areas that have been impacted by storms and floods. If your business premises has been damaged due to storms and flooding then visit Service NSW to see what funding and grants you are eligible for.
For more information or to find out if your are eligible click here
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Businesses can now apply to the NSW Government's Small Business Support Program. If youâre a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you've been impacted by the Omicron wave of COVID-19, you may be eligible for a payment under the 2022 Small Business Support Program.
Ballina Coast and Hinterland business event suppliers were represented at the Get Local Expo, held at the Sydney International Convention Centre on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 February 2022.
Ballina Shire Council is seeking your feedback in regards to the shire's playgrounds.
The NSW Government has announced a small business rebate for NSW sole traders and small businesses to purchase safety equipment.
The NSW government has recently announced accommodation, recreation and entertainment vouchers to the value of $50 for NSW residents. To be eligible to receive these vouchers businesses must apply to the Stay NSW program via service NSW. Participants must have a business located in NSW and have an associated Australian business number.
The six figure North Coast Festival of Flavour marketing campaign is now live in market!
Ballina Coast and Hinterland will represent business event suppliers at the Get Local Expo, held at the Sydney International Convention Centre on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 February 2022.
Businesses can now apply for Round Two of the NSW Governmentâs $140 million Regional Job Creation Fund, which is set to create at least 2000 new jobs in regional NSW over a three-year period.
The Australian Government has opened the Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program, a $3 million funding program that aims to support Aboriginal cultural centres, community museums, galleries, and historical societies in regional Australia as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Eligible accommodation providers across the state can register to take part in two new NSW Government voucher programs - Parents NSW and Stay NSW.
Online travel planning is one of the fast growing uses of the internet, with a high proportion of consumers booking accommodation and tours online. Consumers now expect to be able to book and pay for travel products instantly, at the click of a mouse.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
In what many business operators had hoped would be their busiest time of trade all year, has been dramatically impacted by Omicron. The NSW Government is offering a financial support package.
The upcoming NSW Tourism Awards will celebrate the outstanding strength, resilience and achievements of the tourism industry in a virtual ceremony on Thursday 3 February 2022.
There are a wide range of development opportunities available but here is a curated selection of must do free visitor economy development opportunities. Register NOW and add these important dates to your calendar.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is a wonderful resource for visitors - inspiring them to see and do more and stay longer than they had initially planned.
Promote your business to visitors arriving through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport with a rare opportunity in the upcoming DL brochure advertising cycle. Located within the arrivals terminal at the Airport, the brochure board is restocked by volunteer tourism ambassadors.
Calling farmers, producers, restauranteurs, brewers, distillers, and foodie event managers to get involved with the fabulous North Coast Festival of Flavour over the weekend of 26 and 27 March 2022
With businesses confronting the worst labour and skill shortages in more than three decades, the Prime Minister has announced a rebate program to visa application fees. The program aims to encourage international students and working holiday makers to return to Australia and plug acute shortages across industry.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
As Queensland reaches 90% vaccination status, the State Government has advised border controls will be removed for domestic air and road travel.
Destination North Coast has a wide range of development opportunities to engage in. Add these important dates to your calendar.
Download copies of the School Holiday Activity Sheet and be sure to share the What's On Calendar with your guests this summer.
The management of NSW marine parks directly impacts the health, sustainability and economic viability of the local environment and operators who work within it.
There is now financial support of up to $750 if you are required to isolate due to COVID-19. The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum to help cover lost income while infected/or caring for someone infected with COVID-19.
As the team at Destination North Coast (DNC) return to their desks to start the 2022 work year, they are very aware of the ongoing upheaval and uncertainty brought about by the current business and COVID-19 environment.
Ballina Shire Council is happy to announce Airport Boulevard is now open! This new connection road links Boeing Avenue and North Creek Road to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, and is an impressive entrance to the airport.
Have the shared paths and cycleways changed your life for the better? Then we would love to hear from you!
Australiaâs largest trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), will adopt a hybrid format in 2022, providing in-person and virtual components to ensure the tourism industry can meet, exchange knowledge, and establish important business connections.
A study by Tourism Research Australia revealed three of four people living with disability regularly travel, spending about $3.2 billion each year. And it also showed more would travel if products or technologies were available to support them.
Destination NSW is offering grants of up to $30,000 to attract, create and support business events for regional NSW, and toâ¯motivateâ¯business event owners to incorporate regional NSW in their plans.
It's that time of year again! From the staff at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Are you opening on Christmas Day or New Year's Day? Please inform the Ballina Visitor Information Centre of your trading hours so we can share this with visitors and also list you on the directory page as being open.
Receive the gift of giving this festive season and help a small homegrown producer while you are at it by shopping locally at the Ballina Visitor Information Centre.
Critical skills shortages in the visitor economy are being addressed by the NSW Government, which is offering thousands of free training places across the state.
What three things do you like most about living in Ballina Shire? What would make our shire even better in the next 10 years? These may be simple questions, but your answers are very important!
The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has introduced new traffic arrangements due to the current upgrade works.
