Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum
A naval and maritime museum at Ballina, home of the Las Balsas raft, rated 4.8 across more than 350 reviews.
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Why it's worth checking out
The Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum sits on Regatta Avenue in Ballina, on the coast just south of Byron Bay in the Northern Rivers. A fascinating maritime museum, it's best known as the home of one of the original Las Balsas balsa-wood rafts — which made an epic trans-Pacific voyage to Ballina in 1973 — alongside displays on the area's rich naval and maritime history.
The appeal is that combination of a genuinely remarkable centrepiece and engaging local history: seeing the historic Las Balsas raft up close is a real highlight, and the museum's displays bring to life the maritime stories of the region. It's an interesting, family-friendly stop for history lovers and anyone curious about the area's seafaring past.
With a 4.8 rating from more than 350 reviews, it's clearly delighting its visitors. Opening hours, admission and any displays or events vary, so it's worth checking current details before you go — particularly to confirm opening times — while looking forward to seeing the famous Las Balsas raft and exploring the maritime history at the Ballina museum.
Reviewed by Iyan B.
Practical details
Opening hours
Closed- Monday
- 09:00 – 16:00
- TuesdayToday
- 09:00 – 16:00
- Wednesday
- 09:00 – 16:00
- Thursday
- 09:00 – 16:00
- Friday
- 09:00 – 16:00
- Saturday
- 09:00 – 16:00
- Sunday
- 09:00 – 16:00
Spot Score
- Reputation
- 90
- Popularity
- 77
- Information quality
- 30
- Category fit
- 70
- Freshness
- 30
Our independent editorial score — not a user rating.
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