Car Rental at Ballina Airport

Airport travel guide

Named after a local town, and sometimes also known as the Byron Gateway, Ballina Airport is the main entry point of the Northern Rivers region in the northernmost part of the Australian state of New South Wales, near the border with Queensland. These are three of the most interesting attractions on the North Coast:

• Ballina. Located just a stone’s throw south of the airport, the town of Ballina borders three bodies of water: North Creek, Richmond River, and the Pacific. Unsurprisingly, there is a wealth of attractive beaches in the area, including some excellent surfing spots. Ballina is also famous for the Big Prawn, the largest prawn sculpture on the planet, and a nod to one of the staples of the local cuisine.
• Byron Bay. Arguably the most famous settlement in the Northern Rivers – which is sometimes also called the Rainbow Region – Byron Bay has long attracted both Australian and foreign visitors thanks to the beauty of its natural landscape, surfing and diving opportunities, and, naturally, beaches. The territory around the city includes Cape Byron Bay Conservation Area, a nature refuge and the easternmost point on the Australian mainland. The drive from the Ballina Airport to Byron Bay takes only about 30 minutes.
• Wollumbin National Park. Formerly known as the Mount Warning National Park after the 1,150-meter (3,770 feet) peak at its heart, Wollumbin is one of the most interesting nature areas in this part of the country. The mount itself is the remaining cauldron of a long-extinct volcano, and the park is home to various marsupial, bird, and reptile species. The word Wollumbin means ‘cloud-catcher’ in the local Bundjalung language. The drive from Ballina to the park takes just under two hours.

Top international routes

• Sydney
• Melbourne

Main airlines

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Pelican are the four airlines that fly from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.

Terminals

A very small airport by international standards, there is only one, easily accessible terminal. As of 2023, expansion and development of the airport’s security systems and parking areas are underway.

Location

The airport is about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) north of Ballina’s city center and some 35 km (22 miles) south of Byron Bay. The trip to the latter takes about 25-30 minutes.

Most popular types of rental car

• Large cars - from $55 per day
• Medium cars - from $50 per day
• SUVs - from $54 per day
• Vans - from $96 per day
• Small cars - from $60 per day

Car rental desks

Most are located inside the terminal.

Services and facilities

A very small and cozy airport, it has a shop, a cafeteria, an ATM, and a visitor information desk. The airport offers free Wi-Fi.

Nearest gas station

An Ampol gas station at the address 44 Pacific Highway is about halfway between the airport and the city and can be reached by car in about five minutes. This station has different opening hours, depending on the day of the week. There are a number of other gas stations near the airport and in Ballina.

Popular one-way rentals

• Byron Bay (34 km / 21 miles)
• Gold Coast (100 km / 62 miles)
• Brisbane (164 km / 102 miles)
• Surfers Paradise (93 km / 58 miles)
• Toowoomba (268 km / 167 miles)
• Ipswich (184 km / 115 miles)