As the state of NSW opens up and people start making plans for the upcoming holiday season, make sure your customers know about your terms and conditions (T&Cs) before they book.
The Domestic Tourism Forecasts report 2021-22 to 2025-26 is now published. The report documents how the domestic tourism industry is expected to recover from the pandemic-induced downturn.
We are actively encouraging visitors to the region to use the hashtag #discoverballina so we can share the amazing pictures on our social media pages.
We are very excited to introduce new operators in the Ballina Shire:
Are you a Food & Beverage Operator? Then you need to read this!
Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan released for consultation a proposed strategy to rebuild and reimagine Australia's visitor economy.
Join in on a series of three on-demand Destination NSW Sell Online webinars for tourism businesses to find out how to increase bookings through online sales â both direct and indirect â by using online booking software, creating effective ATDW-Online listings, and working with online travel agents (OTAs) to grow online visibility.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre has the pleasure of introducing accommodation providers to Robin, Chief Cyclist and his company E-Bike 2U, an e-bike rental company in the Northern Rivers area, including Ballina Coast and Hinterland. They deliver and pick-up e-bikes to and from accommodation providers like yourself.
Projects to help regional communities bounce back from the impacts of border restrictions will roll out across the State borders under a $10 million COVID Recovery round of the Cross-Border Commissionerâs Infrastructure Fund.
Council has started work to develop a new 10 year plan for our community's future, but we need your help! We are asking the community to provide feedback through a short online survey. Your feedback will help us get an insight into the community's vision and goals for the future.
A kids Christmas tree has been installed at Freeborn Park in Main Street,Alstonville next to Santaâs letterbox and is festooned with lights.
Do you want to promote your business to visitors arriving through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport? Now is your chance! The upcoming advertising cycle for the DL brochure board, located within the arrivals terminal at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is fast approaching. The cycle runs for the busy summer season until 28 Feburary 2022.
Get your event applications in now as applications for the Incubator Event stream and the Flagship Event stream of the 2022 Regional Event Fund will close at midnight on Sunday 5 December 2021. Applications submitted after this date and time are not eligible for assessment and will not be accepted.
The Morrison Government has announced that Switzerland will become the 45th country to have access to Australiaâs Working Holiday Maker program from 1 January 2022. Young people from Switzerland, aged between 18 and 30, can apply to stay in Australia for one year while undertaking short-term work and study.
Is your team becoming frustrated with the lack of respect shown from certain customers? Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) has launched the HumanKIND initiative calling on customers to be patient with operators who may be experiencing staff shortages and other challenges after a tough year.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund is designed to help stakeholders create, attract and support exciting business events for regional NSW and to support new business event initiatives. The Fund aims to enrich these business events with opportunities offered by iconic towns and regions, while helping secure successful conferences and events for their future.
Destination NSW is pleased to advise that the Experience Development Fund is now open.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has now added QANTAS direct flights from Melbourne to the already impressive number flights from across the country.
The Australian Federal Government is delivering a free National Online Jobs Fair for the Hospitality & Tourism sectors; 1.00pm - 5.00pm Thursday 25th November 2021.
The Commonwealth Government has launched a $5 million Regional Arts Fund Cultural Tourism Accelerator program to develop and promote arts and cultural events for tourists across regional Australia.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is looking to create a fortnightly post across our social media channels to help our local operators get the word out about avaliable job oppotunities.
The Northern Rivers Tourism and Hospitality Forum will be held at the Ballina RSL on 22 November 2021. The session will provide a range of updates on projects delivering skilled workers for industry, how to tap into a pool of keen young workers for your business and an interactive campaign co-design session to develop a creative brief to support attracting people into the hospitality sector.
Applications for the Destination North Coast Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program close this Friday 12 November 2021. This Program is FREE to North Coast tourism businesses offering up to 7 hours of one-on-one business mentoring support.
Residents and visitors are being urged to arrive early at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport to avoid the inconvenience of traffic delays and parking changes.
Car parking is reduced and changed traffic conditions are in place while the airport carpark is being upgraded.
The NSW Government will invest more than $8 million in a suite of grant programs to accelerate the recovery of the NSW visitor economy as the state reopens to visitors. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said the funding would be a significant boost to the visitor economy as travel restrictions lifted.
Expand your knowledge of the local tourism industry, meet like minded people, and share your love of the local area by becoming a volunteer tourism ambassador.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The NSW Government and Destination NSW has launched a new tourism campaign to make visitors feel new.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Destination North Coast is pleased to partner with industry to develop the North Coast Festival of Flavours across the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March 2022.
Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has published the National Visitor Survey year ending 30 June 2021. Data shows that domestic overnight visitors increased eight percent (8%) on the previous year.
Holiday home providers - who have no other development approvals to operate - have been reminded to register if they want to rent out their properties once regional travel is permitted from Monday 1 November 2021.
Do you know an unsung hero who deserves recognition? Show your appreciation by nominating them for the 2022 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards!
A reminder that the NSW Government still has $20 Million in grant funding for Regional Events Acceleration to bring back the social calendar in regional NSW.
