Easter tourists love our region

BYRON BAY wasn’t the only town on the Northern Rivers to attract the Easter tourists this year.

Brisbane residents from left John-Paul, Jonathon and Gabriel Iommarini with Stella, Loukas and Anna Karanasios in Ballina over the long Easter weekend. Picture: Jay Cronan

BYRON BAY wasn’t the only town on the Northern Rivers to attract the Easter tourists this year.

Plenty of people opted for beach getaways at Ballina and Lennox Head, and areas such as Nimbin and Lismore were also busy over the four-day weekend.

Thousands of people are drawn to the region for Bluesfest, but many others come for the beaches, cafes and relaxed atmosphere.

Seb Lacey, of Barcaldine in central Queensland, spent several days in the area.

“It’s beautiful here in Ballina,” he said.

“I’ve only ever driven through, but I would definitely come back.”

The Iommarini and Karanasios families from Brisbane also enjoyed a stop-over in Ballina.

“The kids have been having a bit of a fish,” Anna Karanasios said.

“We like it here. My husband comes to Ballina a lot for fishing trips with the boys.”

Ballina Tourism and Hospitality secretary, Dave Heggie, said it had been busy right across the Ballina Shire all weekend.

“Numbers appear to be right up as far as I can see,” he said.

“I know that Ballina was pretty well booked out leading up to Easter.

“Cafes have been doing a roaring trade.

“There have been lots of lots of people in Lennox Head as well.”

The Nimbin Visitor Centre said the town had been particularly busy this Easter.

More than 500 people went through the centre on Sunday alone.

Originally published as Easter tourists love our region