Some of the best water in Ballina is the calmest. From Ballina Byron Islander Resort, Shaws Bay is a five minute drive east, a sheltered tidal bay where you can swim, paddle a hired board, drop a line or watch dolphins at the nearby breakwall. Here are five easy ways onto the water, and how to do each of them from here.
Swimming at Shaws Bay in Ballina
Shaws Bay is the gentlest swim close to the resort, about five minutes east in East Ballina. Head over the bridge and follow the foreshore around; the bay sits behind the breakwall, which shelters it from the open sea and keeps the water calm and shallow across most of the tide. The best window is mid-morning to early afternoon on a rising tide, when there is the most water and the least breeze. There is grass right to the sand, shade, a playground and public BBQs at Pop Denison Park alongside, and free foreshore parking. It suits everyone from toddlers paddling at the edge to adults swimming laps of the bay. Bring a picnic and you have half a day sorted.
Where can you hire a SUP or kayak?
You do not need to bring your own board. Beachworkz on River Street, about seven minutes from the resort, hires stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, surfboards and bodyboards by the half day, full day, weekend or week, and the team will deliver and collect your gear at Shaws Bay with a day’s notice. Call them on 02 6686 5200 to book and to check current rates; guests report paying around $75 for a few hours of kayak hire. Shaws Bay’s flat, enclosed water is the ideal place to use it, especially for beginners. Go out on a rising to high tide for the most water, and stay on the sheltered side of the bay. Allow a couple of hours once you are set up.
Fishing from the shore and the harbour
Shaws Bay and the North Wall give you easy land-based fishing without a boat. Cast from the shore around the bay or out along the breakwall, about ten minutes east, for bream, flathead and whiting; early morning and the change of tide are the productive windows. If you want to get out on the water, Ballina Byron Fishing Charters runs river and offshore trips from the Trawler Harbour in West Ballina, only a few minutes from the resort, with bait, tackle and fishing licences included. River trips target estuary species while offshore runs chase snapper and pearl perch when the weather allows. Land-based needs only a rod and suits all ages; a charter suits those wanting a half-day adventure with everything provided.
Snorkelling at Flat Rock
For clear-water snorkelling, Flat Rock is the pick, about fifteen minutes from the resort near Skennars Head between Ballina and Lennox. At low tide a large rock platform holds shallow pools full of small fish, anemones and the occasional ray, which makes it a natural aquarium for kids and beginners. Go on a low, calm tide in settled weather for the clearest water and the safest access, and wear reef shoes because the rock is uneven underfoot. There is a car park at the top and a short walk down. It is best treated as a rock-pool and shallow-snorkel spot rather than a deep-water swim, so time it with the tide and keep it relaxed. Allow an hour to explore the pools.
Watching dolphins at the breakwall
The North Wall breakwall, about ten minutes east where the Richmond River meets the sea, is the reliable spot to watch dolphins from dry land. They regularly surf the waves at the river entrance, often within easy view of the wall, and the calm early morning is the best time to catch them, along with the softest light for photos. October also sits at the tail of the whale-migration window, so you may still see the last humpbacks passing offshore. Park free at the end of the wall and walk out; the surface is flat and wide, though the far end is uneven, so watch your footing with children. It costs nothing and asks nothing of you but patience, and half an hour is usually all it takes.
FAQs
Can you swim at Shaws Bay in Ballina?
Yes. Shaws Bay is a sheltered tidal bay in East Ballina, calm and shallow because the breakwall protects it from the open ocean. It is the easiest, gentlest swimming water close to the resort and a long-standing local family spot. It is not flag-patrolled, so supervise young children, but the conditions are about as easy as the coast offers.
Where can you hire a SUP or kayak in Ballina?
Beachworkz on River Street hires stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and surfboards by the half day, full day or week, and will deliver to Shaws Bay with a day’s notice. Call them on 02 6686 5200 for current rates. Guests report paying around $75 for a few hours’ kayak hire, and Shaws Bay’s flat water is the ideal place to use it.
Is Shaws Bay good for beginners on a paddleboard?
It is one of the best beginner spots on the coast. The water is flat, shallow and enclosed, with no surf and little current on a calm day, so first-timers can find their balance without waves to fight. Go out on a rising to high tide for the most water, keep to the sheltered side of the bay, and take it slowly.
Can you fish at Shaws Bay?
Yes. You can cast from the shore around Shaws Bay and the nearby North Wall breakwall for bream, flathead and whiting, and no boat is needed. For the river and offshore, Ballina Byron Fishing Charters runs from the Trawler Harbour in West Ballina, just minutes from the resort, with tackle and licences included on their trips.
The best part of a water day in Ballina is how close it all sits to a quiet room and a pool to rinse off in. Base yourself with us at Ballina Byron Islander Resort and Shaws Bay, the breakwall and the harbour are all a few minutes east. When you are ready, book your stay direct for our best rate and breakfast, and see more on the water with our guide to boat fishing and cruises around Ballina.
Image credit: Discover Ballina