Are you hosting a Festival or Event in the Ballina Shire? Did you know that each financial year Ballina Shire Council offer a Festival and Events Sponsorship Program and the 2022/23 financial year applications are now open.
The NSW Government has unveiled a new tourism campaign to entice visitors to the state and re-energise them to feel new.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Are you hosting a Christmas Day lunch or event?
Submit the details (ie where, cost, inclusions and booking details) to Discover Ballina to help us promote your function. It is FREE and EASY to submit.
Click HERE to submit online or email the details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Destination North Coast is excited to announce that Expression of Interest (EOI) applications are open to tourism businesses on the North Coast to participate in the Destination North Coast Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is creating a 2022 Ballina Coast and Hinterland scenic calendar. If you have any great digital images you would like to see featured, please send them our way.
Join presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW Social Media team in this free online webinar to hear how you can capture compelling images and videos for social media on your phone.
Building an inspiring brand is key to rebuilding the NSW visitor economy and its resilience. The first in more than a decade, the campaign is designed to deliver growth in visitor nights and spend and accelerate our trajectory to becoming the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Business Connect expert panel has recorded the live webinar from last week to interpret information and share their expertise in this space as the Public Health Orders are implemented against COVID-19 recovery milestones.
VILLA RUSTICA CERAMICS
We had the pleasure of meeting Greg this month - a local ceramic artist who many may already know.
The Ballina Tourism Team is keen to understand your business performance and confidence levels moving forward.
Could you please complete the Tourism Business Confidence Survey here
NSW residents will have two more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with additional Dine & Discover vouchers becoming available.
Don't Miss Out! This exciting program is fully funded by the Australian Government and Destination North Coast (DNC) will offer up to seven hours of one-on-one business mentoring to support advancement and growth of tourism businesses.
Small businesses can apply to receive free advice on employee pay and entitlement issues, including those that relate to vaccination, through the FairWork Ombudsmanâs Employer Advisory Service (EAS).
The Business Connect expert panel joins us live to interpret information and share their expertise in this space as the Public Health Orders are implemented against COVID-19 recovery milestones.
NSW Government has developed a toolkit with signs, posters and stickers in this toolkit provide, our colleagues and our community reminders of accepted behaviours and new standards of etiquette that will help protect everyone and stop the spread of COVID-19.
Ballina Shire Council is working hard to keep our community and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To fulfil our obligation under the NSW Public Health Order, entry conditions to several Council facilities will temporarily change from Monday 11 October to Tuesday 30 November 2021.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Hotels and accommodation providers across the State who experienced cancellations as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, can now access additional financial support, thanks to the Accommodation Support Grant going live.
Join presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW Social Media team to find out how to use the Stories feature on Instagram and Facebook to engage potential visitors.
Australiaâs largest Mobile Wildlife Hospital has a permanent new home at the Macadamia Castle in Byron Bayâs hinterland, which has been sold to conservation group Wildlife Recovery Australia.
Destination North Coast is excited to announce we are in the process of creating and launching a 'virtual' North Coast Food & Beverage Trail, the North Coast Flavour Trails.
The NSW Government has opened nominations to identify and protect Areas of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBVs) on both private and public lands across New South Wales.
Communities across NSW will benefit from new and improved cultural infrastructure thanks to $60 million available through the NSW Governmentâs Creative Capital program.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Ballina Shire Council is pleased to announce the 2022/2023 Festival and Event Sponsorship Program will open on Friday 24 September 2021.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - including weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours
Destination North Coast is host an Unpacking COVID Funding & Government Support Industry Webinar for Tourism Businesses.
A few weeks ago Ballina Coast and Hinterland published Emergency Management Planning tools from Business Australia. To assist you in protecting your tourism business from the impacts of bushfires and other natural disasters Destination NSW has published three new Quick Tips guides.
Every school holidays the Ballina Visitor Information Centre put together a School Holiday Activity Sheet to help families entertain the kids while they are on holidays. Keep your visitors and customers up to date of local activities and events by downloading a copy or visiting the Whats On calendar.
Expressions of interest are now open for live music venues across NSW to be part of Great Southern Nights.
Meet in Regional NSW offers suppliers a free platform to connect with business event planners. Register now for your free listing of products and services relating to the conference industry in regional NSW on the Meet in Regional NSW website!
Does your business have an Emergency Management Plan or Business Continuity Plan in place for crises such as pandemics, bushfires, floods and other disasters?
Lockdown has been hard on many businesses. Having to close your doors or not be able to operate like normal is certainly taking its toll. On the flip side, some businesses have had to think outside the box, create new products or ways to service their clients unlike how they normally would.
Ballina Shire Council offers a range of community event signage locations where Festival and Event Organisers can promote special events. The Community Event Signage Policy is currently on review.
The Office of the Arts are pleased to announce that Round 13 of the Festivals Australia funding program is now open for applications for projects commencing from 1 February 2022.
Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 8 September to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the industry.
The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is set to receive 100 extra parking spots.
Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from Northern Rivers Ngangbul artists to design and develop a series of public artworks within the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport precinct.
Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has published the 2020 Tourism Region Profiles. The Tourism Region Profiles provide comprehensive tourism demand and supply data for 77 of Australia's tourism regions.
R U OK? Day is this Thursday 9 September and this year's theme message is 'Are they really OK? Ask them today.'
The NSW Government will provide financial assistance, support measures and tax relief to help businesses and people across the state impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Do you want to refresh your existing website, build a new one or enhance digital capacity? The North Coast Digital Refresh Grant Program offers just that and applications are open now!
The official Tourism Australia page @australia has amassed over five million followers on Instagram, making it the most followed national destination page in the world.
Have you found yourself with some additional time on your hands due to the lockdown? Then why not use that time to do some lockdown learning. Upskill with a fee-free* online short course, places are limited.
Want to learn how to improve your Facebook & Instagram presence for free?
Tourism businesses can join a series of five free webinars, featuring presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW social media team.
Upskill During Lockdown with Free Virtual Hospitality Short Courses
Destination NSW has partnered with Restaurant and Catering Australia to deliver three, free online short courses, known as micro credentials, for NSW tourism and hospitality businesses.
The NSW Dine and Discover program has been extended and vouchers can now be used until 30 June 2022 to support local businesses.
To answer an increasing demand for information on dog friendly activities, venues and accommodation in the region, the Ballina Tourism Team is putting together a brochure for visitors who are travelling/ planning to travel to the area with dogs.
If your business caters for pets or offers any pet friendly experiences, let us know! Email the details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday 15 August 2021.
The Federal and State Governments are releasing more grants and funding to help local businesses grow and create more jobs.
NSW Government is delivering three online sessions to help small businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 find the support they need.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - including weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Now is the time to support and promote our amazing local tourism businesses!
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre is reaching out to local tourism operators to make the most of the downtime that COVID is creating and prepare for busier times ahead.
Sydney Weekender are seeking story content and have reached out to the Ballina Tourism Team seeking expression of interest from local operators to participate with a story. Use the story content for your own promotional purposes.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - including weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
The NSW Government 2021 support package is designed to help businesses in the visitor economy withstand the challenges of the most recent lockdown and restrictions. The support package includes a number of different grants and payments so make sure you visit the website here to check your eligibility and apply.
Don't Miss Out! This exciting program is fully funded by the Australian Government and Destination North Coast (DNC) will offer up to seven hours of one-on-one business mentoring to support advancement and growth of tourism businesses.
Eligible NSW businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations can apply for up to $15,000 from the first of the NSW Governmentâs economic support packages: The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Australian Tourism Awards and NSW Tourism Awards have always celebrated the hard work and dedication needed to create quality tourism experiences. Considering the past couple of years we think this holds deeper meaning
The NSW Government is providing targeted support for the state's accommodation sector to ease the pain of lost bookings over the winter school holiday period.
The Ballina Tourism Team is keen to understand how the current public health order restrictions are impacting your tourism business.
Could you please complete the Tourism Industry Sentiment Survey here
Due to the developing COVID situation in Greater Sydney and extension of restrictions across all of NSW, the decision has been made to move our Business Accelerator & Mentoring Program Launch Events online.
Make sure you keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Ballina Shire Council received funding through the NSW Governmentâs Streets as Shared Spaces program to pilot temporary traffic calming and streetscape features that aim to improve safety and amenity in and around Park Lane, Lennox Head.
We are excited to share that the Ballina Visitor Information Centre is now stocking the Australian Adventure Passports with our very own signature prawn stamp! The passports have been created to collect stamps Australia wide documenting travels and creating special memories along the way.
Do you need some ideas or advice on how to market or enhance your current tourism product or experience? Are you stuck in an area of your business and need some help moving forward? If you answered YES to either of these questions then you MUST apply for the Destination North Coast Business Accelerator and Mentoring Program.
Running a tourism business in COVID-affected circumstances can be stressful and may come with mental health challenges. Programs exist to support you to create a mentally safe workplace and find resources to support you and your employees.
It's NAIDOC week! This year's theme is Heal Country, heal our nation. Unfortunately COVID public health order restrictions has meant that Jali Aboriginal Land Council has had to cancel their scheduled NAIDOC week activities. We invite you to still get involved in the NAIDOC celebrations in a COVID safe manner such as listening to stories being shared across local and national radio stations or flying the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island flags.
The Australian Regional Tourism (ART) Convention is a must-attend event for local councils, regional tourism organisations, tourism professionals, business and government personnel who wish to contribute to the future of regional tourism in Australia.
Destination NSW is actively supporting businesses in a variety of ways at this challenging time and is working to keep NSW top of mind for future visitors through ongoing daily media outreach.
The NSW Government announced a major new grants package and changes to the Dine & Discover program to help tens of thousands of small businesses and people across NSW impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions.
The Ballina tourism team encourages you to take a few moments and visit the refreshed Destination NSW webpage with a series of Tips & Tutorials. We encourage your business to explore the NSW First Quick Tips Guides and Tutorials created to provide ideas about staying connected with travellers, media and distribution partners, and opportunities to develop new areas of business.
