The Back Hills of Bryon

We have spent most of the last week exploring the hinterland west of Bryon Bay. This area is has a number of interesting towns, rolling green hills, Macadamia groves, beautiful estates and quaint pubs.

The hinterland here is different than that part west of the Gold Coast. Here you do not have the high mountains and the rain forests. This is more like the English country side.

Towns you should visit while in the Ocean Shores, Bryon Bay area are Billienudgel, Bangalow, Mullumbinby and Ninbin.

Bangalow is a lovely little shopping town with a great pub. It burned down in 1939 and was rebuilt in 1940. They have a very interesting Aboriginal Galley and Museum there with interesting shops and restaurants

Billienudgel also has a great little and old pub and is also the home of the Humble Pie Shop. You owe it to yourself to stop at this pie shop for lunch. It has a great dining area and their meat pies are rated number one in Australia.

Ninbin, what can I say, it is different. It is a town for the alternative lifestyle. There are lots of interesting characters, brightly painted buildings and evern a marijuana bar.

The latest golf course played is the one in Ballina. It is wonderfully manicured course in great condition with some very nice gardens. The bad part of the course is that 6 of 9 holes on the front nine are east and west so a little boring. The back nine is better and has two water holes. I give this a 3.5 score out of 5. The green fees are $25 but you get a free beer. If you want another place to have a refreshment you should try the Ballina RSL which is right on the Richmond River.