As we welcome in the winter school holidays we are again faced with new COVID restrictions. Still, there is a lot to look forward to over the next few weeks and we hope our visitors enjoy everything on offer.
We have a couple of new businesses that have opened up so pop in and say hello to them.
Every school holidays the Ballina Visitor Information Centre put together a School Holiday Activity Sheet to help families entertain the kids while they are on holidays. Keep your visitors and customers up to date of local activities and events by downloading a copy or visiting the Whats On calendar.
We know industry members appreciate a heads up about large sporting events happening within the region. This September the Lismore Workers Master Games will be held over the weekend of the 24- 26 September and is one of Australia's biggest regional games with 15 sports on offer.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay. Or encourage them to stay longer in the destination.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
It is even easier for you to navigate through the NSW First Program and find relevant resources for your tourism business. The webpages have been redesigned on the Destination NSW corporate website with the addition of three new pages: Develop, Promote and Sell. This fresh design curates and organises more than 50 resources for tourism businesses to access in a user-friendly way.
With almost 30 tourism award categories to capture the range of services you offer, including two brand new awards for emerging talent and local government, thereâs something for all operators at this yearâs NSW Tourism Awards.
Destination NSW and Meeting and Events Australia (MEA) have collaborated to offer scholarships to people in regional NSW to undertake a Diploma of Event Management.
The NSW Dine and Discover vouchers have been extended by one month, now expiring on the 31 July 2021. Please encourage NSW guests to utilise their vouchers at one of the local participating businesses.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Destination NSW is holding a series of Aboriginal Tourism Experience Development Workshops in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC).
Local foodservice businesses, such as restaurants and cafes are being asked to make use of their end-of-day surplus food to help feed people rather than depositing to landfill.
The initiative launched by Foodbank, Australiaâs largest food relief organisation, and Y Waste, the discounted meals app, makes it easy for businesses to put surplus food to good use.
Destination North Coast has secured significant funding as part of the Australian Government's Recovery For Regional Tourism Fund to deliver a new dedicated North Coast Tourism Business Accelerator and Mentoring Program to be rolled out from June 2021.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Destination North Coast is pleased to announce the return of the North Coast Tourism Symposium and Awards Gala Dinner 2021! This year the Events will be co-hosted by Bellingen Shire Council and held at Urunga on Thursday 24th June.
Ballina Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the Northern Rivers Community Gallery's (NRCG) draft Creative Action Plan.
Now is the time to have your say on the future of the Australian travel economy and how looking forward, we can work to strengthen the sector.
Locals have long understood the beauty of Ballina, but now holidaymakers are gaining a newfound appreciation for our slice of paradise. Ballina has been announced as a finalist for the inaugural Top Tourism Town Awards for NSW, along with 15 other ambitious towns from across the state in the âTowns with a population of over 5000 residentsâ category.
Tourism Australia has put the Big Prawn on the map alongside some spectacular Australian scenery in their latest video encouraging Australians to make the most of the amazing diversity our country has to offer.
Ballina Shire Council has been successful in securing $995,905 in funding under the NSW governmentâs Your High Street grant program. The funding received from this grant will enable completion of priority works identified in the Lennox Village Vision concept plan for Ballina Street, in time for Lennox Headâs centenary celebrations scheduled for December 2022.
The program being piloted in the Upper Hunter region will offer jobseekers free hospitality training and the opportunity to reskill for a job in a club. With registered clubs hiring over 43,000 people regional communities often benefit greatly from the opportunities of employment closer to home.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The NSW government's Dine and Discover voucher scheme is designed to boost economic spending and help businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Tourism businesses, councils and local tourism organisations can now apply for funding to undertake marketing activities that promote visitor experiences, attractions, tours and accommodation.
Do you need maps to help service your visitors? Just a reminder that we have a range of maps that you can download from the Tourism Destination Website that include CBD maps of Ballina, Lennox Head, Alstonville & Wollongbar, rural road maps and a region map.
To view the maps available and print copies visit Ballina Shire Towns & Village Maps
Ballina Shire Council is making an application to the Destination NSW Tourism Industry Marketing Support Grants Program and asks for your collaboration in the form of a Letter of Support. The tactical marketing campaign will drive actual visitation for the Ballina Coast and Hinterland over the winter and spring of 2021.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guests room or hand to them at check in.
$1.5 million is now available to business event organisers to host conferences, conventions, training courses, trade shows and exhibitions in regional NSW to give the state's visitor economy a significant boost.
Ballina Visitor Information Centre is very proud to sponsor the Northern Rivers Food Harvest Trail which is kicking off this weekend. The 1st & 2nd of May are going to be packed full of amazing events, workshops and dining experiences that will showcase some of the amazing producers around the region. There are trail maps and timetables available at the Ballina Visitors Centre and we encourage visitors to create an itinerary and pre-book to avoid disappointment. Check out the website here.
Small businesses are encouraged to sign up online for a new $1,500 rebate scheme to help cover the cost of NSW and local government fees and charges. It is available from 1 April 2021 until 30 June 2022, for eligible fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021.
With this year's Easter school holidays coming to an end we can reflect on what was a bit of a bumpy start to the season, with the cancelation of Bluesfest and the introduction of new COVID restrictions. It was a great relief to see no further community transmissions and the restrictions lifted after the Easter long weekend. With a sense of normalcy returning again we can look forward to the next fortnight and there are some exciting events coming up!
Autumn has well and truly arrived and we are all enjoying the cool nights, crisp mornings, offshore winds and clear sunny days!! There's plenty happening around the region over the next few weeks.
Council has commenced a boost program to actively attract business events to the Ballina Coast and Hinterland midweek. If you are a supplier to the conference sector please get us your best images and a few other items of content as listed below to create your profile on Ballina Business Events website.
Over the coming months small business owners and those who support them in the Tourism industry can join online wellbeing workshops and training and contribute to the development of new resources and supports on Ahead for Business.
Due to the recent devasting floods in some parts of NSW, Destination North Coast is pleased to advise the extension of the Tourism Product Development Fund, for applicants from flood affected areas. These applicants have until 9 am on 19 April 2021 to submit.
The Ballina Business Events website has some fantastic new images that tourism stakeholders are able to access and use to promote their business.
Virgin Australia will introduce direct flights from Melbourne to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport over the Easter holidays, adding up to six return services per week from 29 March 2021 until 25 April 2021.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The NSW Government's dine and discover program has now been rolled out in the Ballina Shire and eligible businesses are being encouraged to sign up.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Make sure you download a copy of the new fortnightly what's on sheet to leave in guest rooms or hand to them at check in.
The Australian Government announced a $1.2 billion support package for Australias travel, tourism and aviation sectors.
More farms across regional NSW will be able to open their gates to visitors and diversify their businesses under proposed changes to the planning system as part of COVID-19 recovery measures.
Destination NSW has launched a new Media Centre to support every professional publishing and content creation need and from today, media and content creators can discover more than 30,000 images, videos, B-roll, press releases and editorial-ready content about Sydney and New South Wales.
Are you a food & beverage producer and interested in opening up your premises to trial new ventures? If yes, then this workshop is a must!
Grants of up to $30,000 are now available for the NSW regional business events sector, thanks to a NSW Government funding boost which aims to turbocharge local economies and create more jobs.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
To support the social and economic recovery of our regions, the NSW Governmentâs $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund helps organisations to:
- attract new major international and domestic events to regional areas
- make existing regional events even bigger and better.
TAFE NSW has two new specific courses they are offering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Keep up to date with community activities, markets and special events by regularly checking the what's on calendar or downloading your copy of the fortnightly what's on sheet.
If you have something you would like to add please don't hesitate to contact a member of the Ballina Tourism Team - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1800 777 666.
Destination NSW is pleased to advise that the NSW Government has announced a Tourism Product Development Fund.
Eligible dining, arts and tourism businesses across the state can now register to take part in the NSW Government's major economic stimulus program, Dine & Discover NSW.
Tourism Australia is hosting a special webinar on Monday 15 February at 2pm AEDT. The webinar will provide an overview of the campaign with information on how industry can leverage it in their own activity.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Well known touring motorcyclist and contributing editor Peter Thoeming The Bear is coming to the Ballina Coast and Hinterland for a mid-week stop over arriving on Tuesday 2 March, staying through until departure on Saturday 6 March 2021. Peter, The Bear is a contributing writer for Australian Motorcyclist Magazine, ADVrider.com (adventure rider), Lonely Planet and MCNews.com.au
As part of Ballina Shire Council's Destination Management Plan 2021-2030 all tourism operators would ideally have a Business Continuity Plan to be prepared for the unexpected. The NSW Government has a new guide to assist small business owners making it simple to develop your own plan.
Council is seeking tenders for surf school licences, elite surf coaching licences and stand up paddle board coaching licences for the next three year period.
Episode four of Destination NSW's Long Road series, featuring the Rainforest Way with Troy Cassar-Daley went live last weekend.
Eligible dining, arts and tourism businesses across the state can now register to take part in the NSW Government's major economic stimulus program, Dine & Discover NSW.
A new roadmap outlines the NSW Governmentâs bold plan to make NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia-Pacific by 2030.
Visitors continue to flock to our beautiful area and to assist them please ensure you check the What's On calendar as this will help to disperse and encourage visitation to local attractions and tour operators.
Johanna Griggs of Better Homes & Gardens recently visited the Northern Rivers to interview musician Pete Murray and showcase our region.
Local communities across Australia, especially those hardest hit by the loss of regional tourism, are a step closer to sharing in $200 million under a fifth round of the successful Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre have been fielding LOTS of Christmas Day enquiries about places that will be open and and now the enquiries are turning to New Years Eve. Due to COVID the normal annual New Years Eve festivities are not going ahead so if your business is holding a New Years function or event please let us know so we can promote.
Round two of the Live Music Australia program that is designed to assist in the national recovery of the live music sector from the impacts of COVID-19 is now open for applications. Round two will again provide support to small to medium venues, as they begin to reopen and resume the regular performance of original Australian live music. Applications for round two will close on 18 February 2021.
School Holidays have commenced and with families, kids and visitors looking for things to do these tools will be very helpful for you! Activities perfect for kids have been loaded to the What's On calendar so make sure you keep up to date each day with what's on and look further ahead as some events and activities must be booked beforehand and spaces will fill up fast.
The annual Ballina New Year Tennis Open is on again from 2-5 January 2021. Watch the best of the best as they hit the courts as part of the Australian Ranking Tournament for Tennis.
Tourism Australia has launched their latest campaign, inviting young people living in New Zealand to travel to Australia this summer for a working holiday. The campaign targets young Kiwis as well as young international travellers living in New Zealand who are eligible
A big congratulations to the Festival and Event funding recipients who have received a share of $120,000 from Ballina Shire Council's 2021/22 Festival and Event sponsorship funding program.
The NSW Government has launched a new toolkit, which aims to better equip businesses in the face of challenges, such as natural disasters and other disruptions.
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
Join an industry webinar to find out about NSW Road Trips, an upcoming state-wide marketing program delivered by Destination NSW.
Announced in the NSW State Government Budget was the Out & About Voucher scheme now called Dine & Discover NSW, aimed at supporting local business recovery.
Council recently invited expressions of interest for the management of the Lennox Head Community Market. Unfortunately, no proposals for the operation of the market were received.
Have you seen the new Northern Rivers NSW brand yet? The brand is the symbol of a new economic and cultural era for one of New South Wales oldest, diverse and alluring regions. Collectively representing the Northern Rivers of NSW, from the Tweed border to the Clarence Valley, the brand is an exciting opportunity for businesses
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Summer School Holidays are creeping up and before we know it the Northern Rivers will be brimming with visitors and local families enjoying our region. Just like every holidays, the Ballina Visitor Information Centre will be distributing a School Holiday Activity Sheet which is
Keep up to date with What's On around the region - weekend markets, local, major & special events, exhibitions and bookable tours - by checking the What's On calendar. This is a great tool to share with your visitors, guests, friends and family to help them plan their stay.
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is calling on business event owners to register expressions of interest (EOI) to take part in the Federal Governments $50 million Business Events Grants program. The program will allow eligible businesses to apply for grants of up $250,000 to cover up to 50 per cent
Could your business benefit from infection prevention and control training and certification to keep your staff and customers safe from Coronavirus? Staff who undertake this online training will receive a nationally recognised qualification and will have been trained to the highest standard.
The training is a government subsidised and free of charge in all states (excluding SA where there is a $15 charge). To access the training, simply fill out the form
Interstate visitors are being encouraged to come take a break in NSW as an extension of the NSWâs Governmentâs âLove NSWâ tourism recovery campaign.
âThe Great Escapeâ campaign is targeting those travellers eager to venture beyond State borders after the restrictions of the past few months.
Every minute of every day, Tourism delivers $9,787 of visitor spend into North Coast - that is almost $14.1 million per day!!
Attached is the Value of Tourismdocument for the North Coast for 2019.
Accommodation giant Airbnb is providing $70,000 in funding for a new Australian Regional Tourism (ART) platform to help rural communities develop âworld class farmstaysâ.
Short-term rental accommodation hosts, guests, letting agents and online booking platform operators in NSW will soon be subject to strict new laws with a mandatory Code of Conduct for the industry to begin in December.
In this Masterclass you will learn how to turn your event into a memorable experience for your guests.
In this Masterclass you will learn how to develop new income streams for your event
Work will soon commence on a major upgrade to the Minyon Falls visitor precinct as part of the largest ever investment into National Park visitor infrastructure.
A section of the Coastal Recreational Walk, south of Boulder Beach carpark, will be temporarily closed to pedestrians for the upgrade of a 200-metre long section including a small boardwalk as part of the Coastal Recreational Walk project.
With venues being shut for so long it is very exciting to see shows, live music and entertainment returning! Most shows are ticketed so make sure you keep up to date with what's on and when to avoid missing out!
Ballina Shire Council is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the management and operation of the Lennox Head Community Market at Williams Reserve for a three-year period.
Ballina Shire Council Mayor, David Wright is delighted to announce the opening of nominations for the 2021 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards. The annual awards program brings the community together to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding members and groups in our community.
The Ballina Visitor Information Centre will be temporarily operating in the Richmond Room from Wednesday 21 October to Friday 23 October 2020 due to essential maintenance.
In partnership with the NSW Government, Southern Cross University has announced a call for Expressions of Interest for Innovation Districts R&D Covid-19 Challenges.
Accommodation property operators are invited to the Ballina Comfort Inn for an industry meet and greet over lunch where discussion will be focused on how stakeholders are surviving during COVID-19 and what can be done as businesses to support each other during this time.
Restrictions at hospitality venues will be eased from this Friday 16 October to allow one patron for every two square metres in outdoor areas (previously this was one person per four square metres).
Tourism Australia has launch phase two of the Holiday Here This Year campaign with a television commercial featuring Hamish Blake and his wife Zoe. You may recall that Tourism Australia first launched the Holiday Here This Year campaign in January 2020 to support the bushfire recovery by urging Australians to take a domestic holiday and provide a much-needed boost to tourism operators and communities around the country.
If you want your business to be a lean, mean, marketing machine then ensure you join this upcoming webinar presented by Vim & Zest in collaboration with Northern Rivers Food
Ballina Shire Council will be undertaking upgrades to the walking track to the Killen Falls viewing platform and carrying out revegetation works in the Killen Falls Drive area. The walking track will be closed from 19 October 2020 to 13 November 2020 (weather permitting) while the works are underway.
Live music is returning in style with a COVID safe performance at Park Lane Theatre on Saturday the 24 October by guitar virtuoso Daniel Champagne.
Ballina Shire Council is providing a free four hour workshop to assist small businesses to help them improve their capacity in tendering for government contracts, as part of NSW Small Business Month.
Local business owners can prepare for emergencies and disasters in five simple steps. Download the free Get Ready Business toolkit from Resilience NSW as part of Small Business Month to get started. You think it will never happen to your business, until it does. Are you ready?
Are you opening on Christmas Day? Please inform the Ballina Visitor Information Centre of your trading hours so we can share this with visitors and also list you on the directory page for as being open on Christmas Day. Staff are already getting enquiries on places open for lunch and as bookings will be required we want to be able to let locals and visitors know who to contact.
As part of NSW Small Business Month, Ballina Shire Council will be running a free four hour workshop on Monday 19 October 2020 to assist small businesses in tendering for government contracts. The free training session is a great opportunity for businesses to fine-tune their tender writing skills to help win that tender. For more information or to register Click here
Destination North Coast invite stakeholders to a 'whole of industry' update.
Following the success of a trial between Dubbo Regional Council, Ballina Shire Council, and Fly Pelican, the popular Dubbo-Ballina flight route will be extended until 31 January 2021, with additional flights also added to the schedule. The original trial period was due to expire on Friday 20 November 2020. Flights on the Canberra - Ballina flight route have also been extended.
Quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and New South Wales and the Northern Territory will start on 16 October in a major boost for the tourism industry.
Give our local unsung heroes the recognition they deserve by nominating them for the 2021 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards.
It's easy to nominate online.
Nominations close Monday 30 November 2020.
Dredging at Shaws Bay has commenced to improve the health of the bay, as well as improving recreational amenities for the community as part of Ballina Shire Council's Coastal Zone Management Plan.
Are you looking to make new friends, be involved in your local community, enhance your knowledge and learn new skills?
Destination North Coast (DNC) wish to thank those industry stakeholders who participated in the recent DNC Social Media Usage & Knowledge Survey. Your input to this survey has informed creation of the DNC Library of Social Media Resources which they hope will be a valuable tool for you and support development of your business's Social Media Strategy.
Queensland's Border Bubble To Expand - The Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk MP announced that the Queensland's border 'bubble' zone will expand from 1am on Thursday, October 1 to include Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes council areas.
With the easing of public health orders and lifting of travel restrictions The NSW Edition of The Senior wishes to engage with locals who know exactly what makes their town so special. The publication is wanting to share your local stories with their 556,824 readers encouraging them to visit the Northern Rivers region.
The Regional Tourism Satellite Accounts (RTSA) provide information on the importance of tourism for each of Australia's tourism regions. The reports are published annually and provide measures of tourism gross value add, tourism gross domestic product, tourism employment and tourism trade.
The Spring School Holiday Activity Sheet is FULL! Plus extra daily activities are listed on the Events CalendarThe activity sheet covers attractions and activities across the Northern Rivers. Find out WHAT'S ON these school holidays and let your guests know what they can do with their family.
Channel Seven's Sunrise Weather was broadcasted from the North Wall in Ballina on Tuesday 15 September.
Channel Seven's Sunrise Weather with presenter Sam Mac (Mcmillan) will broadcast from the North Wall in Ballina tomorrow morning from 5:30am - 8:30am.
Thousands of jobs across the tourism and hospitality industry will be backed through a $50 million injection announced by the Federal Government, helping to restart Australia's vital business events sector.
The COVID Safe check-in tool has now gone live across NSW. Be sure to register to allow easy check-in for customers.
Food, boutique beer and distillery lovers across Australia are set to put the Northern Rivers on their travel itinerary, with the NSW Government supporting the Northern Rivers Food tourism initiative in conjunction with Northern Rivers Food.
It's so positive to see new operators opening their doors in our region, a big welcome from the Ballina Tourism Team! Find out more about who has opened new businesses in the heart of Ballina and make sure you pop in to update yourself and share with your own visitors.
R U OK? Day will be celebrated tomorrow Thursday 10 September. This important day highlights how conversations can make a big difference. Lifeâs challenges can leave people feeling helpless, hopeless, afraid, disconnected and at genuine risk.
Destination NSW recently hosted the Discuss and Develop your Business Webinar as part of the NSW First Program.